Vol 66, Issue 2

the University of Texas at San Antonio

UTSA to pay $670k for underreporting campus crimes

By Jessica McLaren News Editor

President Taylor Eighmy shared a message with the campus community on Aug. 29 regarding UTSA’s settlement with the Department of Education (DOE). The settlement was offered after an audit of the university’s campus crime reporting uncovered 55 inadequately reported crimes between 2015 and 2017.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, requires all colleges and universities who participate in federal financial aid programs to publish annual data concerning the number of reported crimes that occurred on or near its campuses. To ensure compliance with the law and promote safe college campuses, the U.S. Department of Education Office of the Inspector General (OIG) performs random reviews of the Clery programs and processes that take place at institutions of higher education nationwide.

In the fall of 2019, the OIG conducted an audit on UTSA which revealed that the university had inadequately reported at least 55 out of 173 eligible campus crime

incidents between Jan. 2015 and Dec. 2017. According to the final report, the university failed to implement effective internal controls related to its reporting of Clery Act crime statistics during those three years.

In his response to the audit, Eighmy described two factors that contributed to UTSA’s lack of effective Clery processes at the time: high staff turnover and a lack of internal expertise regarding Clery Act compliance. These issues have since been addressed, as explained in an email Eighmy sent to students, faculty and staff in 2020.

The outcome of the settlement, posted publicly by the DOE last month, requires UTSA to pay $670k in fines in addition to the corrective measures the university has taken. According to the notice, UTSA’s fine was the largest imposed in fiscal year 2022.

“Our commitment to providing a safe and welcoming campus environment where all Roadrunners can study, work and live is resolute, and we take that responsibility very seriously,” Eighmy

‘Peanut Butter Parking’ Campaign

By Naydine De La Fuente Staff Writer

After a three-year pause, Campus Services has teamed up with the Whataburger Resource Room to bring back UTSA’s Peanut Butter Parking Campaign, an initiative that allows individuals on campus to pay for their parking citations with a jar of peanut butter. This campaign is applicable for ‘Runners who were issued parking citations between Monday, Aug. 28th and Friday, Sept. 1. Eligible citations include parking without a valid or proper permit with a $25, $50 or $100 charge. A 40 oz or 80 oz jar of peanut butter, depending on the given citation, is all that is needed to pay off the ticket.

To ensure your citation is forgiven, there are specific rules that are required for the Peanut Butter Parking event. First, donations must be given within 14 days of the citation issue date, and the campaign only allows for one donation per person. Next, appealing the citation forfeits any eligibility of paying off the citation with a donation. Campus Services and the Whataburger Resource Room are also accepting allergen-friendly donations, such as sun butter and other kinds of nut butter.

Finally, the program asks that the donations are not in glass containers.

Paying for your citations is fairly simple — all eligible citations and donations at the Main Campus are to be taken to Campus Services (MS 1.01.52) during their operating hours, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students at the Downtown Campus can submit their donations at FS 2.424C during the same hours.

Kevin Price, Senior Associate Vice President for Campus Services, shared his excitement for the campaign on the Business Affairs webpage. “We’re thrilled to bring back the Peanut Butter Campaign this year so that we can continue to make a positive impact while enhancing the campus experience for all Roadrunners.”

Overall, this event has provided a creative and fun way for students and staff at UTSA to learn about the university’s parking services while providing aid to our on-campus food pantry.

For more information on the Peanut Butter Parking Campaign, visit utsa.edu/campusservices/.

Kylar Royer/The Paisano

Students encounter Wi-Fi disruptions during first week back

By Kaitlyn J. Grace Staff Writer

As UTSA students and faculty headed into the Fall 2023 semester, issues with AirRowdy left them unable to connect to the campus Wi-Fi. The connectivity issues not

said in the message posted to UTSA Today last month. “Over the last five years, we have since taken substantial remedial actions and process improvements to ensure ongoing compliance with the Act.”

The Paisano asked UTSA to comment on the settlement with the DOE. However,

the university shared they will not be issuing a media statement on the matter. More information regarding the 2015 through 2017 Clery audit and the actions UTSA has taken to address the issues can be found at utsa.edu/compliance-and-riskservices/.

SGA President discusses student representation and current projects

By Jessica McLaren News Editor

Last week, The Paisano sat down with student body president Zachary Nepote to discover how the Student Government Association (SGA) plans to support the needs and interests of UTSA’s diverse student body. Here is what we learned.

Driven by his desire to give back to the community, Nepote joined SGA in Fall 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. “I wanted to find a way to improve the experience around me but also get to help other people,” Nepote said. “I was inspired by the chance to improve our college experience and enhance what we already have here, but also speak for those who feel like they’ve been underrepresented.”

When speaking about the university’s unique student body, Nepote stressed the importance of representation within SGA. The senators, who are elected by the student body each semester, represent their college and classification and serve as an advocate for student interests and needs across campus. These senators meet with their respective colleges and other university partners monthly.

Senators also serve on committees that cover a wide range of issues across campus, including core curriculum, dining, student affairs, sustainability and more. “The committees we serve on deal with all aspects of student life, whether it’s to the academic side or the social side, like in student affairs,” Nepote said.

Nepote further explained that every student at UTSA is considered to be a member of SGA, and he encourages students to attend their biweekly general assemblies so that their voices are heard. The

first general assembly will be held in the Harris (2.212) and Travis Room (2.202) on Thursday, Sept.

7 at 5:30 p.m.

“[At UTSA,] being a freshman doesn’t mean that you’re eighteen. Being a sophomore doesn’t mean you’re nineteen. We have nontraditional students [and] military students. Through SGA’s representation, we’re able to cover a wide variety of different groups,”

Nepote said. “With [our general assemblies] being an open forum, [and by] welcoming students to be able to go there and express their concerns, it allows for those needs to be met.”

Nepote described several initiatives that the association has been working on since before his election. On UTSA Giving Day, SGA partnered with Wellbeing Services to provide students with free men-

to encourage sustainability, Nepote explained that many of these initiatives were derailed back in 2020 with the pandemic. “Now that we’re in the position we’re in now, we are exploring [our options]. We are gauging what students are interested in in terms of sustainability and how we can improve that on campus.”

The Paisano interviewed Nepote back in April after he was elected student body president. In this interview, Nepote discussed his three main goals for the academic year — the student worker visibility initiative, increasing student organization engagement and expanding open education resources. In last week’s interview, we asked for an update on these projects:

“[SGA] will continue to work with Student Affairs, the Library’s Open Education Resources office and other various university departments to represent the interests and dire needs of our unique student body,” Nepote said, explaining that these projects are ongoing initiatives. “We are excited to share updates regarding our further progress throughout the academic year.”

strual hygiene products. Over the summer, they used the funds to purchase several carts full of products to “promote menstrual equity within the Student Union areas.”

When asked about their efforts

only disrupted students’ ability to study on campus, but also interfered with in-class activities.

“There’s always been issues with the Wi-Fi,” said Gabriella Penfiel, a digital communications student at UTSA. “I feel like we’re a big enough campus and have enough money to where we should have better Wi-Fi. Especially since we’re using it every day.”

