Vol. 68, Issue 9

16-year-old dead after breaking into car at The Reserve

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

safety and security,”

A16-year-old has died after being shot at The Reserve student living apartments, a complex near UTSA.

At around 2 a.m. on March 11, a man was inside his apartment at The Reserve when he heard glass shatter from outside. The man went to check on his car when he allegedly spotted a man sitting in his car attempting to steal it.

SAPD said, “The man pulled out a gun and fired a single shot, hitting the suspected car thief in the side of his chest.” Immediately after the incident, the gunman called and filed a police report.

The teen died on site and has since

been identified as Adam Tino Arroyo.

It is unknown if the shooter will face any charge since he was protecting his property, SAPD confirmed.

The Paisano reached out to The Reserve Management, but they failed to respond.

As for residents, two were passionate enough to comment on the situation, stating that they felt left in the dark by management.

“The unfortunate incident that occurred at the apartment complex I reside at was not something I was informed about until hearing from my roommate,” The Reserve resident Kat said, who lives near the accident’s location. “Management did not reach out to their residents on what was being done to prevent something like that

Texas immigration law oversteps U.S. government

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

“This

undocumented migrant could have in immigration court or through affirmative work, whether it’s marriage, possible asylum, work authorization under parole, or a family petition either by a sibling or a child or a spouse.”

Those convicted of crossing illegally would be charged a Class-B misdemeanor, a conviction worth up to six months in jail. A second offense would result in up to 20 years in prison.

“I think we’re going to be very selective about the cases we pick up,” Culberson County Sheriff Oscar Carillo, whose jurisdiction is located along the west Texas border, said. “Our jail is at capacity as we speak today, and to start incarcerating undocumented people and charging them a misdemeanor crime is a discussion I’ll have to have with my county attorney.’

A person convicted under SB 4 could have their charges dropped if they voluntarily agree to go back to Mexico.

If a person is convicted and serves their term, they will be

deported after their sentence.

The bill also allows courts to deport migrants to entry ports in Mexico regardless of where their home country is.

The U.S. Supreme Court allowed the law to be enforced for several hours during consideration, but a lower court pulled the law back and called for a hearing. While the appeals court deliberates, SB 4 will be put on hold.

“It’s a landmark bill that allows Texas to protect Texans and to send illegal immigrants back, and to prosecute and incarcerate those that refuse to leave,” State Representative and sponsor of SB 4 Dave Spiller said.

Texas is being sued over SB 4 by the Biden Administration and other immigrant rights organizations who have claimed the bill to be unconstitutional because it interferes with federal immigration laws, a role federal courts have said falls under the federal government’s purview.

“We know that this law is going to increase racial profiling. We know that this law is going to strip people of their constitutional rights. We know that this law is also going to lead to the mass criminalization of our communities,” Alan Lizarraga, a spokesperson for the Border Network for Human Rights, said.

SB 4 is not the first of its kind.

In 2012, Arizona tried to pass a law that sought to create statelevel crimes for immigration offenses and empower local law enforcement to check citizenship status and arrest people suspected of being in the country illegally. This was known as Arizona v. The United States, which resulted in a 5-3 decision to side with the federal government to strike down most of Arizona’s proposed law.

For more information about SB 4, visit the bill analysis website.

from happening again.”

Since the incident, security guards have been posted outside the automatic gates of The Reserve. When attempting to enter the building, resident or not, the security guards ask for the full name and unit number.

“The use of police/security near the complex gate has shown regulations to increase [the] safety of the residents but an email regarding the entire issue should have been made,” Kat stated. Luisa, another resident who lives near the crime scene, reported similar feelings regarding management’s communication, or the lack thereof.

“The incident has raised concerns among the residents about the complex’s

‘Si se puede!’

Luisa said. “I was not previously informed of the situation and was only made aware of it through communication with my cousin, who saw it on the news the next day.”

