Vol. 68, Issue 2 by The Paisano

Vol. 68, Issue 2

Est. 1981

January 30 - February 6, 2024

THE PAISANO

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline

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@paisanomedia

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President Eighmy hosts State of the University address UTSA’s future with strategic refresh and Be Bold Campaign

Courtesy of UTSA

By Kara Lee Graphics Editor

n Monday, Jan. 22, UTSA held a State of the University address hosted by President Taylor Eighmy. The event covered UTSA’s Be Bold campaign, a strategic plan refresh and a conversation with invited panelists. The first concept mentioned was how Eighmy’s vision for the 10-year strategic plan refresh has been updated throughout his presidency at UTSA. During his fifth year of the refresh, Eighmy must present a new business program for the board of regents to present all the resources needed for the university. Eighmy then mentioned how UTSA differs from other institutions in relation to students and resources. “We’re also a little bit different from some of the other institutions because of the way we do budgeting, managing budgets and projecting budgets because of our incentives [and] resources,” Eighmy said. The 2018-2023 timeline was a highlighted topic during the address, as it mentioned how the pandemic halted elements of the refresh and how these elements need to be altered to continue the

plan accordingly. New task forces were implemented as part of the strategic refresh for UTSA to be more prepared for future processes. These task forces focused specifically on hybrid learning, remote work and workforce development. The main outcomes discussed were a strategic enrollment plan, an increase in faculty headcount and expanded research output. Eighmy noted that UTSA is in a good position for growth within the enrollment plan, saying, “By 2028, we’re going to be at about 41,000 students and it drives formula funding and tuitions and fees.” New funding from the state and UT system allows for regional professors’ programs focused on strategic hires. This plan is to drive growth within federal research expenditures and UTSA’s knowledge enterprise. UTSA is now reserving funding from the Texas National Research Support Fund. This funding is only “performancebased and is driven by federal research expenditures and Ph.D. graduations.” “We have a lot of plans to grow federal, grow total and to take investments that come from revenue generation to drive faculty growth and grow investments,”

Eighmy explained. The ten-year strategic destinations involve three elements: a model for student success, a great public research university and an innovative place to work, learn and discover. “What’s special about the third destination was modified because of the input we got from our town halls with all of you and with our discussions at cabinets and the University Leadership Council. This focus on the third destination is now pivoted to become an innovative place to work, learn and discover,” Eighmy said. Due to recent legislative changes, the National Research University was abolished, but there is a new fund called the National Research Support Fund. UTSA is now “formulaically tired of our federal research expenditures and Ph.D. production.” This means UTSA will have access to 16 million dollars a year to grow the research enterprise. UTSA’s Be Bold campaign has raised over 387 million dollars, which is 78% of UTSA’s goal, in the first five years of the campaign. Eighmy noted that there are still four and a half years to raise the remaining $113 million dollars. The Be Bold campaign will provide funding for all campuses and schools

within the colleges. Funding will also go to career readiness for Roadrunners, meaning graduates can have more resources needed to go into the workforce prepared. Enrollment management has pushed for students’ success by lowering the time it takes UTSA students to graduate. “10 years ago, it took 5.3 years to [now] 4.4 years. That is unheralded in public higher education.” The address then proceeded with President Eighmy’s introduction to the guest panelists. These panelists were selected because their endeavors align with the general thematic areas of focus. The panelists included Director of Student Innovation Erica Clark, Senior Director of Strategic Communication Jennilee Garza, Senior Assistant Vice President and Asset Management Joshua Gerken, and head coach of women’s basketball Karen Aston, Associate Dean of Students and Wellbeing Services Dr. Melissa Hernandez, Director of MATRIX AI Consortium and Endowed Chair & Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering Dr. Dhireesha Kudithipudi and UTSA alumni, M.B.A. Candidate and entrepreneur Anna Almaraz.

SGA nominates committee chairs, New generative AI to improve looks forward to semester ahead cardiovascular health care By Jake Mireles Opinion Editor

the Sustainability Committee. Following these nominations, the assembly moved on to open nominations On Thursday, Jan. 25, UTSA’s Student Government Association (SGA) held its for the Internal Affairs and Financial first general assembly of the Spring 2024 Affairs Committees. Traditionally, the semester. SGA tackled the election of Student Body Treasurer would be the a new Deputy Speaker, the nomination chair for the Financial Affairs Committee, of multiple deputy chairs and President but with the position being vacant, a new Zachary Nepote presented the SGA’s chair was needed. Senator Gather was nominated to strategic refresh plan for the upcoming chair the Financial Affairs Committee, term. During the meeting’s open forum, SGA and Senator Rodriguez was nominated heard from a representative for the UTSA to chair the Internal Affairs Committee. Center for Civic Engagement, who will Nepote motioned for a slate confirmation, be holding a deputy voting registrar and both chairs were elected training session in conjunction unanimously. with Bexar County. The Following these training session will committee chair be held on campus nominations, the in the HEB Student assembly moved on Union’s Pecan Room to the Strategic Plan on Jan. 29 at 3 p.m. Refresh, presented Those wishing to by Nepote. Nepote participate must stated that his office be a resident of would be working Bexar County. closely with Dean Bexar County also of Students LT offers virtual voter Robinson to explore registrar training; more what career readiness information can be found Co A standards UTSA has for u G r t S e s y of U T S A on Bexar County’s website. its student workers and will be Following the open forum, SGA conducted an internal election for Deputy working to refine them to ensure that Speaker of the Senate. This election student workers are ready to enter the follows former Speaker of the Senate workforce post-graduation. Additionally, Karli Robertson’s departure, with former Nepote will be working with President Deputy Speaker Ryan Faidley filling the Eighmy’s office on raising student wages based on the years of experience they vacant position. Two individuals were nominated for have working at the university. For committee focuses, Nepote stated the position, Senator Vasquez and Senator Houston. Vasquez won 21-1, with two that the Student Affairs Committee senators abstaining from the vote. would focus on planning the University The assembly then proceeded to Life Awards and the SGA Field Day, nominate senators for committee chairs. and the Sustainability Committee would All four committee chair positions were focus on coordinating the 2024 SGA left vacant with the conclusion of the Earth Day Fair. Fall 2023 semester. Senator Powell was The Business Affairs committee will nominated and confirmed as the chair for be working in conjunction with liaisons the Business Affairs Committee; Senator from UTSA Housing and Residence Life Gonzalez was nominated and confirmed to coordinate housing forums for new as the chair for the Academic Affairs and returning students. Committee; and Senator Segovia was Continue reading at paisano-online.com nominated and confirmed as the chair for

By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer Two researchers from UTSA and UT Health are developing a potentially revolutionary new technology: a generative AI model that would provide cardiologists with a more accurate vision of the inside of patient arteries. Coronary arteries are responsible for bringing blood to the heart. The ability to look through coronary arteries provides doctors with the information needed to predict heart attacks, typically by assessing the amount of plaque buildup. Currently, the safest procedure to perform coronary scans utilizes optical coherence tomography (OCT). Originally intended for retinal scans, OCT is used in this context by capturing the infrared light from a catheter inserted into the artery. Doctors can “see” inside the artery with the very high-resolution images produced. “The problem is that this optical technique gives so much information; it’s almost too much, so the physicians that are using it are overwhelmed by the amount of information and detail,” says Marc Feldman, M.D., and emeritus and adjoint professor at UT Health San Antonio. Feldman collabo- rated with Thomas E. Milner, a UT Austin engineering professor, to adapt OCT for coronary purposes. The only other alternative to examining a patient’s heart in such detail is through an autopsy. Feldman and Paul Rad, UTSA School of Data Science associate director of research, along with doctoral research assistant Paul Young,

are developing the next step in improving the interpretation of coronary OCT images through AI. Feldman’s senior research scientists, Aleksandra Gruslova and Drew Nolen, with research assistant Luis Diaz Sanmartin, have collected around 2,000 OCT scans and histology images to feed their AI model. “The goal is to build a generative AI model that can learn from the existing images Dr. Feldman has captured in his lab, so our model can predict heart attacks at the earliest stage, and doctors can make impactful decisions to avoid potential heart damage in the future,” says Rad. There is a crucial hurdle to overcome: “The OCT sees a reflection of light in the material of the artery, then Paul [Young] has to make sure the AI’s learning is adjusted based on the reflection of different materials because lipid is different from other materials in arteries. Basically, his model has to learn the physics of light.” Successfully correcting the AI’s learning abilities could provide clinicians with advanced technology that could expand heart healthcare. Consistently accurate and detailed heart images allow cardiologists to determine the best and safest course of action at once. Increased development also means an increased understanding and interpretation of OCT imaging. Feldman and Rad look forward to the future uses of this technology.