This is not the first time UTSA’s AirRowdy has created problems for students. In 2018, The Paisano reported that students had difficulty connecting to AirRowdy. In 2022, students complained again about the student and guest Wi-Fi failing to authenticate, which resulted in students turning to platforms such as Reddit to find solutions.

Nepote encourages students to get involved, either by attending their general assemblies, visiting their storefront or by applying for one of their open positions on RowdyLink. “If you have the care for other people on campus who care for enhancing student life, student experience and of course the quality of our education. We are welcoming.”

Students feel that the lack of a secure Wi-Fi connection is affecting their grades. “It disconnects me whenever I need it during class, especially if I have classes that take online quizzes, and that affects my grade so it’s just been terrible,” said Luis Juarez, an environmental science major.

Kendra Ketchum, Vice President for Information Management and Technology at UTSA, released a statement saying that University Technology Solutions (UTS) would be working on resolving the issues. However, many students are still encountering Wi-Fi instability.

See Wi-Fi on page 2

Eric Trevino/The Paisano

Lauren Hernandez/The Paisano

Big changes to FAFSA and TASFA

Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) for the 2024-2025 school year will be experiencing a significant overhaul. The FAFSA Simplification Act, passed by Congress in 2020, aims to make the application process smoother, with fewer hurdles for acquiring aid. Here is what you need to know.

Replacing EFC with SAI

The Student Aid Index (SAI) will replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The new measure removes the previous factor in the EFC, the number of family members in college, from calculations. In addition to this removal, the lowest SAI you can receive is -$1500, compared to the EFC’s $0. This range allows for better coverage for expenses not within a school’s published cost of attendance. Students who don’t qualify for a Pell Grant based on their adjusted gross income may still receive one based on their SAI.

Expanded eligibility and streamlining of process

Another significant change is the expansion of eligibility. Some modifications have already been implemented, like removing Selective Service registration as a requirement for aid and drug convictions no longer affecting eligibility. Students who are incarcerated and enrolled in an approved prison education program are eligible to receive Pell Grants. Additionally, students who were subjected to an involuntary civil commitment for a sexual offense will also gain eligibility.

Furthermore, the number of questions on the application will be significantly reduced from over 100 to reportedly 36. New questions regarding sex, ethnicity and race have already

been added for research purposes and will not affect aid decisions. Users will also be able to transfer data directly from the IRS thanks to the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act, which mandates disclosure of federal tax information to the Department of Education with an individual’s approval and consent.

Delayed start

Unlike in previous years, where the application was available in October, the 2024-2025 FAFSA rollout will start in Dec. 2023. As a result of this delay, the TASFA will also open later this year at a yet-to-be-announced date. UTSA’s financial aid priority deadline of Jan. 15, 2024, has not changed but is subject to change. Check One Stop for continual updates.

UTSA’s Financial Success team will hold virtual workshops throughout the rest of the year and at the beginning of next year to assist with financial aid. Info sessions on the new FAFSA application will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30 and Monday, Dec. 11 at 6:00 p.m. For more information regarding financial aid, contact the UTSA Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at (210) 458-8000 or onestop@utsa.edu.

UTSA increases cost of on-campus parking permits

By Jessica McLaren News Editor

Parking permits for the 20222023 academic year expired on Aug. 31. Students who plan on purchasing an updated parking permit from UTSA Campus Services for 2023-2024 will notice that there has been an increase of about 5.2 percent in permit costs compared to the previous year.

“We know how important it is to students to keep costs down, and we work hard to control pricing for services like parking,” said Clay Haverland, assistant vice president for Campus Services. “At the same time, parking is self-funded – meaning we do not receive any dollars from tuition or other fees to provide services, pay the debt on the parking facilities, and cover operational costs.”

According to the university’s official website, the cost of commuter permits has increased by $9, housing permits by $16, downtown permits by $56, twilight permits —which allow overnight parking — by $5 and motorcycle permits by $4.

There are currently 7,040 parking spaces available to students who commute to campus and nearly 2,500 additional spaces dedicated to students who live in on-campus housing. Commuter parking spaces on the Main Campus can be found in Brackenridge Avenue Lots 1-5 and East Campus Lots 1-3, as well as in the Ximenes Avenue Lot, Bauerle Road Lot 1 and the Barshop Boulevard Lot.

Last year, Campus Services issued a total of 9,552 commuter parking permits. In sharing

this figure, however, Haverland emphasized that not all students are on campus simultaneously.

“Due to the cyclical nature of class schedules and off-campus student obligations, the demand for on-campus parking varies.”

Additionally, Campus Services reported increased available commuter spaces during peak hours last year — approximately 2,000 at the Main Campus and 1,000 at the Downtown Campus. “This is significantly more availability than we saw pre-pandemic, and much of this change is likely due to more flexible schedules, including online courses,” said Haverland.

Campus Services also offers hourly parking options for students who spend less time on campus using the online service ParkMobile. Parking zones for ParkMobile — as well as for each type of parking permit — can be found on UTSA’s interactive map or any parking map, with signs posted in each compatible parking space with instructions. Students who come to campus less often can park in the Bauerle Road, Ximenes Avenue or Tobin Avenue Garages for $2.50 per hour.

Drivers without a parking permit can park in Employee

A, Employee B, and unmarked Commuter spaces Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. and on Fridays from 4:30 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following Monday. This applies to both the Main and Downtown Campuses.

To best support students with disabilities, UTSA provides more disabled parking spaces

than mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Moreover, Campus Services offers Disabled Veterans with a disability rating of 50% or higher any surface parking permit at no cost.

Campus Services would like to remind students that there are a number of ways to commute to and from each of the UTSA campuses — and even around San Antonio — which do not involve purchasing a parking permit. UTSA’s shuttle, The Runner, offers students transportation to and from the heart of campus as well as many parking lots and nearby apartment complexes. More information about The Runner, including its specific routes, can be found at utsa.edu/campusservices/runner/.

Students at UTSA have access to free, unlimited bus services through the VIA UPass and free on-demand rides through the VIA Link program. Campus Services also recommends biking or carpooling to campus if it is feasible and encourages students to register their carpool with Campus Services so their group may share one parking permit once approved. UTSA provides bike racks throughout each campus, although bicycle registration is required. More information on UTSA’s transportation options can be found at utsa.edu/transportation.

More information on parking permits and parking zones can be found at utsa.edu/campusservices/parking/permits, and students can purchase a parking permit through MyParking.

Continued Wi-Fi

Ketchum acknowledged student complaints in another statement on Sept. 2. “At the beginning of the semester, when we first received reports about connectivity issues, particularly in the [John Peace Library], we took some additional steps,” said Ketchum. “As recently as last weekend, we added new wireless access points and

added more fiber bandwidth to our core routing to improve reliability and service performance in the library.”

Ketchum went on to say this did not entirely fix the network and thanked students for their patience while University Technology Solutions continues to find a solution to the Wi-Fi connectivity issues.