“It would have been greatly appreciated if we had received a prompt notification either through email or phone call regarding the current situation,” Luisa continued. “Such information would have allowed us to exercise more caution and prioritize our safety. It is imperative that the management takes prompt action to ensure the safety of residents and their property.”

The investigation is ongoing; more details will be reported on as released.

Thousands unite for 28th César E. Chávez March for Justice

By Lauren Hernandez Assistant Arts and Life Editor

Over the weekend, while many were sleeping in after a long week at work, thousands of others participated in the 28th annual César E. Chávez March for Justice. The march honors and celebrates the legacy of Chávez, a civil rights activist and Latino and farm labor leader who was instrumental in securing equal rights for farm workers.

The César Chávez Foundation explains that Chávez’s “universal principles remain as relevant and inspiring today as they were when he first began his movement.” Though the march might not have had the same focus as Chávez’s boycotts, participants knew this day was important, especially with the upcoming presidential election.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, many different parts of the San Antonio community lined up at Guadalupe and Brazos Streets. Representatives from UTSA and other universities, non-profit groups, unions and political campaigns came out in force. Speakers and music began the march, and although the music ended at the start, excitement and chants rang through the air for the entirety of the morning.

“Si se puede” — Chávez’s famous motto — was the most common chant, a reminder that “Yes, it can be done.”

Over 80 people marched with the UTSA coalition, and one of them, senior psychology major Jocelyn Espinoza, expressed that “The March for Justice was liberating for me as a Hispanic woman. It was a time for me to reflect on César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, and inspired me to fight for what’s right, just as they did.”

“It was wonderful to see all sorts of sub-communities in and beyond San Antonio at the march. I found the collective sense of pride and solidarity quite beautiful. My outlook on the San Antonio community is far more solidified than it was prior to the march,” Espinoza explained. For more information on Chávez’s legacy, check out the César Chávez Foundation website.

Lauro Martinez/The Paisano

Lauren Hernandez/The Paisano

UTSA celebrates faculty advocacy for affordable textbooks

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

UTSA Libraries and Academic Innovation met to commend the progress of their most recent initiatives involving Open Educational Resources (OER). OER aims to change the landscape of expensive educational materials on campus. In collaboration with the Student Government Association (SGA), the event was hosted to applaud faculty members who have won grants over the last two years through the Adopt-a-Textbook grant program.

Vice Provost and University Librarian, Dean Hendrix, opened the ceremony by verbally embracing the invited faculty and detailing their involvement in the initiative.

“Faculty are the lifeblood of this institution,” Hendrix said. “We are incredibly grateful that we have a lot of forward-thinking faculty in this room that care about the students. They care about our students and I think that goes a long way. When you have faculty that are engaged in students’ well-being it becomes a huge predictor in students’ success.”

“Myself, as chair of the UT Libraries Directors Group, will be presenting to the vice-chancellors on a pilot to use generative AI to mine OER to create ancillaries. We are going to present a proposal to UT systems for them to help us provide the infrastructure to write one of those big Department of [Education] grants.”

Hendrix finished by instilling confidence that grants are not the only form of progress being made.

“We need to offer these ancillary materials in an openly licensed way, and generative AI seems like a good way to go about it,” Hendrix explained. “We are just going to be saying to the UT system that this is a conversation that needs to continue and evolve.”

Vice Provost for Academic Innovation, Melissa Vito, followed Hendrix in briefing the audience on OER and its benefits for the UTSA community.

“When you think about higher education, it is a slow-moving force in terms of change,” Vito stated. “One of the areas that has actually been very disrupted over time is textbooks. 20 years ago, students were spending 30% more on academic resources than they

are now, and that is because of things like textbook loan programs.”

“It is because of things like the 22 faculty members who have worked to develop OER and to change the way that things are being delivered to students,” Vito continued. “All of these things have not sacrificed the quality, but, instead, created more opportunities for faculty to do some different things when building OER and to reduce the cost for students.”