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New ‘AirRowdy’ network receives mixed reviews By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer Upon returning to campus, UTSA students and faculty experienced a modified login process for the new on-campus Wi-Fi, AirRowdy. Shutdowns of the old “AirRowdy_Student,” “AirRowdy_Guest” and “AirRowdy_FacultyStaff” happened over winter break, with the University Technology Solutions (UTS) team combining both into one network. UTSA’s steady rise in student population, including a record-breaking freshman class last fall, has caused the old network to reach its maximum number of devices, with some days exceeding a total of 25,000. This has pushed the university to pursue a multi-year network upgrade where UTS will introduce new equipment to the old infrastructure. “We will continue to make investments across our campuses to handle the growth and demand for new coverage areas to ensure a seamless wireless experience for our university community,” Kendra Ketchem, UTSA’s vice president for information management and technology, said. Network hardware typically lasts five to seven years before it needs to be replaced. UTS has been upgrading equipment in smaller projects Mariana Ramos/The Paisano since the start of COVID in 2020, when the focus was to add access points into parking lots and garages to promote social distancing. This past winter break, UTS improved the network’s capacity, allowing it to authenticate and support a greater number of devices than it has in the past. “So far this semester [AirRowdy] has been good, but last semester [AirRowdy_Student] was terrible,” Francisco Martinez, a kinesiology major, said. “Last semester I for sure had a ton of issues with [AirRowdy_Student], but this semester [AirRowdy] has been pretty decent so far,” Eric Darr, a business major, said. “So far, so good,” Anita Bajwa, an anthropology major, said. Kim Kline, a communication professor, chimed in as well to praise the new upgrade by saying, “I haven’t had any problems this semester.” UTS is planning to assess the Main Campus’ Wi-

NEWS

Fi network service coverage at the end of January to identify the high-traffic areas that need an improved connection. Other upgrades are also planned, such as adding more access points around campus to allow for better Wi-Fi coverage in areas where service should be faster. “It changes so much around campus,” Steve Kosiba, professor of anthropology, said when asked about the unreliability of the network, “Outside [AirRowdy] is not so great.” Some students have also expressed their frustrations with the new network, even after the upgrade. “I use ‘AirRowdy_Guest’ because it is more reliable and easier to connect to,” Marlene Beasley, a communications major, said. “I have to use my hotspot continuously throughout my classes on campus due to the unreliability of the school’s Wi-Fi,” Alessia Valdez, a biology major, said. “I can’t log into [AirRowdy] on my phone,” Ellie Lemm, a communications major, said. According to the UTS TechCafe, UTSA is enhancing network connectivity across campuses through several initiatives, including replacing older wireless access points, testing connectivity throughout campus and increasing bandwidth to accommodate growth in the number of users and devices connecting to the network. Additional upgrades will encompass the replacement of equipment in 60 buildings across UTSA campuses. When the project is complete, UTSA students, faculty and staff can expect a more seamless experience connecting to the Wi-Fi. The TechCafe is in place to assist students with technical needs, including helping with network connections and troubleshooting. Julio Brindis, a communications major, talked about his experience with the Tech Cafe, which helped him get connected to AirRowdy. “I had issues connecting to [AirRowdy] at the very start. I had to go to the Tech Cafe to get signed in.” If you are experiencing Wi-Fi connection issues, please call the Tech Cafe at (210) 458-5555 or email techcafe@utsa.edu.

Alumni, Future Texas Business Legend: Anna Almaraz By Kara Lee Graphics Editor

Courtesy of Anna Almaraz

the Texas Business Hall of Fame. In June 2023, I found out that I was going to be the 2023 Future Texas Business Legend. When I heard my name get called, I remember crying because I thought about all of [the] hard work that went into the process.” In regard to what Almaraz wants her future to look like, she sees herself as “a catalyst and a nonprofit leader here in San Antonio,” ten years from now. “My passion is deeply rooted in helping others and giving back. I do see myself as an executive in nonprofits, but what’s important to me is that I never lose that one connection, those roots where I come from,” she said. Almaraz discussed how UTSA has shaped her for the future. “What UTSA means to me is thinking about being an entrepreneur and aspiring nonprofit leader and how many opportunities UTSA has given me to keep pursuing my dreams.” “The people in the [College of Business Dean’s] office were just so amazing and so supportive, and they were the ones who told me to apply to the Texas Business Hall of Fame. So UTSA, they’ve been just amazing in terms of giving opportunities and being so supportive, especially being a first generation [student]. Being bold is about giving hope to others and inspiring for good,” Almaraz said.

SAISD juniors offered UTSA admission By Alessandra Avila Staff Writer

UTSA is partnering with SAISD to accept the top 25% of their graduating class. This will apply to junior-standing students. UTSA stated that more than 700 eligible SAISD juniors were contacted to begin the program. Currently, 282 juniors have completed or intend to complete their UTSA application. This legislation also attempts to combat declining college enrollment rates. According to News4sa, “In 2023, only 80% of SAISD graduates filed college applications, compared to 94% of seniors in 2019.” In addition to helping students, this program aims to assist middleclass and lower-class families that cannot afford college. In 2022, Promise Plus, an extension of the Bold Promise initiative, was introduced. “UTSA is deeply committed to growing the workforce and positively impacting

the economic development of San Antonio by preparing students to succeed in future jobs.” Regardless of the need for funding, SAISD students who accept their offers to the UTSA Honors College will get $1,500 every semester if they decide to reside on campus, as stated by the university. One of the UTSA Honors College’s newest livinglearning communities, Guadalupe Hall, is home to first-year Honors students. This new opportunity will alter the lives of many firstgeneration students, as they will have several scholarship options to choose from. Students who are interested in this program do not need to apply separately. Given that the students live in San Antonio and come from an SAISD school, they automatically have the advantage of qualifying for federal, state and institutional funds.

Kayla McCutcheon/The Paisano

State of the City Week of 1/30/24

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay upto-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 the closure of a longtime East-side bakery to major street closures downtown. Beloved East-side panadería closes Nuevo Leon Bakery, located off of S. New Braunfels and Aransas Avenue, closed shop permanently on Friday, Jan. 26, after being an East-side staple for the past 28 years. While business remained steady with a diverse clientele, owner Marlene Araujo decided it was finally time to retire and spend more time with her family. Crime-spree at NISD school SAPD has two people in custody after several attempted break-ins and carjackings early Friday morning on the Westside. The crime spree began at 6:30 a.m. when officers received a report of an attempted break-in. After the perpetrators fled the first scene, Passmore Elementary staff spotted them in a stolen vehicle outside the school. SAPD went on to track the two suspects to a shopping center off of West Military and Highway 90, where a chase ensued until the two suspects peacefully surrendered at a home on Woodgate Drive. Construction projects close streets downtown Over the next few weeks, downtown is set to have a few major street closures. Starting on Jan. 28, a block of Dolorosa St. will be reduced to one lane for duct bank installations. The lane closures run from 9 a.m. until 7 p.m., and the street will fully reopen on Feb. 9. A second project nearby is set to start on Feb. 5. Two blocks of Santa Rosa Street will be closed for water line work. The city has noted that nearby intersections will stay open, as will access to businesses and residences. The two blocks are said to reopen on Feb. 18. Dustin Vickers/ The Paisano