State of the City:

Week of 9/5/23

By Kara Lee Graphic Editor

Not subscribed to local news, but still want to stay up-to-date on the happenings around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s topics range from cooler temperatures to construction on Broadway. SAWS will crack down on businesses that are not following water restrictions

San Antonio Water System (SAWS) has announced it will be shutting off water use to businesses that continue to waste water. Firsttime violators will be asked to sign a document that states that they understand and acknowledge the water rules and restrictions. If these violators continue to waste water, the business risks having their outdoor water system cut off for two weeks.

Cooler temperatures this week in San Antonio

Morning temperatures this week have started to cool down — but for how long? The lowest recorded temperature this week was 73 degrees, giving Texas a break from the extreme heat the state has faced throughout the summer.

San Antonio drag company is suing the state

A local San Antonio drag production company is challenging Texas Senate Bill 12, which prohibits the performance of drag in the presence of minors. Richard Montez and David Gamez, the co-owners of 360 Queen Entertainment, might have held their last drag show on Friday as the bill went into effect Sept. 1. In hopes of striking down the bill, Montez and Gamez have decided to join the American Civil Liberties Union.

TxDOT starting construction on Broadway

New construction on Broadway Street raises concerns about the logistics of the long-term project. San Antonio announced a project that would introduce more accommodating bike lanes and pedestrianfriendly spaces. However, the Texas Department of Transportation also announced that they wanted to expand and create more lanes on Broadway. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and City Manager Erik Walsh came out to say they are still waiting for TxDOT to address the accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians.

New San Antonio Safe Haven Law

San Antonio is planning to change a state law that will allow people to surrender their newborns in a protected box at fire stations and designated locations. This Safe Haven Law was previously known as the Baby Moses Law, and it legally allowed parents to give up their children to designated safe places. To eliminate possible fears parents might have during the process, Councilman John Courage advocated for more anonymous ways. Starting Sept. 1, there will be “Baby Boxes” at fire stations and other designated spaces. The boxes will have alarms that alert authorized professionals of the newborns, allowing the parents to safely surrender their child with a more anonymous interaction.

Session

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

774 new laws go into effect after 88th Texas Legislative

Jessica McLaren/The Paisano

Jessica McLaren/The Paisano

Dustin Vickers, Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Policy pitfalls due to political agendas

Katy ISD passes policy forcing teachers to out transgender students

In a heated school board meeting that lasted well into the night, the Katy Independent School District Board of Education voted 4-3 to pass a new policy obligating teachers to notify parents if a student requests to be referred to by pronouns other than what they were assigned at birth. This highly contentious decision by the board has teachers and community members alike concerned about the policy’s lack of clarity, and what the policy means for the role teachers will now play in the lives of students.

According to Houston Public Media (HPM), the four trustees that voted in favor of the new policy — Board President Victor Perez, Morgan Calhoun, Mary Ellen Cuzela and Amy Thieme were “supported and/ or promoted during their election campaigns by Texans for Educational Freedom, a conservative political action committee that claims public school students in the state are being indoctrinated.”

Commentary

Kara Lee/The Paisano

The new policy would “prohibit discussions of gender fluidity in the classroom, require transgender students to use restrooms that correspond with their sex at birth, and

Is print journalism dead?

By Luna Infante Staff Writer

Chances are, you are reading this on your laptop, or perhaps your phone or maybe you are one of the few people who still pick up a newspaper. With the constant rise of technology, the way we consume news has transformed greatly over the years. Instead of waiting for the paper to hit our front step

social media, its patterns have changed completely. In this digital era, we have had to suffer through a great amount of misinforming journalism. It has become easy for anyone to pick up their device and write or say what they want, labeling it as “breaking news.” These social media patterns have caused misinformation and disinformation to circulate quickly.

require teachers to notify parents if a student is using pronouns different to what they were assigned at birth,” as reported by HPM.

This archaic policy will have a drastic effect on the lives of transgender students, who should have the right to confide in the people of their choosing without fear. School is supposed to be an environment that promotes growth not only academically, but as individuals. For some, school is the only place where they can express themselves, and this policy ruins the sanctity of that environment.

Unfortunately, this policy is just the latest in a growing trend of the politicization of education in Texas. As citizens, we cannot let these actions go unchecked. The job of a Board of Education is to promote the wellbeing of the students under its purview. Allowing school boards to legislate and promote partisan agendas is dangerous and detrimental to the lives of its students.

it does not mean it has died off.

But will it? Newspapers are shutting down at a frightening rate. According to research by Northwestern University, an average of more than two newspapers a week are shutting down. “Since 2005, the country has lost more than a fourth of its newspapers (2,500) and is on track to lose a third by 2025.”

Journalism is an ever-changing industry, and with the growth of

Commentary

By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer

UT Austin’s Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) offers an alternative to students who were not initially accepted into the university. Students must complete a year and 30 transferable hours at another UT school, a math course above college algebra and earn a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2. Upon completion, they are assured admission into UT’s College of Liberal Arts. There is no guaranteed admission to any other college. Many swear enrolling in this highstakes pathway is worth the trouble, yet this seems to be said more out of relief than accomplishment.

CAP does much more harm than good, not only to the students who commit endless hours attempting to fulfill the requirements but also to the UT system schools, especially UTSA. The program robs students of milestone experiences and reduces UTSA’s ability to succeed

news to hit many tabloids and magazines, reliable publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal can still be trusted. If we have continued to rely on these publications, which have remained in circulation, both in print and online, why should we give up and say print media is dead?

Printed news is still considered more credible and trustworthy by the majority. According to a study done by Kantar, 72% of

Stop the CAP

independently.

Any freshman at UTSA can tell you a story about their efforts to befriend a stranger only to be shut

the surveyed individuals believe print magazines are the most trusted news source, followed by other traditional media such as print newspapers, TV and radio news outlets. In the 2019 IPR Disinformation in Society Report, 62% of the survey respondents reported that local newspapers “fared well for perceptions of trustworthiness and the ability to provide accurate news and information.” If print journalism is deemed as the most trustworthy news source for so many, then why media will never die, for it is timeless. We are still surrounded by its beauty and sentimentality; in our letters, our journals and our favorite books. So why should we give up on print journalism? Although it is not as popular as it once was, it will last the test of time if we want it to. Ask yourself this, do you want to see our world get lost completely in technology? We have lost so much to the digital world, we cannot let print slip away as well. There are many traditional things we can still salvage if we make the effort. So pick up a newspaper, pick up a magazine and keep print journalism alive. As the reader, the future is in your hands.

Exploring UTSA’s feelings on diveristy, equity and inclusion

Op-Ed

By Dr. Patricia Jaramillo & the Spring 2023 PAD 2073 Class

During our spring 2023 Foundations of Civic Engagement (PAD 2073) class, with Dr. Jaramillo, we considered several topics to study that are relevant to the UTSA community.

CAP students resentful they have to attend a “lower-rate” university or UTSA students embarrassed they could not make it into a “better”

school. It is difficult to find a community of active ‘Runners as proud to attend UTSA as the outspoken Longhorns at UT. UTSA’s school spirit heals when we admit Roadrunners who want to many high school graduates have yet to understand that the university they attend does not represent their self-worth, but the sale of this idea is a multi-million dollar business that UT’s marketing and Office of Admissions reigns fall, UT reported a record four-year graduation rate of 73.5%. It is easy for UT to flaunt these numbers as CAP students improve said graduation rate while lowering that of its satellite schools. The UT System Data Index admits: “Institutions with large numbers of CAP students (e.g., UTA, UTSA) will see a negative impact on their traditional, four-year, same graduation rates...

Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Ultimately, we decided to explore UTSA faculty, staff and students’ perceptions of UTSA’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices. One reason we were interested in this topic was the heavy scrutiny of public universities’ diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies and practices, especially given the introduction of Senate Bill (SB) 17 by Senator Creighton during the Texas Legislature’s regular session. The eventual passage of the bill by the Texas Legislature and signing into law by Governor Abbott added greater interest to the topic. At the time, we wanted to explore whether students, faculty and staff confidently understood what DEI policies are. We also wanted to begin to understand the level of familiarity of the UTSA community with the existing and proposed laws; however, more recently, the University of North Texas announced the closing and reorganization of its offices related to diversity, equity and inclusion, to meet the legislation’s mandate (Rodrigues). For this reason, we want to share what we learned.

For our exploratory study, we conducted interviews and a focus group of UTSA students, faculty and staff. To investigate UTSA student attitudes and opinions, we collected and analyzed responses from seven individual student interviews and a focus group consisting of five students. To better

understand faculty and staff attitudes and opinions, we conducted individual interviews with six members of UTSA faculty and staff. We assured participants of their anonymity, given the topic’s political contentiousness. For the individual interviews of students and the single focus group, we administered one set of questions. For the individual interviews with faculty and administrators, we used a separate set of questions. We recognize that our study has significant limits and we do not make any claims about our findings having generalizability to the greater UTSA community. As a Hispanic-Serving Institution, however, we believe it is important for classes like ours to spend time considering these issues.

FINDINGS

Our findings for students’ attitudes and behavior were consistent across the individual interviews and the single focus group. In general, student participants indicated that they believe DEI policies are necessary because they promote and voice the opinions of students who often felt they were being ignored by those in power.

We started the interviews and focus group by asking students what the terms diversity, equity and inclusion means to them as students. One student said the statement means “being accepted, no matter your background.”

Another student stated that they believed the term DEI meant that every individual and group from all races, creeds and orientations had a safe place on campus.

Continue reading at paisano-online.com

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Chloe Williams/The Paisano

OPINION

Conservative crusades against constituents

Commentary

By Allana Llabres Staff Writer

In August 2022, President Joe Biden announced a program to cancel up to $400 billion in student loans. As of June 30, 2023, the Supreme Court of the United States has ruled that the Biden administration has no legal authority to create such a program, although it could help more than 43 million Americans.

The 6-3 decision was headed by Chief Justice John Roberts and backed by Justices Clarence Thomas, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, Samuel Alito and Amy Coney Barrett. The Supreme Court said that while the Heroes Act permits the Education Secretary, Miguel Cardona, to waive or modify programs under emergencies, the plan that Biden proposed far exceeded the authority that the President is given by Congress. Justice Elena Kagan wrote in dissent stating that the act did not specifically

Commentary

limit the judgment as to which modifications were needed for an emergency, and she was backed by the other two liberals on the court, Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor. In a statement from the White House, Biden said that the “fight is not over” and “the Court’s decision to strike down [their] student debt relief plan is wrong.” He then went on to call out the “hypocrisy of Republican elected officials,” pointing out that they had granted loans and hand-outs for many businesses, even their own, during the pandemic, all of which were forgiven. However, when it came to working-class Americans, these elected officials did not lift a finger to help them.

Rather, “they did everything in their power to stop” them from getting relief.

While this is unfortunate, this situation is not new to Americans. Since Ruth Bader Ginsburg was replaced with Amy Coney Barrett as

Donald Trump’s third and final appointment to the Supreme Court in 2020, we have seen a rise in conservative backed SCOTUS rulings. In the 2021-2022 Supreme Court term, 74% of cases had a conservative ruling. This rise of conservative rulings was even acknowledged by the Republican Policy Committee when they stated that “Conservative victories this term were possible because of the three justices nominated by President Trump.” Along with the ruling to deny Biden’s plan for student loan forgiveness, the conservative ruled Supreme Court also limited affirmative action in higher education and allowed for discrimination against LGBTQ+ people through the form of wedding websites. Many people are considering these rulings not only blows to the liberal standing communities but directly to President Joe Biden himself. Biden’s initial campaign for the 2020 election

was heavily advertised with student loan forgiveness, raising the minimum wage, investing in cleaner energy sources, rejoining the global climate accord, expanding Obamacare and other various actions that many Americans are now seeing were too good to be true. So far, he has only followed through with an insignificant number of his campaign promises, as many were blocked by the conservative Supreme Court or Republican Senate. The conservative ruled Supreme Court has acted against the general American public, maliciously striking down laws that would largely benefit a majority of our population. These federal representatives are meant to support the American people, yet time and time again, we have been struck down. It is time that we rethink how these representatives are appointed to avoid them pushing their philosophical beliefs and ideologies on the bench.

Texas prison or brazen bull?

By Abraham Roman Staff Writer

Would you rather serve a sentence in a Texas prison or be subject to the brazen bull? For a brief background, the brazen bull was an ancient Greek torture device, and its use was as follows: “The condemned were locked inside the device, and a fire was set under it, heating the metal until the person inside was roasted to death.” When given the option between such an absurd and inhumane device, the choice seems obvious. Unfortunately for Texas residents, the choice might not be that easy.

Climate change has caused heat levels to rise worldwide, with Texas on the way to experience one of its most extreme summers on record. Luckily, most Texas residents are able to fend off the heat with countermeasures such as A/C, fans and cold water. Sadly, these remedies are not extended to Texas inmates.

According to the Texas Tribune, “More than two-thirds of Texas’ 100 prisons do not

Commentary

The Paisano

Editorial Board

Laynie Clark | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

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Jessica McLaren | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

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

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Malaki Lingg | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com

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

Kara Lee | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com

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

have air conditioning in most living areas inside the concrete and steel buildings where officers and prisoners work and live.” Without A/C, prison cells become pseudo-ovens that practically cook inmates who are forced to fend off the often triple digit indoor heat.

The overwhelming heat inside prisons leads to two linked issues that partake in a vicious cycle, understaffing and desperation. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) is home to several drastically understaffed units, including the Coffield unit, which has reported being 40% below its normal staffing level. Unbearable heat paired with layers of clothing and the ever present stress of working at a prison drives many officers away from duty. The lack of sufficient staff leaves inmates without officers to follow through on procedures put in place to fight off the sweltering heat, such as time in ventilated areas, cups of cold water or personal fans.

According to The New York Times, “desperate for the guards’ attention, [inmates] lit

fires or took to screaming in unison for water or for help with an inmate who had passed out.” Sources report that these conditions have led to a cycle that has caused an estimated 271 deaths between 2001 and 2019, and a speculated 41 this summer alone. Despite all of these reports, the TDCJ has not documented any deaths as heat-related since 2012.