As the event progressed, Vito expressed that the OER initiative could not have happened without the help of faculty. She acknowledged their efforts and thanked them for their continued enthusiasm toward the initiative. A few more speakers took the stage to share the same sentiment. Additionally, a timeline of the start of the initiative was given.

“We actually got with SGA President Zachary and the rest of SGA leadership last summer,” UTSA Open Education Coordinator DeAnn Ivie said. “We started those conversations [about OER] last summer and planned all of the different things that we could do to help raise OER awareness here at UTSA.”

“We worked with Zach and SGA very closely to create a thank you video for our donors,” Ivie said. “We are so grateful for our donors and all of their support.”

SGA has been pushing for UTSA to adopt OER as a new initiative for the past year. Through the weekly meetings, they worked toward promoting student awareness around the initiative. President Nepote took a moment to share the responses they have received.

“We have heard from people how through OER they were able to afford other things,” Nepote said. “They were able to just be a student, they didn’t have to worry about affording school resources.”

Nepote added, “The faculty’s work is very, very selfless and I can understand that it may seem unappreciated, but it really does make a change and an impact. I am really grateful to have worked with you all to advocate for this need at [the] UT system. We will continue to advocate for more administrative support for the faculty involved so that they can also continue to make those OER a little more accessible.”

By Chris Olvera Contributor

This February, UTSA faculty and students have been at work in a variety of subjects. This month’s Research Recap details the endeavors of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology professor Dr. Jesus Romo as he explores the intricacies of how bacteria and fungi interact. Join The Paisano in learning more about the research around UTSA with this month’s Research Recap. Professor works to understand interactions between bacteria and fungi Dr. Romo defines research as the ability to formulate questions about how the universe works and the ability to methodically design ways to address those questions.

“For me, it really is, ultimately, the ability to answer what we’re curious about, whatever is interesting to you,” he said.

Romo added that his research demonstrates how he values the ability to further understand the world around us. “A lot of my work focuses on two large fields. We’re interested in how fungi, which are everywhere, including on and in our bodies, and bacteria, which are also everywhere, including on and in our bodies, [and] how they interact with each other inside of the human body.”

Romo explained that his work specializes in interactions between fungal and bacterial infections in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract, specifically referring to Nakaseomyces glabrata and Clostridioides difficile.

“We’re interested in and trying to understand how fungi are colonizing [a person’s] gastrointestinal tract,” Romo said.

As explained by Romo, when someone takes antibiotics, the bacteria naturally present in the GI tract are wiped out, allowing bacteria that tend to proliferate in antibiotics with little competition, such as Clostridioides difficile, to become a dominant species in the GI tract.

Similarly, when taking antibiotics, fungi are unaffected and species such as Nakaseomyces glabrata, known for its immense resistance to environmental stressors, become dominant species in the GI tract. Combining both circumstances, it has been found that after antibiotic treatments, there is an expansion of fungi in the gut and an increase in the proliferation of Clostridioides difficile occurring at the same time, making these two organisms codominant in the human GI tract.

This scenario alone leads to a higher frequency of interactions between fungi and bacteria in the GI tract. Romo’s lab was among the first to map

the locations where Nakaseomyces glabrata tends to colonize in the human GI tract. He focuses on the anaerobic properties of these infections and their interactions in the human microbiome, striving to understand how the interactions affect the human body and how they can be applied in antibiotic treatment.

Romo states that his lab is interested in the ecology present in the human microbiome. He recommends that students interested in research and curious about how the world works “should get into research as soon as they can.”

He emphasizes how UTSA has a wide variety of programs like the MARC, RISE or McNair programs that introduce students to research and give them prior training to have a greater impression of research labs. Romo also mentioned how important it is that “if a student is interested in a particular principle investigator, they should look into their work and reference their work in emails to show genuine interest in their research.”