San Antonio’s roadmap to a safer city

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Elizabeth Hope/ The Paisano

Anna Almaraz is a first-generation college student, a Future Texas Business Legend in the Texas Business Hall of Fame, a nonprofit lover and, most recently, one of the invited panelists for UTSA’s 2024 State of University. From a young age, Almaraz has shown an interest in filmmaking and attended high school at the North East School of the Arts. During her time in high school, Almaraz discovered a passion for starting a business of her own. “I wanted to be a film director,” she said. “One of our projects was to film a documentary for a small business. I was the director of photography on that project, and they loved it, so they used it for their commercials and advertising. From there, I was like, okay, I can make money from this. So I created my business, Social Sophie Marketing LLC, at fifteen.” “Since 2016, I have worked in radio, real estate, non-profits, public figures and have generated 675,000 dollars in sales for clients.” When asked about her experience as a firstgeneration student, Almaraz said, “It was confusing at first.” She noted that concepts such as college applications, FAFSA and letters of recommendation were all materials she had to figure out over time. Almaraz added that UTSA’s first-year experience mentorship program was a key figure in her journey as a first-generation student. “One of the things I think is a really strong program [that] helped me at UTSA is the firstyear experience mentorship program that was linked through my AIS class. My mentor helped me [get] that extra guidance. And that was a program that UTSA provided that inspired me to become a mentor as well and help other first-gen students.” Almaraz was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame as a Future Texas Business Legend and she shared her initial thoughts about how she felt. “I was doing a work-study at the College of Business Dean’s office. One of the people who worked there, Shelley Dotson, knew all about my business; I would tell her all about it. And one day she came up to me and said, ‘Hey, there’s this amazing opportunity for entrepreneurs. It’s called [the] Texas Business Hall of Fame.’” “I had the passion and experience to apply. The application was in four stages and was a rigorous process. Before I knew it, I was interviewing for

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OPINION End Abbott’s grandstanding

Texas’ actions lead nation into dangerous waters

Editorial

In clear defiance of the ruling, Abbott has further

he Texas border standoff has further intensified following the recent Supreme Court

committed to flexing his political muscles by increasing patrol of the border and installing more razor wire

emergency injunction in favor of the federal

barriers. This dangerous escalation has also been

government. On Jan. 22, the Supreme Court “agreed to temporarily let U.S. Border Patrol agents cut or remove razor wire fencing that Texas officials placed along part of the Republican-governed state’s border with Mexico to deter illegal border crossings,” according to Reuters. This ruling, while surprising considering the conservative nature of this court, gives the federal government complete jurisdiction to assume control of the border after Texas Governor Greg Abbott took steps to secure it using state agencies and resources. This has already led to multiple deaths, with one woman and two children drowning trying to cross the river on the contested part of the border. Federal agents were barred from attempting to save the migrants by Texas military officers.

heightened by 25 Republican governors supporting

Abbott’s stance, with Abbott commenting that he believes those governors would commit National Guard troops to the standoff if needed.

This clear and blatant grandstanding by Abbott is

Noah Willoughby/The Paisano

Commentary

Social Media Manager

tion of mental health around the workplace. The shift in mental health awareness has not only benefited employees but has also helped reshape corporate culture as a whole. Companies actively addressing mental health concerns are showing a commitment to employee welfare and creating a culture of understanding, support and empathy. This has caused an increase in loyalty, job satisfaction and overall morale among employees. It can no longer be acceptable for companies to expect employees to put their jobs above their mental health and happiness. Promoting a healthy work-life balance is essential to a successful company, and the interconnectedness between mental health and productivity should be enough to prompt organizations to invest in improved well-being programs. The old corporate culture that emphasizes productivity over well-being is over; after all, you cannot have high productivity without healthy well-being. isano

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In the past four years, workplace culture has completely changed. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, more people have begun working from home on their own time, increasing mental health awareness in the workplace. The widespread adoption of remote work has brought about many changes within the corporate culture and has reshaped many of the traditional notions of the workplace. Employees were able to create their schedules for the most part, allowing many to create their own work-life balance. The importance of employees’ mental health was emphasized because of the remote work environment as well as the stress on everyone due to a global pandemic. Employers began to recognize the need to address these issues that many were facing, and the majority of employers quickly began to take action, providing resources, support systems and other programs to help destigmatize the conversa-

The Stanley Cup promotes overconsumption Commentary By Sofia Mejia Staff Writer

Early in the morning of Jan. 3, eager shoppers lined up, hoping to secure the “luxury” of purchasing one thing. This $50 pink tumbler, a limited edition collaboration between Stanley and Starbucks, was exclusively available at Target. As the day progressed, videos surfaced online depicting a chaotic scene as shoppers vied for the coveted item. What was once a sought-after cup became a humiliating showcase of consumerism. Product release frenzies are nothing new; they are evidence of an obsession with consumption and abundance that has been growing since the Industrial Revolution. The rise of social media and influencer marketing has compounded this phenomenon as brands pervade online spaces. Social media targets individuals using algorithms that cultivate a personally appealing feed, convincing users that a product they see online is a true must-have, already owned and loved by everyone they see online. Earlier in Nov. 2023 a TikTok video by user “@ danimarielettering” went viral depicting a Stanley tumbler that survived in the wreckage of her burned car. This video which gained 32 million views launched the brand into the public consciousness showing the power of influencers.Social media users often develop parasocial relationships — relationships that a person imagines having with another person whom they do not know, which starts interfering with real-life mental well-being — with influencers, subconsciously trusting their advice and recommendations. This dynamic is quite lucrative,

waters, with the dangerous rhetoric of an impending civil war being popularized as a result of this dispute.

As citizens, we cannot allow this to continue. We must

advocate for the de-escalation of tensions at the border to avoid this senseless conflict.

You can find the contact information for your local

representative’s

office

https://house.texas.gov/

members/ and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php.

Crush the corporate culture By Allana Llabres

leading Texas and the nation as a whole into treacherous

as according to Statista, “a micro-influencer can earn $1,804 per Instagram post, equivalent to almost 250 hours of work at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.” Social media capitalizes on a desire for fulfillment, presents products as beacons of happiness and fosters an insatiable appetite for material possessions. Individuals succumbing to desires they didn’t have before social media must understand that it is not their fault. The marketing industry is dedicated to manipulating individuals into wanting and buying things. Once focused on marketing reliable tumblers to blue-collar workers, Stanley shifted its strategy to target women and introduced new limited edition colors, resulting in a revenue increase from 70 million to 750 million. Brands that sustain year-on-year revenue growth inherently contradict sustainable practices for the environment and the consumer’s wallet. Despite the typical appeal of reusable products, like tumblers, being the need to buy only one longlasting product, brands market new versions as collectibles, contributing to both their profits and landfills. These practices of planned obsolescence and artificial scarcity, when brands design items to require replacement or feel valuable due to limited availability, encourage frequent repurchasing. To counteract this trend and contribute to reducing landfills, consumers can adopt mindful purchasing habits. Resources like the “Buy it for life” Reddit community provide information on durable and long-lasting products. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Furries vs. The State of Oklahoma Commentary By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor Last week, Republican lawmaker Justin Humphrey introduced House Bill 3084 to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. The bill targets furries in Oklahoma public schools, proposing that students “who purport to be an imaginary animal or animal species, or who engage in anthropomorphic behavior” at school be prohibited from participating in school curriculum and activities. Those caught doing so will be removed from campus by either a parent or animal control. While this bill can be seen in a favorable light at first glance, its existence forebodes more dangerous legislation. Unsolicited wearing of costumes and adoption of fursonas has no place in the classroom; however, it is not a problem substantial enough in Oklahoma to warrant legal action, especially not as outlined in the bill. Humphrey cited now-debunked allegations of disrupting furry behavior in schools, such as students using litter boxes in restrooms, as his motivation to pen the bill. This further diminishes his credibility and highlights how difficult it would be to identify students who consider themselves furries. This bill would incite a witch-hunt against students that would prove even more disruptive to the academic environment than one person wearing a headband with cat ears. Humphrey is likely targeting the furry community as a precursor to a more alarming persecution. With a history of being anti-LGBTQ+, especially with anti-transgender policies, Humphrey seeks to pave a path towards restricting education towards individuals who are part of communities he does not understand or respect. The furry and queer communities are separate entities, but both are constantly faced with public scrutiny and are the targets of misinformed, fear-mongering politicians. Many citizens will happily support a bill that removes students in their fursonas from the classroom, especially if they are led to believe that these students will wear their attention-grabbing costumes to school. If this bill is made into law, when legislation with similar wording swaps “furry” for “transgender” or “non-binary,” it will face fewer obstacles and endanger the civil rights of many more students. Furthermore, if this type of legislation gains traction, other states with large conservative populations will follow suit, further endangering the education of targeted students. Another concerning aspect of the bill is the threat of animal control being called to remove students from school campuses should their parents or guardians fail to do so. Not only is this a dehumanizing tactic meant to humiliate students — who, as previously mentioned, might not even be actual furries — but it is also a waste of government resources. Animal control is funded by tax dollars and is in place to service the taxpayers’ community when presented with situations related to actual animals, not sentient human beings. It is disrespectful to the dedication and training of animal control personnel to drag them into Humphrey’s ridiculous war on teenage furries. As it stands, one does not need to have a positive view of furries to understand that this Oklahoma bill is unnecessary and dangerous. It must be struck down now.