With such a dire issue taking place in our prisons, one would assume that both the TDCJ and Texas Legislature would prioritize the humane practice of not unlawfully murdering inmates, yet this is not the case. Quite the opposite is happening, with the aforementioned TDCJ avoiding accountability and the Legislature offering no direct aid. In May, an attempt was made by the House to supply prisons with over half a billion dollars to concentrate on the establishment of A/C units, but this offer was swiftly shot down by Texas’s majority Republican Senate.

While one would be led to believe that it is the frugality of the TDCJ and Legislature that leads them away from simply

installing A/C units, their previous actions have proven otherwise. As reported by the Texas Tribune, the TDCJ spent over $7 million dollars on a legal battle fighting against the cooling of a geriatric prison, whose estimated installation cost totaled to $4 million. The issue at hand extends greater than just funds. A deeply instilled mindset to be “tough on crime” has led to the current savage and merciless treatment of inmates. The purpose of prisons are to be rehabilitation centers to teach and reform inmates to eventually, if possible, reintegrate them into society. Instead, prisons today are centers of exploitative labor, psychological torment and now hellish living conditions. While inmates are people who have made mistakes, the majority are people who do not deserve to be subject to tortuous malpractice.

To help in the fight for prisoners rights, visit https:// www.tpcadvocates.org to learn more.

Empowered workers: a returning American staple

States’ vital economic sectors.

For the past three decades, the United States has seen a sharp decline in union membership by its workers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total union membership has fallen to just 10.3% in 2023.

However, despite a devastating loss for collective action with the stifling of the nationwide railway strike at the hands of Congress and the Biden administration in November of last year, unions have been unusually active — and largely successful — in recent months. This Labor Day, hot dogs and backyard barbeques are being replaced by strikes and picket lines in many of the United

One of the most publicized events of labor action in recent months has been the dual strike between writers and actors coordinated by the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA).

This is the first coordinated strike between writers and actors in 40 years.

The strike single-handedly crippled Hollywood almost overnight; hundreds of projects in production went dark. SAGAFTRA voted overwhelmingly to strike based on the unfair compensation practices for its members largely popularized with the advent of the streaming industry. According to the New York Times, actors are being

underpaid for their projects due to the industry’s unwillingness to continue the previous residuals compensation system employed during the golden era of cable television. Actors also want protection from networks using AI to imitate their likeness for projects in the future without their consent or adequate compensation. Additionally, writers are also unhappy due to not only their low compensation, but also increasing layoffs and the strenuous workload they cause. While negotiations have been largely lacking, with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers refusing to give up much ground when it comes to the demands of SAG-AFTRA, the strike has

The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer.

been going strong for months with little sign that the unions are giving up hope.

Meanwhile, one of the most recent labor victories in the United States came with the ratification of UPS’ new fiveyear contract negotiated by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. UPS workers initially proposed a strike over the harsh working conditions and unfair pay they experienced. According to National Public Radio, 340,000 workers would have gone on strike if negotiations had not prevailed. It would have been the largest strike by workers from a single employer in the history of the United States.

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 Tripoint 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

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arts & life

Top five record stores in San Antonio

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer SA Gems

As vinyl collecting grows more and more each day, it is helpful to know the best places to find the vinyl of your dreams. Depending on what genre you are looking for, it always helps to know where to look. Whether you’re digging for rock, pop or Spanish music, these are the top five record stores in San Antonio that may cater to your music taste.

5. Batcave Vinyl

Batcave Vinyl is certainly one of the cooler places to go to find records. Though lacking in some genres such as rap and R&B, Batcave specializes in contemporary rock, grunge and blues albums. What stands out the most about Batcave is the owner’s collection of never-opened original albums from the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Whether it is Metallica’s first original single from 1983 or Kiss’ self-titled debut from 1974, the collection of original records will surely drop the average rock fan’s jaw.

Prices at Batcave are indeed the highest on this list, but it is not so expensive that it discourages people from shopping there. If you are a fan of digging or just want to find that one original rock album, Batcave is the place to go.

4. Southtown Vinyl

Any pop, dance and R&B music fan will absolutely love Southtown Vinyl. While other stores on this

list focus on rock-based genres, Southtown specializes in pop and dance music from the 80s all the way up to the present day. Whether it is classic artists like Madonna or modern-day pop stars like Dua Lipa, Southtown Vinyl almost always has what you are looking for if you want something new or popular. Fairly reasonable on prices, the store also has a great selection of posters, CDs, used record players and brand new turntables. Those looking for classic albums or newly released music are sure to find them at Southtown Vinyl.

3. Flip Side Record Parlor

Like Hogwild Records, Flip Side Record Parlor has been a staple in the San Antonio music scene. Anyone looking to find flyers for local bands or new auditions can surely find them at Flip Side. Located on Southwest Military Drive, the shop offers a selection focusing mainly on the hard rock genre. That being said, the record parlor still has plenty to offer for the average music fan. While the store does sell brandnew albums, a majority of Flip Side’s inventory is original used records. Being that they are used, almost all of the store’s albums are extremely well-priced for new and existing customers. Although specializing in hard rock, the store still has a great collection of disco, hip-hop, R&B and country music albums.

With an overall well-rounded selection, Flip Side is easily one of the best record stores in San Antonio. Those looking to find original records from Kiss, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin and AC/ DC should have no problem finding them at this record parlor.

2. Janie’s Record Shop

A surprise release from a perfect duo

‘Voir Dire’ by Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist

Reviews

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

In 2019, rumors circled that former Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt and legendary producer The Alchemist released a secret album on YouTube under an unknown alias. Fans of the two artists searched for the project for four years to no avail. After waiting for a full-length feature from the duo, they finally announced the release of a collaboration album. While it is unknown whether this is the long sought album from Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist, “Voir Dire” was released on Aug. 25.

Only available on Gala Music, the album has a runtime of 27 minutes 30 seconds with 11 tracks — “100 High Street,” “Vin Skully,” “Sentry feat. MIKE,” “All The Small Things,” “My Brother, The Wind,” “27 Braids,” “Mac Deuce,” “Sirius Blac,” “Geb,” “Dead Zone” and “Free The Ruler.”

Throughout its runtime, “Voir Dire” has a free-moving feel to it. Each track is unique, and for the most part, the project does not hold the typical cohesiveness you would expect. This feeling gives off the impression that the project is somewhat of a mixtape, with each track working well together but not having any significance to one another. For example, “100 High Street” and “Geb” both feature differing themes and production methods.

While most tracks seem standalone, the last track serves as an actual endpoint for the album. “Free The Ruler,” is seemingly an homage to the late rapper Drakeo the Ruler, who was murdered during a music festival in 2021. The two had formerly collaborated on the song “Iron Rap Beef (Remix).”

Janie’s Record Shop is one of the few mom-and-pop record stores still running in the Alamo City. Despite not carrying a vast selection of new music, Janie’s has been a personal favorite for many years. The store carries almost anything and everything that has to do with Spanish music. Whether it be original vinyl, CDs or posters, the shop is hands down the best Spanish vinyl spot in San Antonio.