Upcoming Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Symposium

In the same interview, Romo also shed light on how UTSA’s Molecular Microbiology and Immunology (MMI) Department is preparing for its second annual MMI Spring Symposium. Romo describes the symposium as a celebration of the wonderful work performed by UTSA MMI faculty and students. The symposium will include an open round table for academia where students can approach faculty and other students about any questions and networking needed to guide them toward their dreams in research. The biggest theme of the symposium is the value of the students and the potential opportunities offered through UTSA’s MMI Department.

The symposium will hold three-minute thesis competitions, oral presentations and poster presentations open to undergraduate and graduate students working or interested in working in microbiology. UTSA’s MMI Symposium will bring the value of science communication to the spotlight. As Romo explained, communication is

Kind Clinic aims to uplift Central Texas

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

In 2015, the first Kind Clinic was established in Austin, Texas. The operation’s goal is to provide sexual health services to all who need it, especially those with problems that may typically block this type of care, such as financial issues. The Kind Clinic specializes in working to uplift the LGBTQ+ community.

Since the first Kind Clinic was established, it has expanded across Central Texas with two Austin locations, a Dallas location and a location in Downtown San Antonio.

The Paisano had the opportunity to speak with Juan Benitez, chief advancement officer at Texas Health Action and the Kind Clinic.

One of the most popular sexual health services the Kind Clinic provides is access to pre-exposure prophylaxis, more commonly known as PrEP.

“PrEP is an acronym, the much bigger term is pre-exposure prophylaxis. So it’s a daily medication that someone can take that reduces their risk of contracting HIV by 99%,” Benitez said. “Now,

we specifically focus on reaching LGBTQ individuals because we know those are the communities that are disproportionately impacted by HIV transmissions.”

“When we look at PrEP and health care for LGBTQ individuals, what we’ve had to do as the Kind Clinic and why we’ve proven to be such a successful resource for the communities that we serve is that we put in the additional work of what it takes to remove all of those barriers to care for someone,” Benitez said. “[The Kind Clinic] now provides care to 25,000 people across the state of Texas. One of the departments that [the clinic has] is our patient support services department. That team specifically focuses on keeping those patients in care, to begin with. It’s where we remove barriers to care if you have insurance or you don’t have insurance, we’re able to provide financial assistance. That’s where our PrEP retention team lives.”

The Kind Clinic offers various sexual wellness services and works with all budgets. For more information on their operations in Central Texas, visit kindclinic.org.

State of the City

Week of 3/26

By Armin Suljovic Assistant Photo 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 include a local news building catching fire and an elementary school teacher facing time for sexual misconduct.

Elementary teacher charged with indecency with a child

A fourth-grade teacher at Schertz Elementary, Gabriel Cantu, was arrested on March 21 after turning himself in to local authorities. The arrest was made a few days following a report from the mother of one of Cantu’s students over spring break on March 11.

Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District took swift action and placed Cantu on administrative leave while the case was being investigated. On March 20, the warrant was placed for Cantu. He is currently facing a seconddegree felony and his bail is set at $200,000 at the Guadalupe County Jail.

Previous News 4 San Antonio building catches fire

On the morning of March 23 near St. Mary’s and Navarro Street, News 4 San Antonio’s old building caught fire. The report came in at about 10:30 a.m. after smoke was seen emerging from the rooftop. San Antonio’s Fire Department has found evidence of somebody being inside the building but currently has not identified a cause for the fire. Due to the building previously catching fire in 2013, it has been labeled as extremely dangerous by the department. The fire was quickly put out and there are no reports of injury. SAPD made remarks about the two-story abandoned building having a “complex” layout, forcing officials at the scene to fight the fire from the top floor.

By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer

Courtesy of Kind Clinic

Courtesy of UTSA

Keep private information private

Porn websites suspend operation in Texas following the passing of HB 1181

In June of 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 1181, forcing companies offering access to adult sexual material online to verify the age of its users. Sites such as Pornhub, Brazzers and YouPorn — all subsidiaries of the Aylo corporation — have already suspended operations in Texas in protest of the law.