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OPINION Paws for redemption

The Paisano

Commentary By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

There is nothing more satisfying and rewarding than adopting an animal from the shelter. As the stray cat population rapidly rises, shelters are filling up too quickly for employees to handle, and a solution is needed. It seems one of Chile’s most overcrowded prisons is ahead of the game and has found a way to give stray cats a home while encouraging good behavior among inmates. For decades, cats wandered the walls of the prison, mostly ignored by everyone. Eventually, prison officials realized that cats may have had a positive connection to the inmates’ behavior. The New York Times interviewed inmates to see their thoughts on their new feline cellmates. “The felines’ presence has changed the inmates’ mood, has regulated their behavior and has strengthened their sense of responsibility with their duties, especially caring for animals,” the prison’s warden, Col. Helen Leal González said. While there is not a structured system in place, the inmates have created their own methods of caring for the cats. “Prisoners informally adopt the cats, work together to care for them, share their food and beds and, in some cases, have built them little houses. In return, the cats provide something invaluable in a lockup notorious for overcrowding and squalid conditions: love, affection and acceptance.” The accidental acceptance of cats in the Chilean prison catapulted into

something much bigger around the world. After seeing consistent, positive results, prisons understand that animals are promoting good behavior and have started implementing formal programs to continue this streak. Leader Dogs for the Blind has partnered with prisons in Michigan and Minnesota to have inmates aid in their mission. The seven-week-old puppies are given to an inmate to be raised and cared for. The inmate must raise that puppy for the next 12 to 15 months to prepare the puppies as “guide dogs.” The inmate is tasked with teaching the puppy a foundation of skills and obedience. At Pendleton Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison located outside of Indianapolis, inmates have been given the chance to feel a feline’s unconditional love. As part of the FORWARD program, a handful of inmates get to spend six hours a day with over 20 cats. The program provides shelter for stray cats and untampered affection for the inmates, leaving everyone happier than before. Some participating inmates say that caring for the cats is the only thing they still get out of bed for, proving that the program is bringing positivity to everyone involved. Animals have always been said to

have healing properties, and the inmates agree. These programs have produced nothing but good results and should be implemented in every correctional facility. Inmates need love, and so do stray animals, which is why this is the perfect solution. Prisoners need to be reminded that they are worthy of love, even if it only comes in feline form, but they also need to be reminded that they are capable of loving another being.

The United States’ foreign policy during the Cold War, aptly named the “Falling Domino Principle,” stated that if one country falls into the grips of communism, other nations surrounding it will fall too. While corporate advertising may have few similarities to communism, the “Falling Domino Principle” can be applied to the spread of sponsorship within the space of athletic events over the past fifty years. Picture a time in the not-so-distant past when a person entered a stadium and saw nothing besides the on-field talent as their only stimulant. That time only exists in photographs now. From the grounds where the players play to the stadium where we sit or to the concession stand, even the pre and post-game shows where folks at home watch: there is no escape from the advertising madness. Present-day sporting events look more in line with Times Square than your local field. Some form of sponsorship from a corporate entity is nearby on every surface, and wherever a person looks, they are berated by marketing. Auto

companies, banks, airlines, beer and fast food giants have found athletic events and sports superstars to be the next best thing since the sixty-foot billboards on the side of the interstate to advertise their products to the populace. Sports teams are soulless entities, and the players that wear the colors bear a resemblance of liveliness. Ownership groups of these franchises do not care about the pageantry of “the game” or the integrity of it. They care about their machine of athletic entertainment. Few, if any, owners in modern sports care about their team more than an investment. Most look to maximize their dollar by filling any surface with anything — literally anything. Advertisements are nothing new to the landscape; they are ingrained into the culture of the modern world. Time is not a valid scapegoat for the visual pollution that it causes. Sports advertising is a very lucrative market, as proven by the numbers. 70% of all Americans are sports fans, with one in five watching four hours of sports a week. Companies drop seven million dollars for 30 seconds of screen time on Super Bowl Sunday

Marketing Manager 2023 was one of the best years for movies in the past decade. Even outside of the movie-going event that was “Barbenheimer,” audiences were treated to films such as “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” “The Color Purple,” “Killers of The Flower Moon,” “The Holdovers,” “Poor Things,” “American Fiction,” and several more. Many of these films will be honored at the biggest night in the film industry, The Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars. However, when the official nominations were released on Jan. 23, audiences took to social media to discuss films, actors and directors that they felt had either received the nominations they deserved or were unfairly left off the ballot. This discourse is nothing new

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

Kara Lee | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor William Barnes | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Zach Geocaris | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Jada Thomas | Marketing Manager Marketing@paisano-online.com Allana Llabres | Social Media Manager Socialmedia@paisano-online.com Naydine De La Fuente | Copyediting Coordinator Copyediting@paisano-online.com

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Lauren Hernandez | Assistant Arts & Life Editor Haley Aguayo | Assistant Sports Editor Genevieve Vega | Assistant Multimedia Editor

Staff

with no guarantees of recuperating the cost which is a risk worth taking for most accountants. Recently, sports owners among some of the biggest brands in the NBA, MLB and NHL have succumbed to the barrage of advertising and left the last vestige of purity in American athletics — the uniform. From the New York Yankees to the Montreal Canadiens or the Los Angeles Lakers, their indistinguishable identity has been lost as another instrument of corporate sponsorship. However, there are some sponsor-free uniforms left in the big four American sports. All 32 NFL teams as well as certain teams from the other leagues previously mentioned. The few organizations holding out will not last much longer; the scourge of corporatism will surely spread. The fatcats who dictate American sports with an iron fist would sacrifice their firstborn for the guarantee of seeing their prized friends in Jackson or Franklin. In twenty years, who knows, the uniforms may look like their European counterparts or be fully owned by a corporate entity similar to the Korean baseball league.

Commentary when it comes to The Oscars, and these conversations are part of what makes award season so exciting. This year, though, a specific audience was incredibly vocal about two individuals who did not receive the nominations people believed were rightfully theirs. “Barbie” was arguably the most successful film of last year, with audiences hitting theaters in droves dressed head to toe in pink to watch the film celebrating the iconic doll. The movie was such a phenomenon that it closed with nearly $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, making it one of only a few femaledominated movies among the top-grossing films of all time. Because of this, people thought it would be a given that the director of “Barbie,” Greta Gerwig, and the film’s lead actress, Margot Robbie, would receive Best Director and Best Actress nominations,

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

Pink is not the new gold By Jada Thomas

Chloe Williams | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com

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

Commentary Staff Writer

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

Prime real estate: sports By Nicholas Kingman

Editorial Board

respectively. However, they were missing from both nomination categories, and their absences were felt. Instead, the two actors from the film that did receive

nominations were America Ferrera for Best Supporting Actress and Ryan Gosling for Best Supporting Actor. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Jenna Taylor/The Paisano

Read More Online The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer. 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 Phone: (210) 690-9301 © 2024 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.