In addition to carrying such a large array of Spanish music, the store also manages to carry a vast selection of rock, soul, jazz and early hip-hop albums. There is something worth listening to for all music tastes. Janie’s prices are also one of the stand-out things about the shop. While some prices on records are firm, the owner of the store is almost always willing to make a mutually beneficial deal. It is truly one of the best record stores San Antonio has to offer.

1. Hogwild Records

The San Antonio record scene would not be what it is today without Hogwild Records. Since opening in 1982, the store has been renowned for its specialization in metal but has since embraced other genres such as rap, R&B and dance music. Their selection is easily one of the best in San Antonio, with original and reissued albums priced reasonably for the average consumer. If there is an album the store does not have in stock, the employees are always able and willing to order the album straight to the store to be purchased and picked up in less than two weeks. Though Hogwild is most known for its records, these are not all the store has to offer. Their collection of band shirts, patches, stickers, records, and outstanding customer service makes them one of the top five record stores in San Antonio. Customers looking for albums by the likes of Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera and Black Sabbath are sure to find them at Hogwild Records.

10 inexpensive ways to make your apartment a home

Spare Change

By Chloe Williams Managing Editor

It is no secret that student apartments are not the best quality that money can buy. Oftentimes, the furniture, walls and pretty much everything has seen better days. Building a space you enjoy and feel comfortable in is a necessity — but it does not have to break the bank.

1. Utilize contact paper

Is your student apartment desk ugly or does it not match your style? Pick up some contact paper from Target or Walmart and overlay it on the desk. This supplies personality and beauty to an otherwise eye-sore in your room.

2. Get cheap prints

Upgrade the traditional posters with custom prints from FedEx or UPS. A new hack I have found is using public-domain art from the Met or other websites, downloading that for free and then getting it custom-printed for your frame size. Thrifting frames is a great way to add unique touches to vintage art. To make the art look oil painted, add a thin layer of matte Mod Podge to look like brush strokes.

3. Do not sleep on second-hand finds

Thrifting is by far the best way to get unique decor for cheap. A new Goodwill just opened by the H-E-B off Bandera and their color-coordinated home decor section is quite impressive. Another favorite is Facebook Marketplace, where you can find pretty much anything you could ever need for a fraction of the cost of buying new.

4. Hang curtains instead of blinds

Some student apartments come with big, loud blinds either full-length vertical or horizontal. To upgrade your window coverage either pull the vertical blinds out and replace them with a curtain clipped into the blinds or hang a curtain rod above using screws or command hooks. Then hang your curtain for an upgraded look.

5. Switch out your showerhead and rod

This might be on the more expensive side of renter-friendly upgrades, but switching out your shower head to one with better pressure can be life-changing for those who cherish their shower time. It also helps avoid spending 15 minutes trying to rinse out conditioner from your hair.

History

The last summer - Chapter 1: Lola

By Allana Llabres Staff Writer

People say when you’re young, you’re supposed to make dumb decisions. It’s always “yolo” and people telling us to go out and have fun, but then they constantly criticize our decisions, and they blame us for things that aren’t technically our fault. Eventually, we begin to believe things actually are our fault since we can never leave the satisfactory things alone. Maybe that’s what happened to me.

I met Connor a few months ago, he was wearing blue Converse shoes and an ashgray jacket that matched the color of the forest around us. I’d walked through these woods a million times before, and I could navigate it blindfolded. Him, not so much. He’s more of an indoors person, the kitchen was his home and he was a phenomenal chef. The sun was going down soon, and I could tell he wasn’t getting back to civilization anytime soon, so I decided to ask if he was okay.

“No, I’m not familiar with this area, and it seems I’ve lost service,” he explained.

“Okay. I can lead you back to the neighborhood if you’d like?”

“You’d be a lifesaver.”

So I did, and we chatted a little along the way. He had just moved

here for his dad’s work and he was 17. He had a flirty personality, but it wasn’t entirely on purpose, that’s just the way he was. I wasn’t exactly one to entertain that, yet there I was, laughing at every stupid thing he said. I never found myself interested in dating per se,

I guess it’s because I was never really approached by anyone in that way. In my own 17 years of life, I’d barely caught my own eye. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to look like or present myself as and I didn’t care much to try. My style conveyed as much considering my closet was filled with sweaters and baggy T-shirts; I considered myself a reserved person.

We ended up back in the neighborhood and I went to go on my way, assuming Connor would go his separate way as well, but he followed me. Well, not exactly followed, but he went the same way as I did. Turns out he lives four houses down from me. Wonderful. guess he had assumed that we were friends after that encounter because, in the days following, he showed up at my house with cookies he baked. I played along since I wanted to get out a little more. My mother had invited him to have dinner with us a few days later. I sat at the table with clenched fists, constantly having to say “bless you” to Connor. Come to find out, he sneezes when he’s anxious. How convenient. Anyway, we began hanging out more and more, even taking day trips to the beach. I’d sit in the passenger seat fiddling with my hair while he drove his gray jeep down the highway. Occasionally, I’d even catch him looking over at me and staring.

That summer didn’t last long, and time flew by when I was with Connor. We started our last year of school together, but he got popular pretty quick.

Kylar Royer/The Paisano

Trystan and Blaine Pendergraff, father and son Batcave owners.

Kylar Royer/The Paisano

Arts & Life

Poet Laureate fired over use of racial slur in poem

Paisano Poets

By Juan Manuel Rocha Gómez Contributor

After four months as San Antonio’s poet laureate (2023-2026), Chicano writer Nephtalí De León has been fired after publishing a poem that contained a Spanish word considered a derogatory term for Black people.

De León posted the poem on his Facebook page titled “Dr. Roberto ‘Cintli’ Rodriguez (Adiosito carnal)” on Aug. 1 in memory of Chicano activist, writer and former professor at the University of Arizona Roberto “Cintli” Rodriguez, who passed away the day before.

The composition included not one but two words in Spanish that, in the context of Caló, the Chicano argot, are considered racial slurs. The first term was aimed toward White people and the second was directed towards people of African descent; however, most of the media attention and criticism focused on the inclusion of the latter.

The eulogy was quick to spark discussion and controversy. One of the first people to openly criticize De León’s tribute was Juan Tejeda, former Palo Alto College educator, musician and co-founder of the Guadalupe Arts Center’s Tejano Music Festival.

The Mexican-American studies professor remarked through social media that he liked the poem but questioned the then-poet laureate’s word choice. Tejeda hoped to “clarify the word’s etymology and meaning within Chicanx culture” and “begin a dialogue about this term and the implications of racism and anti-Blackness within the larger Chicanx/Latinx community.”

On Aug. 9, De León responded to Tejeda and apologized to anyone he had offended. He explained his interpretation of the word’s meaning and etymology, highlighting the experimental, spontaneous nature of Chicano expression, which he states is ever-evolving.

“To police our language too closely is to stifle our spontaneity and to dampen our creativity. But worse, it can easily lead to language genocide and even suicide,” De León stated regarding the continued backlash the poem received.

As the discussion gained traction, two letters urging the city to take action were sent to the Department of Arts & Culture, one by a group of writers and educators whose names are still undisclosed and another by former San Antonio and Texas poet laureates.