According to the Washington Post, HB 1181 would require individuals wishing to access websites offering adult sexual content to verify their age by “either entering information from a government-issued ID or using a third-party system that uses public and private data — such as employment, education or mortgage information — to verify age.”

Additionally, these websites would also have to display “health warnings,” which would include phrases such as “TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

WARNING: Pornography increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography.”

The decision by Pornhub and its subsidiaries to suspend operations in Texas came after the 5th Circuit Appeals Court ruled to uphold the age verification aspect of the law, citing the Supreme Court case Ginsburg vs. New York (1968), which prohibited the sale of obscene material to

Contraceptives, it’s a good idea right?

Commentary

By Naydine De La Fuente Copyediting Coordinator

By Maria Wence Contributor Editorial

minors. However, the 5th Circuit Appeals Court decided to overturn the health warnings aspect of the law. Opponents of HB 1181 argue that the law violates adults’ rights to access constitutionally protected speech while doing very little to protect minors from accessing the content. A statement from the Free Speech Coalition following the 5th Circuit Appeal Court’s decision states,

Olivia Rodrigo, an international pop star known for top hits such as “good 4 you” and “vampire,” is making headway with her concert hospitality. Currently touring for her “GUTS” album, the esteemed artist is not only providing electrifying performances in her concerts but also supplying fans with essential products: condoms and morning-after pills. However, despite her good intentions behind distributing these free contraceptives at her show, a lot of controversy arose from the situation.

In her concert in St. Louis, Rodrigo partnered up with local abortion organizations, such as the Missouri Abortion Fund, to provide information on abortion care alongside a package that included condoms and the “Julie” morning-after pill. Despite the debates that arose from the abortion organizations present at her concert, the main complaints that were voiced, aside from Missouri banning abortion, was that she had a young demographic in attendance at her concerts.

According to a Fortune article, “Rodrigo’s team announced that abortion rights groups invited to set up at her shows would no longer hand out the morning-after pill because ‘children are present at the concert.’” This disappointed many women’s health advocates who stated that “teens have sex and distributing contraceptives — emergency or not — can help ensure safe sex.”

It is immensely important to ensure the safety and protection of adolescents, especially in this day and age. However, with the internet and various online platforms easily accessible to everyone, young teens are more susceptible to damaging and inappropriate content online than being informed about safe relations and contraceptives by qualified personnel at their favorite artists’ concerts. According to the website Similarweb, Rodrigo’s age demographics range from 18-24 and 25-34, confirming that a majority of her fans or those attending her concerts are at the right age to freely learn more about sexual health and obtain these contraceptives.

“Although it was disappointing to hear that she would not continue to give access to such products at her concert, Rodrigo is still a huge catalyst for aiding in women’s health.”

Although it was disappointing to hear that she would not continue to give access to such products at her concert, Rodrigo is still a huge catalyst for aiding in women’s health. Aside from donating a share of the proceeds from her North American tour to abortion funds, Rodrigo is also the creator of the “Fund 4 Good” initiative, “a global initiative committed to building an equitable and just future for women, girls and people seeking reproductive health freedom.”

This was a bold and innovative move on Rodrigo’s end to provide useful information on abortion in a state where abortion is illegal. Her decision to partner with local abortion organizations helped destigmatize the use of contraceptives such as the morning-after pill and provided fans, especially women fans, with a safe and welcoming space.

“Our battle, of course, is just beginning. Unfortunately, we’ve already seen how this designation has been weaponized to censor and ban LGBTQ+ literature, reproductive rights resources, sex education, art, and healthcare. Sexual expression, online and off, has been and continues to be the canary in the coal mine of free speech.”