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arts & life Drag, dance and Björk

Sharon Stargasm, Mistress Baby Rae and Ethel Institution perform at the Björk brunch The Starlighter hosted. Lauren Hernandez/The Paisano

The Starlighter’s brunch celebrates iconic songstress

By Naydine De La Fuente Copyediting Coordinator

his past Sunday, The Starlighter hosted their weekly, out-of-this-world drag brunch, where attendees could enjoy delicious food and unforgettable performances by alternative drag performers. With each new week comes a new theme, and at Sunday’s brunch, the theme was based on none other than famous Icelandic singer-songwriter and composer Björk, who is best known for her unique style in music and attire. The theme was chosen by performer and renowned drag queen Mistress Baby Rae. “I love Björk; she’s one of my favorite artists of all time,” Mistress said. “I wanted to do a theme for my birthday that was out of the box for my dragsona, but it was something I knew I could turn out. So I chose Björk, and I’m really happy because I got some really talented Björk lovers on the cast.” The talented queens who performed displayed excellent skills through their intricate and detailed outfits and

outstanding lip-syncing performances. The lineup for The Starlighter’s brunch began with House of Metamorphasis’ very own Shitonya Face, who was the host of the overall event. The three main performers were Mistress Baby Rae, Ethel Institution and Sharon Stargasm. Throughout the brunch, each queen displayed iconic looks inspired by Björk and lip-synced to some of her renowned songs, such as “All is Full of Love,” “It’s Oh So Quiet” and “Venus as a Boy.” Between each set, the guests and attendees got the opportunity to hear some hilarious anecdotes and crowd interaction from the event’s host, Shitonya, or got the chance to order The Starlighter’s pizzas and mimosas to enjoy while they watched the performances unfold, ensuring an afternoon of fun and entertainment. Alongside the performances and breaks in between, there were some heartwarming moments as well, such as singing “Happy Birthday” to the birthday queen, Mistress, which displayed a welcoming and safe space for everyone in attendance. After each queen performed twice, they ended the event with a bang as they went all out in an attention-grabbing group dance to the song “Human Behaviour” by Björk. This performance left everyone on the edge of their seats

as the queens did shocking choreography and ate fake organs made by the Mistress herself. Sharon Stargasm had a special role in creating the choreography because of her minor in dance. “A lot of, like, what I have to do is collaborate with other people,” Stargasm said. “I think that carries over to drag. I really appreciated working with [Mistress and Institution] because we immediately knocked out that number in an hour or so.” Although it was a fantastic event to attend and looked effortless and fun from the audience’s point of view, so much goes into the art of drag and its production. “Honestly, it’s like a test of endurance,” Institution stated. “It’s just awesome; it’s definitely all mental.” “It’s a lot of energy that we put into it,” Stargasm continued. “We do it because we love it, not because we’re getting anything big out of it. It’s just personal for everybody.” There is a lot that goes into these performances and much more that goes into the art of drag. So, if you want to support local drag and enjoy a Sunday afternoon full of entertainment and fun, visit The Starlighter and keep an eye out for their future Drag Brunch or other events. Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Free ways to enjoy art in San Antonio Spare Change By Chloe Williams Managing Editor

Since its founding in 1718, San Antonio has embodied hope, resilience and a vibrant culture. Because of these characteristics and the people who symbolize them, it is no wonder Mission City is ranked number one among the best Texas cities for the arts. Serving as an epicenter for Mexican-American artists and influential art movements like the Chicano Art Movement in the mid-1960s, San Antonio continues to be home to countless artists, museums and galleries that showcase local art. Join us as we highlight various places and ways you can experience the rich San Antonio art scene for free. San Antonio Museum of Art Located at 200 W. Jones Ave., the San Antonio Museum of Art (SAMA) showcases countless exhibits spanning over 5,000 years. Admission to SAMA is free for all UTSA students, faculty and staff through a university partnership. To take advantage of the discount, show your school ID. The McNay The McNay is a 25-acre art museum located at 6000 N New Braunfels Ave., showcasing art across various mediums. UTSA students, faculty and staff can enjoy free admission to the McNay every day by showing their school ID.

Beyond profit

Briscoe Western Art Museum Located off the River Walk at 210 W. Market St., Briscoe Western Art Museum focuses on Western art, showcasing the stories of “the cowboy, the vaquero, Native Americans and the vast beauty of the Western landscape.” San Antonio and Bexar County residents receive free admission on the first Sunday of the month. For the first full weekend of the month, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch and U.S. Trust cardholders gain one free admission pass to the museum. Regular student admission is $12. Ruby City Ruby City is a contemporary art center located at 150 Camp St. Ruby City is always free and open to the public, with no student identification required. The space has over 1,400 paintings, sculptures, installations and video works. Contemporary at Blue Star The Contemporary at Blue Star is a nonprofit contemporary art organization located inside Building C of the Blue Star Arts Complex at 116 Blue Star. Admission to the Contemporary is always free, and donations are accepted at the door. Artpace Artpace is a nonprofit residency program that supports local, national and international artists in the creation of new art. Their exhibits are available at 445 N Main Ave. and are always free and open to the public. Centro de Artes Gallery

Centro de Artes is a gallery located in Historic Market Square at 101 S. Santa Rosa Ave. The two-story exhibit space focuses on “the Latino experience in the United States with a focus on South Texas through local and regional art, history and culture, and showcasing Latino artists and Latino-themed artworks.” The gallery is always free to visit. San Antonio Art League & Museum San Antonio Art League & Museum (SAALM) is a house-turned-museum located in the heart of the King William district at 130 King William. SAALM is home to over 600 works, each focusing on Texas artists. Admission is free, and donations are accepted. Outdoor murals Another free way to experience art in San Antonio is to visit one of the city’s many outdoor murals and public art. Some notable places are San Pedro Creek Culture Park at 715 Camaron St., Neon Drive at 401-405 Nolan St. and River Walk Public Art Garden at 849 E. Commerce St. The city of San Antonio also provides a Public Art Map, which allows you to search for and see all public art spaces across the city. With powerful art accessible in San Antonio, spending the day at a museum or gallery is the perfect way to appreciate the vast San Antonio art scene. To support San Antonio’s accessible art initiatives, consider leaving a donation if you are able. Kayla McCutcheon/The Paisano

Uncovering the pillars of San Antonio’s nonprofit community By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

San Antonio thrives off of nonprofit organizations. With small startups and large corporations, there is no shortage of nonprofits in the city to support. While there are way too many to detail, it is important to recognize a few notable organizations. Girls Inc. Looking for a female-focused organization to guide you through your struggles? Girls Inc. aims to do just that. With a mission geared toward inspiring young women, “Girls Inc. of San Antonio helps girls ages 6 to 18 overcome barriers that prohibit them from achieving their personal, educational and career goals.” Locally established in 2004, the nonprofit has since flourished and is located at 2214 Basse Rd. South Texas Alliance for Orphans Every day, there are an average of 12 children in San Antonio who are removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse. That number may seem low, but it is way too high for one area. South Texas Alliance for Orphans is a nonprofit organization dedicated to abolishing the foster crisis in San Antonio by encouraging more help from the

community. Their goal is to end the foster crisis by 2025, but that is not something they can complete on their own. Serving the community since 2012, the nonprofit gets closer to its goal every day and is located at 5804 Babcock Rd. Child Advocates San Antonio A nonprofit organization that stands out to local Girls Inc. is located at 2214 Basse San Antonians is Child Advocates San Antonio nonprofits? UTSA is the final nonprofit highlight. Since (CASA). While watching movies at Santikos theaters, 1969, UTSA has been serving as a credible research CASA runs ads before the movie begins, giving locals university, giving students a chance to continue their some insight into the nonprofit. Through advocacy, education right here in San Antonio. With a 90% connections and permanency, CASA’s mission aims acceptance rate, UTSA continues to give students a to “recruit, develop and lead highly impactful court- chance to pave the path to their future. appointed volunteer Advocates who provide constancy UTSA has two campuses to accommodate students; and support for children and youth who have experienced the Main Campus is located at 1 UTSA Circle, and the abuse and neglect.” Downtown Campus is at 501 César E Chávez Blvd. Located at 1956 S WW White Rd., CASA is an This city is rich with nonprofit organizations, and it is influential force for children who have experienced abuse. important to support them at all costs. If none of these University of Texas at San Antonio serve your needs, make sure to research your options Did you know that almost all public universities are because there is definitely a nonprofit for everyone.

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Arts & Life Quarter for a concert

Scrambled Eggs hosts mind-boggling ‘Backyard Bash’

Nick Garza of Scrambled Eggs shreds in front of the crowd.

“Backyard Bash,” held on Jan. 27, was hosted at Garza’s grandmother’s home.

Malaki Lingg/The Paisano

Reviews By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

An attendee in a luchador mask is carried by another in the “Backyard Bash” mosh pit.

Jakob Lui, a vocalist and guitarist from Beware of Dog,

“Looking through the backyard, there was a wave of people headbanging, moshing or at least nodding their heads to the intensity flowing from the stage.”