These two letters were later referenced by Mayor Ron Nirenberg in his public statement supporting the city’s decision, even though the signatories had requested the communications to be kept private.

The decision to terminate De León’s three-year contract followed soon after the Department of Arts & Culture released the following statement.

“The City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts & Culture is committed to championing policies and practices that empower a just, inclusive and equitable city, which aligns with the City of San Antonio’s mission statement and core values,” the department said. “The City of San Antonio’s Poet Laureate is to uphold these values, which include denouncing racism among other oppressive barriers while using creative poetic expressions to unite our community.”

Several personalities have since voiced their opinion of the city’s decision. Former San Antonio poet laureate Andrea “Vocab” Sanderson supported the department’s decision.

“We have to be above reproach with our words. They have power in every context. Our words have power,” she said.

Current Texas poet laureate Ire’ne Lara Silva and former San Antonio poet laureates Carmen Tafolla, Laurie Ann Guerrero, Jenny Browne and Octavio Quintanilla agree with the city’s decision.

After the decision was made public, discussions ensued on social media. Some users have voiced their concerns and declared the termination an act of censorship. Many have engaged in discussions surrounding the term’s meaning and the context within Caló. Others have applauded the decision and shared first-hand experiences where the word was used as a racial slur, advocating for removing the term from the poem.

The city has since announced plans to open nominations for a new poet laureate in November. The new poet laureate will be announced in April as part of the celebration of National Poetry Month and the San Antonio Book Festival.

Continue reading Lola

I guess I should’ve known it would happen — it’s an average new kid story. The moments we spent together during the summer quickly faded to distant memories as he began branching out and making other friends. I assumed that he’d put me on the back burner once he met other people, and he did for a little while. That was, until we were lying on the roof of my house together at two in the morning watching the stars when he whispered, “your eyes look stunning in this lighting.” I was sure he couldn’t even see my eyes. I felt my face redden and the corners of my mouth quirk up. I quickly put my hands over my face. I was so screwed.

Throughout the project, Earl stays consistent with his signature abstract lyricism and sound while The Alchemist delivers amazing instrumentals. One of the only issues with the album is its lack of experimentation. The Alchemist’s production throughout is amazing, but it does not push Earl to bring something new or

Shower heads are pretty easy to switch out and make a difference. Another upgrade is switching out the provided shower rod with a curved one to make your shower feel bigger.

6. Reduce, reuse, recycle

A free hack is to use containers or jars for decor. For example, Oui yogurt containers are perfect for knick-knacks or mini-fake plants. There are creative ways to reuse everything if you just look for them.

7. Decorate the fridge

Personalize your fridge with cute items that reflect you and your style. Cute ideas include covering your fridge in polaroids, magnets or stickers.

8. Organization is key

The key to a home you enjoy being in is not just decor but making sure this decor has its time to shine. Organization and making sure everything has a place will keep your area clean. Walmart, Facebook Marketplace and Ikea have relatively inexpensive organization options for your closet or bathroom — whatever is needed to keep things clean.

different to the plate. Each track stuck to what Earl is comfortable doing, slow melancholic bars with connecting abstract lyricism. Despite this, the album delivers what many fans were looking for. Standout tracks include “100 Street High” and “27 Braids.” “Voir Dire” was released on Aug. 25, and is exclusively available for streaming on Gala Music.

9. Ambient lighting > overhead lighting

Ambient lighting can transform your space into a cozy atmosphere. A lot of times, student apartments have dark lighting that can seriously kill your mood. Thrifting lamps and putting warm lightbulbs in them will make your space cozy and enjoyable.

10. Decorate your balcony

Utilizing and decorating your balcony is an underrated way to make your apartment feel like home. Get some plants and find an outdoor table and chairs. Other additions are a rug or turf and some outdoor lights

Whatever way you decide to make your apartment feel like home, just remember it is okay that it is not perfect all at once. Doing things on a budget takes time and patience, but in the end, you will have a space made just for you with items that will not be found in any other student’s apartment.

This Week in History – Week of Sep. 5

By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Find out past events from the days of this week; births, deaths and important moments from all corners of the globe and all eras of history.

Sept. 5, 1977: NASA launched

Voyager 1.

The Voyager probes were designed to explore Jupiter and Saturn, although they have since exceeded their mission goals and have gone on to study Uranus, Neptune and beyond. As of Sept. 5, 2023, Voyager 1 has been in

operation for 46 years. It crossed into interstellar space in 2012 and has reached the farthest distance from Earth ever reached by any spacecraft. Some of Voyager 1’s notable discoveries have been a thin ring around Jupiter, the moons Metis and Thebe

orbiting Jupiter, 5 moons orbiting Saturn, the G-Ring of Saturn and the moon Titan’s nitrogen atmosphere.

Sept. 6, 1757: The Marquis de Lafayette was born.

A French hero of the American Revolutionary War, Gilbert du

Motier became a general at 19 years old after arriving in America and volunteering his noble name and fortune to the cause of independence.

Continue reading Album

“To police our language too closely is to stifle our spontaneity and to dampen our creativity. But worse, it can easily lead to language genocide and even suicide.”

Samantha Ysaguirre/The Paisano

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

UTSA suffers second-straight season-opening loss to Houston

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

HOUSTON – UTSA football falls in its first game in the American Athletic Conference, losing 17-14 against Houston on Saturday night at TDECU Stadium. Sophomore running back Kevorian Barnes rushed for 105 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown in the season-opening loss.

Seventh-year quarterback Frank Harris had three-straight interceptions in the third quarter, flipping the momentum to the home team. Barnes, however, isn’t worried about the veteran.

“I told Frank he’s great,” Barnes said. “That’s part of the game. I love him, and him throwing those picks doesn’t make me love him any less. He’s still a great quarterback; I think he’s the best quarterback in the nation still. I’m going to ride with my guy.”

The first half was a defensive battle, ending with Houston taking a 10-7 halftime lead. The Cougars scored the game’s first points off an 8-yard touchdown pass from junior transfer quarterback Donovan Smith to sophomore Joseph Manjack IV. Houston worked a short field thanks to a 48-yard punt return from senior Malik Fleming to set up the Houston offense on UTSA’s 22-yard line.

The Roadrunners responded with a touchdown of their own on their next drive. Harris passed for 48 yards on the

8-play, 80-yard drive, leading to a 20-yard rush up the left sideline from Freshman David Amador II. Barnes finished the job with a 4-yard rush up the middle into the end zone.

“I’m a normal human just like everyone else, so I was nervous,” Barnes said after scoring the Roadrunners’ first touchdown of the season. “Once the touchdown came, it all went away.”

Unfortunately for UTSA, the Cougars got the final firsthalf points from a 31-yard field goal from junior Jack Martin as time expired in the second quarter.

The ‘Runners offensive struggles continued in the second half. Harris threw three interceptions on the first three drives of the third quarter, forcing the UTSA defense to keep the game in balance.

Houston capitalized after snagging its third-straight interception with a touchdown to make the game a twoscore lead. Smith and Manjack IV connected for a 16-yard pickup to place the Cougars on the 6-yard line. Smith punched in the touchdown with a 6-yard pass to sophomore receiver Matthew Golden in the right corner of the endzone.

The Roadrunners scored their second touchdown midway through the fourth quarter. Harris had three 20yard passes on the 15-play drive, including a 20-yard pass up the middle to senior receiver Joshua Cephus. UTSA trailed by three points with 5:42 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The UTSA defense could not force Houston to a punt, ultimately draining the clock and ending the game.

Roadrunners welcomes Stuedeman as softball coach

By Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

“When I look at hiring head coaches, it’s foremost that they fit the values of our department, and our athletics program, and our institution. And that’s about [the] student first. That’s what we’re here to do. To help mentor and develop students,” UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos said after a welcome event on Thursday for new head coach Vann Stuedeman.

In June, UTSA announced coach Stuedeman as the new head coach for the softball program. An accomplished coaching veteran, coach Stuedeman has built an impressive resume through her various outings as both a pitching coach and head coach.

During her stint as the pitching coach for Alabama from 2000-2011, she helped the Crimson Tide win three SEC regular season titles and reach the Women’s College World Series six times. Compiling a record of 276-189 as Mississippi State head coach from 2012-2019, which earned her the third-best winning percentage in the university’s softball coaching history, the Bulldogs made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in her eight years. If there are two things to describe coach Stuedeman, it is both winning and student-oriented.

“I think that this program and athletic department is on the rise. I wanted to be a part of the growth of the whole athletic department. San Antonio is a great city to live in, and it’s a great softball city,” Stuedeman said when asked why she chose UTSA.

“She’s been leading a winning program. She’s gone to very high levels. It’s always important to me that someone has been around winning. They know what it looks like. They know what it feels like. They know how to develop that,” Campos stated.

As a coaching veteran, she has guided the development of numerous student-athletes. Under her tutelage, her pitchers have earned 12 AllAmerica honors, 23 All-Region Awards, 12 AllSEC accolades, three SEC Pitchers of the Year, an SEC Freshman of the Year and the SEC Tournament MVP. A self-described players’ coach, she values being able to mentor the athletes she works with, which aligns nicely with what Campos envisions

for the softball program.

“I want to get the best out of the players, not only on the field but off the field more importantly as a person. To see them empower each other to be the best versions of themselves. Watch them grow in [not only] softball but also you know when you’re in college,” Stuedeman stated. “You’re making decisions that will impact you for the rest of your life. That’s the forefront of why I’m doing what I’m doing.”

“It is really about developing students in all areas of life. Making sure they’re just having exceptional experience, culminating in graduation,” Campos said. “Everyone we spoke to just talked about how [Stuedeman] is very much about developing students, helping them grow in this really critical time of being 18 to 22-year-olds.”

When asked to pick one word to describe what makes a program excel, coach Stuedeman chose grit.

“One word is grit. I think gritty individuals never say no. They continue to dig for the answers. And that’s not just in softball or in athletic venues. It’s in research. It’s in people in every field. You just keep outlasting. You never go away,” Stuedeman said.

The softball program continues to develop and grow as coach Stuedeman builds her coaching staff with the recent hires of assistant coaches Tori Smith and Jim Bray. The most important thing to coach Stuedeman and the success of the softball program is community support through various means like recruiting—bolstered by assistant coach Smith and her connections during her junior college days, attending games and appreciating even the smallest moments within a game.

“We love to get out into the community. We support them. They support us. Coming to the games is the best part. Being educated in the stands is also great. We learn and grow from those opportunities, so that’s a very good avenue to support us,” Stuedeman stated.

After the departure of the previous head coach, Michelle Cheatham, the program is heading in the right direction with this hire. Cheatham announced her resignation in May of this year after leading the softball program for 10 seasons as head coach and eight seasons as assistant coach.

Despite the second-straight season-opening loss coming from Houston, Traylor was impressed with his team’s defense.

“They played incredible,” Traylor said of his defense. “Our kids played their tails off. You just can’t have three turnovers and eight penalties.”

Harris’s lack of an offseason showed in the first game of his seventh season. The quarterback finished with 209 yards and a touchdown, though he completed just 18 of his 36 passes along with the three picks. Also, in his first game without receiver Zakhari Franklin, who transferred to Ole Miss, and offensive coordinator Will Stein, who is now with Oregon, Harris’ rust showed in the 17-14 loss.

“He’ll play his way back in,” Traylor said after Saturday’s game. “He’s a ton of reps behind. He got about 80 snaps tonight. He’ll get better because of it; he’ll play his way back into shape.”

The Roadrunners, now falling 0-1 for the second consecutive season, are not in unfamiliar territory. UTSA will now host its next two games, the next coming against Texas State, who defeated Baylor 42-31 on Saturday.

“We played a really good team and we played really well,” Traylor said. “In many aspects, we played much better than last year.”

UTSA will play Texas State in their home opener. The Roadrunners will kick off against the Bobcats at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the Alamodome.

Ranking the five best games of UTSA’s football season

By Connor Suehs Staff Writer

UTSA’s inaugural year in the American Athletic Conference will be an exciting time for Roadrunner fans. Football has gotten most of the spotlight in terms of media attention, which is fair, considering the ‘Runners are coming off backto-back Conference USA titles.

With the start of the campaign in the AAC happening last weekend, now is a great time to rank the five best games on UTSA’s schedule.

#5 - UTSA at Florida Atlantic Florida Atlantic was one of the teams that joined the AAC alongside UTSA this year. Despite the Owls having a disappointing 2022 record of 5-7 overall, there seems to be a great amount of optimism within their football program.

Former UT head coach Tom Herman has joined FAU in the same role and will look to catapult the program into the same line of success as their basketball team, who just recently made the NCAA Men’s Final Four. Herman will look to implement his spread offense and get the most out of the quarterback position, with another former Longhorn in Casey Thompson transferring last spring.

With a veteran offensive line and a borderline 1000-yard rusher in Larry McCammon back for another season, Thompson will have some options to work with and could give UTSA a run for their money if he is not properly pressured. While defense is still an issue for FAU, it still has plenty of veterans on the roster that could give the Roadrunners problems. With a new

era beginning for the Owls, this game is officially a trap game for UTSA.

#4 - Texas State at UTSA

The I-35 Rivalry is back in football for the first time since 2020, with both programs going in completely different directions since then. UTSA has gone on to dominate Conference USA and get a move to the AAC, while Texas State has struggled in recent years and is looking to regain relevance in college football.

Things may just be looking up for the Bobcats with new head coach G.J. Kinne coming in from Incarnate Word. Kinne will have the task of awaking a sleeping giant of sorts and bringing them back into the Sun Belt Conference title picture. Kinne is touted as one of the most underrated young offensive minds in all of college football. Texas State hit the transfer portal heavily and brought in some major players, with quarterback Malik Hornsby coming in from Arkansas and a whole host of players coming from Incarnate Word.

#3 - UTSA at Tennessee

Undoubtedly the biggest name on the schedule, Tennessee had a roller coaster season in 2022. From beating Alabama and LSU, to knocking off Clemson in the Orange Bowl, to losing in a blowout against underdogs South Carolina, the Volunteers went through all the emotions last season.

Stephen Saenz/The Paisano