‘Godzilla Minus One’: a mesmerizing return in monochrome Reviews By Ezequiel Peña Contributor

Around October of last year, Toho Studios released Takashi Yamazaki’s vision for the next installment of the “Godzilla” franchise. The film became a big hit in Japan and would become a surprise hit when it was distributed across the U.S. in December, receiving great reviews from critics and audiences alike. Because of this, Toho decided to expand the original two-week release schedule for the film and have it extended to two months, specifically in the United States. What is the reason for all the praise, and why is it getting a black-and-white version released before it is pulled out of theaters? To answer the former question, the film has been receiving love from both audiences and critics for its engaging approach to the franchise by making the film more about the people than about Godzilla. This approach has been done before in various ways, such as with the original “Gojira (1954),” the 2014 American “Godzilla” and even the last installment from Toho, 2016’s “Shin Gojira,” which tried to make the humans more central to the story. However, except for the original, none of these interpretations have done nearly as well and effectively as “Godzilla Minus One.” Without getting into spoilers, the film mostly focuses on a select few characters who have all, in one way or another, been affected by World War II. Instead of taking the usual route that most Godzilla films have taken where the main character is a blank slate that serves as the point of view for the audience, similar to Neo in “The Matrix,” the film instead does something similar to the original where it gives each character an interesting backstory and a purpose in the plot that is enough to make you feel an immediate connection with them. The main character, played by Ryûnosuke Kamiki, connects deeply with the audience by setting the groundwork for what meaning lies within the monster’s destruction. It is almost impossible to talk about a Godzilla film without talking about the titular creature himself. To put it bluntly, this new interpretation does

not disappoint. From the trailers, Godzilla looks just like another retread of stomping clichéd monsters audiences have gotten used to. When watching the film, however, Godzilla is nothing short of terrifying. Not only are the effects on the creature incredible to witness, especially considering the effects team only consisted of 35 artists on a budget under $15 million, but his presence on the film is unforgettable. He seems to be a mix between the rageful monster version of 2001’s “Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah” and the tragic abomination of the original “Gojira,” although he is not quite as poignant as the 2016 “Shin Gojira.” Every time he is on screen, it is hard not to be intimidated, or even scared, by this towering, rageful beast. The film even takes it a step further by not just making him a metaphor for the atomic bomb and the effects of radiation on survivors, which has been done a few times in past iterations, but also having him stand as a manifestation of the survivor’s guilt experienced by the Japanese soldiers who returned to their rubbled homes. There are just a few changes that make for a terrifying “kaiju” (monster). The film has become the highest-grossing film in the Godzilla franchise and has become the first to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects. Because of this, “Godzilla Minus One” is getting rereleased in theaters for the final time via a black and white version, fittingly called “minus color.” This is not something new since it has been done before with popular films like “Mad Max Fury Road” and “LOGAN.” But this time, it differs as it is done to honor the original film for the 70th anniversary of its release, even down to the original black and white Toho logo playing before the start of the film. The addition of the aesthetic makes the film feel more genuine to the period in which it takes place, and it even gives off more of a horror feel when watching. It may not be enough of a big change for the average movie-goer, but it is enough for those who appreciate the small changes or just a Godzilla fan in general. To borrow a quote from the “Barbie” marketing team: “If you love Godzilla, this movie is for you. If you hate Godzilla, this movie is for you.”

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San Antonio has a large, active DIY music scene. When scrolling through Instagram, it is hard to miss the flyers for new shows being hosted and set up weekly. Some may look appealing while others do not, but that can all change fast. When you see the band Scrambled Eggs post about an upcoming show, it is something you will not want to miss. On Jan. 27, Scrambled Eggs hosted their DIY show, the “Backyard Bash,” with six artists on the bill. From start to finish, the DIY concert lineup included Jermdontcare, Victim Blamed, Beware of Dog, Scrambled Eggs, Menorah and Rival, all of which are fantastic local acts. Alongside the stacked roster, there was also a food truck catering the event. Sonrisa Sweets, a Mexican dessert-focused food truck, was serving from doors at 7 p.m. to the final song of the night, at midnight. Sonrisa Sweets was offering concertgoers foods such as mangonadas, churros, flautas and even burgers. With all the artists in order and the food truck by the curb, soon the time came for the “gates” to open. One by one, attendees came up and paid their cover, a single quarter dropped into a piggy bank and had their picture taken with a large Scrambled Eggsthemed quarter. Finally, concertgoers would cross the threshold into the backyard, where local bands and small vendors would be selling their merchandise while waiting for the upcoming show. While the cover fee may seem strange to some, it was a conscious choice. The show was hosted at a house on Quirt Dr. on the Westside. Since “Quirt” is similar to “quart,” the bands decided that charging only a quarter would be fun. With such a low cover, the bands were sure that nobody would miss their show. This proved to be true, as it quickly became the most popular show that Scrambled Eggs has ever hosted. After everyone had paid, entered and had time to relax, the show would finally start. Jermdontcare was first, and while only being the first act, he came out with high energy and a great stage presence. While he may not have been who many people were there to see, he put on a hype set to get everyone ready for what was to follow. Victim Blamed came second and immediately riled the crowd up. Every song had their long hair flowing and their instruments screaming. Victim Blamed’s set was filled with passion and heavy metal influence to the tee. Their set is what started to elevate the night, and there were still another four acts on the bill. The third artist to play was Beware of Dog, a fairly new local band. After getting on stage, two of the four members were fitted in cowboy-esque attire. The bassist/rhythm guitarist was equipped with a white 10-gallon hat and a Budweiser shirt, alongside the drummer who was wearing a cow-print cowboy hat. Getting into their set, Beware of Dog set the bar high for all acts that followed with their high energy, sometimes shoegaze sound. Eventually, their set came to an end, but not without a surprise. As Beware of Dog closed their performance, a secret set by Surface Breach was announced. Quickly, half the members of the band shifted offstage, all to be replaced by two new musicians. This set quickly amped up both the crowd and the show. The audience seemed to love the surprise and quickly began to move more and mosh. After the surprise was over, Scrambled Eggs took the stage. The math rock duo exploded with passion and precision during each song, entrancing the audience along the way. Scrambled Eggs’ stage presence was phenomenal; the guitarist was shifting sides, interacting with the crowd and generally moving to the flow of the music throughout the entire set. Scrambled Eggs was the highlight of the night for many attendees. Once Scrambled Eggs wrapped up their performance, the night would take a sonic shift. The last two bands, Menorah and Rival, are two hardcore staples in San Antonio’s local music scene. Both bands played loud and proud, and the crowd loved it. Looking through the backyard, there was a wave of people headbanging, moshing or at least nodding their heads to the intensity flowing from the stage. While these bands differed from what concertgoers heard earlier, everyone seemed ready and accepting of the genre change. Sadly, once Rival closed their final song, the event was officially over. Concertgoers were urged to pick up after themselves and have a safe trip home as sound equipment was brought indoors. Throughout the night, every band that played killed it. From start to finish, there was never a dull moment on stage. The high-energy performances during each band’s set kept the crowd in it, and it seemed like most everyone stayed until the very last song, despite how late it was getting. Scrambled Eggs put together a great show, leaving everyone in the local scene waiting impatiently for the next “Backyard Bash.”

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sports Despite team struggles, Christian Tucker is having a season to remember By Logan Martinez

Staff Writer

n a season of ups and downs, UTSA men’s basketball junior Christian Tucker has remained a real bright spot for the Roadrunners this year. Playing at an incredibly high level this season, the walk-on guard has elevated those around him through his on-court leadership and elite playmaking ability. As one of only three returning players from last season, Tucker has found himself taking on a new role as the premier voice on the team. “It’s definitely been something to adjust to, I didn’t really get that opportunity last year,” Tucker said of his new leadership role. “You know, I just have to thank my coaches and teammates for believing in me.” Though an adjustment, Tucker has adapted well to his new leadership role. Whether it is being vocal on the court in calling plays, rallying the team together or simply distributing the basketball, the Chandler, Ariz. native has vociferously shown why he is the team’s on-court commander. “As long as they trust me on the court, I’ll do whatever it takes to win,” Tucker said. “Again, I really have to just credit my teammates and coaches.” Doing just that, the 6-foot3 guard has taken extreme leaps in nearly every category this season. Doubling his points,

rebounds and assists from last season, Tucker has truly transformed his game on both sides of the court. Despite averaging 13 points per game, it is the assists that have brought Tucker some of the most joy this year. “I love passing the ball,” Tucker said. “Seeing my teammates score off some of my assists just feels really good.” Tucker’s unselfishness has made him one of the best players in the American Athletic Conference, as his passing and scoring ability has proven to be a problem for any defense. Halfway through the season, Tucker has found himself scoring double-doubles and reaching new career highs in points and assists. While many teammates and coaches credit Tucker’s work ethic for the breakout year, he remains adamant in crediting his coaches for his incredible opportunity. “I just want to thank my coaches and teammates for believing in me,” Tucker said on his remarkable leaps this season. “You know, they took a chance on me, and that’s really all I needed to make that jump. They have all the confidence in me and I have all the confidence in myself.” Joining the team as a walk-on in 2021, Christian has remained humble throughout his journey at UTSA, praising his team and coaching staff almost every chance he gets. Though his play has been exceptional all year, it is Tucker’s humility and supreme confidence that has made him an incredible role model on and off the court. The junior guard has truly embodied what it means to be a Roadrunner.

Which team will win Super Bowl LVIII? By Michael Rios Contributor

With the 2023-24 NFL season coming to an end, it is time to start asking ourselves which team has the best chance of winning Super Bowl LVIII. After the conclusion of Conference Championship Weekend, it would be a safe bet to pencil in the team that has played the best for the entirety of the season in the Super Bowl: the Kansas City Chiefs. This season, the Chiefs have had what has been considered a down year offensively. Receivers have dropped ball after dropped ball, quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been subpar for his standards and star tight end Travis Kelce has not looked like his dominant self for most of the season. But despite all of that, the Chiefs have won the AFC West yet again and have secured another top-3 seed in the playoffs. A lot of their success this season can be attributed to Mahomes’ dominance, but this team’s defense has been one of the best in the league as well. Defensive players such as defensive end Chris Jones and

cornerback duo Trent McDuffie and L’Jarius Sneed have had great seasons on their side of the ball and are three reasons why Kansas City’s defense has been the best it has been in the Mahomes era. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has helped turn this defense from one of the worst in the league to one of the best in the span of five years. This more complete version of the Chiefs’ defense has many players who can also play multiple positions, making it even harder for opposing offenses to score. As previously stated, the Kansas City offense has not been playing to the elite standard that we usually hold them to, but that has not stopped them in the playoffs. During the offseason, they moved on from offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who helped turn this Chiefs offense into one of the best offensives in the league, with and without Tyreek Hill. After losing Bieniemy, the offense looked mediocre for most of the season. The Chiefs’ receivers led the league in passes dropped with a total of 44, however, that did not stop them from returning to their fourth Super Bowl in five years. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

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Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

Christian Tucker (22) pulls up for a shot in Wednesday’s 89-88 win over Tulane. The junior had seven points and five assists.

Athlete of the Week: Elyssa Coleman

WBB star talks upbringing and what led her to UTSA By Jada Thomas

Marketing Manager Elyssa Coleman, the star redshirt junior and leading scorer on the women’s basketball team, took a surprising approach to the beginning of her career. Despite learning to play the sport at a young age, the 22-year-old forward was not initially interested in playing basketball, and instead found her way to the sport through encouragement from her family, specifically her aunt. “I started playing when I was seven,” Coleman said. “I didn’t want to play at first just because I wasn’t even really big into sports when I was little. But my aunt literally bribed me to play little league and then I played a little bit here and there, and then I started taking it seriously in middle school.” Coleman’s basketball career took her to new heights, especially when she was in high school where she attended Atascocita High School in Houston. In her senior season, she surpassed the 1,000-point milestone, was named the District 22-6A Most Valuable Player and was ranked the No. 12 forward in the class of 2020 across the nation. Her remarkable high school career led to Coleman receiving an opportunity to play for the women’s basketball team at The University of Texas.

Injury struggles caused a setback for the 6-foot-3 forward, leading Coleman into the transfer portal which landed her at UTSA. “When I first signed

because she was rebuilding the program here. So that was my main reason.” Outside of basketball, Coleman is currently working to obtain a master’s degree in Public Administration and states that her dream job involves some type of work in diversity and inclusion. Being a student-athlete while working towards a degree requires a certain level of organization and dedication, but Coleman has learned to embrace the challenge. When it comes to overcoming any difficulties of balancing school and basketball, Coleman explains that a proactive approach is what helps her through those obstacles. “It’s mainly about just staying organized and staying ahead of stuff,” Coleman said. “When I first get my classes, I go ahead and organize my whole calendar and what days I’ll do what, and then just try to stay proactive. I’ll try to stay at least a week ahead of all my work.” Being in her graduate career, Coleman emphasizes that her Courtesy of UTSA Athletics typical schedule involves a lot of reading in between to [Texas] our head coach, Karen basketball practices. Aston, was the head coach there,” “I try to do at least some reading Coleman said. “Then over the before practice,” Coleman said. summer they switched coaches, they switched the whole staff. So, once I “Then go to rehab, go to practice, wanted to transfer, I automatically go eat and then I’ll come back to knew where I wanted to go. I just reading and taking more notes, then wanted to follow her, especially I have night classes.”

Dre Fuller Jr., a graduate student from Fayetteville, NC, works on ball handling drills at practice.

Roadrunners energetic heading into South Florida By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

Preparing to face South Florida on Saturday in the Yuengling Center, UTSA Men’s Basketball brought incredible energy to their Thursday afternoon recovery practice. The team began with their routine stretch and dribble drills before previewing different offensive sets to run against the Bulls. “They’re playing really well, we have to be locked in,” UTSA coach Steve Henson said. “They’re a nice team playing with confidence, it’s going to be kind of the same thing we have to defend. We have to rebound and take care of the basketball.” Running through multiple sets, the Roadrunners (8-13, 2-6) focused mainly on finding the open man from the low post area. Preparing for the man defense of the Bulls (13-5, 6-1 AAC), UTSA will look to score through quick kick-outs off of drives to the basket and low post passes. With a high emphasis on ball security, offensive scrimmage sets were executed with a strong game-like intensity. Junior guard Christian Tucker continued to handle the ball, as sophomore guard Adante’ Holiman’s injury absence has moved Tucker to the primary ball handler. With still no definite return date for Holiman, Tucker will

look to play the point heading into Saturday’s matchup. Once finished running through offensive plays, a defensive screen drill was created to simulate the South Florida constant moving and screening. Game planning for Bulls’ guard Chris Youngblood, the ‘Runners practiced switching and helping off of multiple screens to keep the guard from creating shot separation. “I’m ready for it, it doesn’t matter who I’m going to go against, I’m going to give my everything,” Tucker said on guarding Youngblood. After a quick rest period shooting free throws, the team then broke into a scrimmage. With a large emphasis on transition defense, players were tasked with quickly getting back and finding a man after every offensive shot attempt. Once back on defense, the team ran against a simulated version of South Florida’s offense to prepare for the Bull’s experienced guard play. “You really got to be locked in, those wings are good at what they do,” Henson said. “You have to be aggressive, you can’t be lazy.” The ‘Runners will look to capitalize on their high energy by securing their third conference win in South Florida. “We’re locked in, we’re ready for the game Saturday,” Tucker said.

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J a n u a r y 3 0 - Fe b r u a r y 6 , 2 0 2 4

sports Why is Frank Harris not entering the NFL draft? By Rylan Renteria

his talents on the field in 2020, he earned the starting quarterback spot and helped UTSA become bowl-eligible for the first time since 2016. In 2021 and 2022, Harris gained national recognition for winning two consecutive Conference USA championships and led the Roadrunner program to two more bowl appearances. Though nearly retiring before the 2023 season, Harris still felt the need to bring UTSA its first bowl win. The beginning of the 2023 season was tough on Harris. Still recovering from his 11th surgery, he was not fully healthy for the season opener against Houston. The struggles in September led to a worrisome 1-3 start for the ‘Runners, but right on cue, Harris and the Roadrunner offense came to life following a much-needed early bye week. UTSA finished with a respectable 8-4 record and won its first bowl game in program history. On the field, Harris gave everything he had to the program, the fans and the city. Now in retirement, Harris is still doing everything he can to support the team, announcing that he will serve as the executive director for UTSA NIL collective “City Fans 210.” On and off the field, Harris represents what it means to be a Roadrunner.

Staff Writer

UTSA has seen its fair share of talent enter the NFL Draft in recent years. Spencer Burford, Sincere Mccormick and Tariq Woolen are just a few names to pursue a career at the next level. Seven seasons and two conference championships later, fans assumed that Roadrunner legend, quarterback Frank Harris, would follow a similar path. Despite breaking almost every UTSA football record, Harris opted for retirement following the conclusion of the 2023 season. But why? To understand the end of Harris’ football career, you have to look at the beginning. After joining the ‘Runners in 2017, Harris suffered two straight season-ending ACL injuries. When the Schertz native finally began to see action in 2019, a separated shoulder ended his season prematurely once again. Rehabbing seasonending injuries can take a large toll on a player, both physically and mentally. “I just felt like it was too many injuries,” Harris said in an interview with News4SanAntonio. “At some point, I want to be able to walk again. Whenever I have a family I want to be able to play with my kids.” When Harris was finally able to showcase

Stephen Saenz/The Paisano

West-best Thunder pounce Spurs in return to San Antonio Photo courtesy of NBAE/Michael Gonzalez

OKC’s Chet Holmgren (7) guards San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama (1) in last Wednesday’s game at the Frost Bank Center.

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

Have you ever looked at someone your age and thought, “They sure are further along than I am?” Though Spurs French phenom Victor Wembanyama probably has not thought this of anyone, it is clear from Wednesday’s romp at the Frost Bank Center that his squad has a few seasons to go. The San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder began the 2023-24 season with the two youngest rosters in the NBA, yet the Thunder’s dominant 140-114 drubbing over the Spurs proved that the two teams could not be further apart. “Sammy’s been fantastic,” coach Gregg

Popovich said of OKC’s general manager Sam Presti. “It takes a while to get there. They’ve had a lot of good picks over a good number of years to get where they are now, and it’s starting to show its benefits. They’re doing a great job.” “They’ve stayed the course. They’ve been patient. They added people every year. And now they have a chance to do something special.” Oklahoma City has turned heads thus far in the NBA season, accumulating a Western Conference-best 31-13 record after the 26-point win, the antithesis of San Antonio’s Western Conference-worst 8-36 record. Thunder forward Chet Holmgren and Wembanyama are the two front runners for this season’s Rookie of the Year Award, making

Wednesday’s matchup a must-watch. “My first goal is always to win, and in a game like this, I don’t think about that,” Wembanyama said of taking the matchup against Holmgren personally. On the one hand, Holmgren, who was drafted in 2022 but sidelined for the entire season due to an ankle injury, has a great roster around him. Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is a viable MVP candidate who is fourth in the league in scoring, tallying 31.1 points per game. The young OKC team also is top three in the league in points, blocks and steals per game while second in free throw, field goal and 3-point percentage. On the other hand, Wembanyama is stuck on a team that is near the bottom of nearly every team stat. Aside from Wemby’s 24 points and

Sold-out San Antonio crowd sees USA fall to Slovenia in mens friendly By Connor Suehs Staff Writer

A record crowd of 9,191 fans packed out Toyota Field in San Antonio to see the United States Men’s National Team fall 1-0 to Slovenia on Jan. 20. A goal from Nejc Gradisar was enough for the visitors to pull off a surprising upset. While the result is a shock to many, the roster brought by USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter was mostly Major League Soccer-based players. While the likes of Christian Pulisic, Weston Mckennie and Antonee Robinson were not in attendance, there were still some players with a decent pedigree. Center back Miles Robinson, who recently left Atlanta United to join FC Cincinnati, started the game, while young prospect Diego Luna also featured. Luna was one of 11 players to make their national team debut, along with other top prospects such as Esmir Bajraktarević and Duncan McGuire. Some have criticized these non-FIFA regulated camps, more humorously nicknamed “Camp

Cupcake.” Fans believe that their purpose is just to drive up revenue, but in reality, it is to give many USbased players a chance to impress Berhalter. They could even play well enough for a chance to be on the 2026 World Cup squad. However, despite a weakened roster, fans will not tolerate a 1-0 loss to Slovenia when the opposition did not field any of their main players, such as RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško. Many USA supporters have been frustrated at some of the results recently, such as a shock 2-1 loss at the hands of Trinidad and Tobago on Nov. 20, 2023. These have been common occurrences under this head coach, who struggles to win games against European nations. Despite all of this, there was plenty of praise to go towards the City of San Antonio for hosting this friendly match. Many, including Berhalter, praised the fans for bringing a great atmosphere and hosting the team well during their stay in the Alamo City. This match was the first time the US has played in San Antonio since April 15, 2015, in which the Stars and Stripes beat Mexico 2-0 in the

Alamodome. A great showing from the fans will bring hope that more USA games will come to the city, both for the men’s and women’s teams. With such a large soccer fanbase in the South Texas region, there should be no doubt that more matches could be brought to expand fan support. With the United States, Canada and Mexico hosting the World Cup in 2026, U.S. Soccer should be doing everything in its power to garner more fans from different regions other than the Midwest and northern United States. While the result was disappointing, it was a great experience for many fans and players alike to represent the national team here in San Antonio. Not everyone can say they got to see their national team play, so it is an honor that many people will remember for a long time. This will hopefully be the start of more games coming to the area in an attempt to grow the game in this region. The USMNT’s next game is in the CONCACAF Nations League Semifinal against Jamaica on March 21.

12 rebounds and Devin Vassell’s 21, no other Spurs player had more than 12 points, which came from Blake Wesley who started in place of Tre Jones who is monitoring a tweaked ankle. The Thunder had six players in double figures scoring, led by Gilgeous-Alexander with a game-high 32. Aaron Wiggins logged 22 points off the bench, while Holmgren totaled 17 in a team-high 30 minutes. Now, this does not mean the Spurs front office is lollygagging around. But the pieces around Holmgren are a much better fit for now than what Wemby has around him. Perhaps in a half-decade when Wembanyama is GilgeousAlexander’s age, he will have more key pieces from trades and the draft, just like “Sammy” had built up for Holmgren’s rookie season.

Ivy-Curry’s late-game heroics lead UTSA past Tulane Linguard’s 31 points secure victory

By Aramis Santiago Staff Writer

In a showdown at the Convocation Center last Wednesday night, the UTSA Men’s Basketball team clinched a hard-fought 89-88 victory over the Tulane Green Wave. UTSA guard Jordan Ivy-Curry’s late-game action was pivotal. With just 1.4 seconds remaining, Ivy-Curry hit a 3-pointer to give the Roadrunners an 89-88 lead to win and snap a fourgame losing streak. Throughout the game, the junior totaled nine points, making just 3 of 13 shots (23%) from the field. His 3-pointer in the final moments became a key moment in the game, characterized by frequent lead changes and continuous competitive play. “I’ve been through times like this before,” Ivy-Curry said of his shooting struggles. “I know my teammates need me, so being in my feelings is not going to help my team.” The game started with the ‘Runners (8-12, 2-5 AAC) facing challenges in finding their rhythm, especially from beyond the arc. The team’s early

performance, marked by a 1-for-16 start from three, did not reflect their standing as one of the top 3-point shooting teams in the American Athletic Conference. Tulane (12-7, 3-4 AAC), leveraging its efficiency from beyond the arc while relying on forward Kevin Cross and guard Jaylen Forbes who each netted 23 points, maintained a lead and kept UTSA at bay. Their scoring prowess kept Tulane in the lead for much of the game, constantly challenging the Roadrunners to respond. Carlton Linguard Jr. contributed significantly to UTSA’s comeback. He scored a total of 31 points, secured 10 rebounds and blocked three shots. Linguard Jr.’s impact was particularly evident in the second half, where he notched 20 points and made six 3-pointers. His offensive contributions proved vital when other shots did not find the mark. “I’ve been in the gym putting in the work, so the time is going to come where the basketball gods bless me,” Linguard Jr. said on his career night. Continue reading at paisano-online.com