Regardless of the nuances behind the protection of pornography, HB 1181 represents a serious breach of personal privacy by the Texas government. Texans should not be forced to enter information from their governmentissued ID — which includes very sensitive personal information like home address and date of birth — in order to access content online. This law, pioneered by politicians who have turned heel against the typical views of the Republican party and have embraced the ideals of big government, is a grave overreach into the lives of Texans. As Texans, we cannot let this law stand and must advocate for a revised version that does not violate citizens’ privacy or for its repeal.

Contact information for your local representative’s office at The Texas at Representatives and The Texas Senate website.

All treated equally? Not in Texas

Commentary

Senate Bill 4 is the unprecedented new law that gives power to the so-called “protectors’’ of America. Governor Greg Abbott, responsible for signing SB 4 in December, is someone who has everything and more, as he has repeatedly passed legislation to limit people’s rights. The law was scheduled to go into effect on March 5. It allows both state and local police forces to arrest and detain individuals whom they suspect of crossing the border from Mexico into the U.S. without any legal authority.

This means that someone could be convicted of a criminal offense for appearing like an immigrant. Then, at court, one can be convicted and be charged with a Class B misdemeanor, resulting in them carrying out a maximum sentencing of six months in prison. If the individual causes any issues, they can be charged with a seconddegree felony, leading to 20 years in prison. This bill could extend to migrant families, leading to a whole family’s deportation rather than just the parents.

Despite the law’s passing, there was a fight for it to be withheld. The Justice Department and the Biden administration both requested it to be paused, as they deemed it unconstitutional. On Feb. 29, the bill was temporarily blocked by the U.S. District Judge David Ezra. The federal law had ordered that the law be paused right before the Supreme Court could allow it to go into effect. A New Orleans-based three-judge panel on the fifth U.S. The Circuit Court of Appeals made a 2-1 split decision, stating that the law should be blocked. However, the high court deemed otherwise, allowing for immigration policies to let SB 4 begin to take effect.

The fight to dissolve SB 4 as a whole does not

Commentary By Nicholas Kingman Assistant Opinion Editor

Anything can happen during March Madness. Collegiate basketball is the best spectacle for the upset fiend. In this year’s tournament, the sporting world has seen the seeds planted for iconic Cinderella runs. While fans or curious spectators across the country will fill out brackets or place loose change on their alma mater to win the entire thing, that reality cannot be done in a place like Texas.

Texas gambling options are thin, limited to the lottery and three legal places: Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino in Eagles Pass, Speaking Rock Entertainment Center in El Paso and Naskila Gaming in Livingston. Outside those places, Texans are forced to travel to nearby states like Louisiana or seek out a local bookie or an overseas nontaxable sportsbook.

Some proponents of the legalization of gambling claim that gambling is addictive and harmful. There is no denying the harmful effects, but as with any popular vice people will continue to do it despite knowing the potential damage. Still, Texas has been missing out on major tax benefits made from betting. For a state that has been known as a favorable tax haven, Texas is two of nine states that does not tax a person’s income and does not have some form of legal sports gambling.

Take a look at the grandfather of legalized gambling, Nevada. In 2023 alone, the state of Nevada made $15.52 billion from gambling revenue alone — $481.4 million was from sports

end there. Lawsuits are being sent toward the bill. As one of many, The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the Texas Civil Rights project taking on behalf of the El Paso-based “Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center,” El Paso County and American Gateways filed against the Texas Department of Public Safety. A separate lawsuit was filed by the U.S. The Department of Justice pleaded that if the law were to go into effect it would end a century and a half of work on immigration policies, specifically those that have been the worry of the federal government. The lawsuits were consolidated, but the fight from countless presidents themselves to Texas cities resisted the “law” of racial profiling and the stripping of basic human rights.

SB 4 brings the disruption of foreign relations, disregarding both the federal enforcement efforts and federal agencies’ diligent work of security threats. More importantly, it destroys the souls of those who simply want a better life, but instead are being treated like aliens. This on-and-off battle of this law leaves one to wonder — why was it passed?

gambling alone. Nevada’s gambling tax is around 6.75 percent for sports betting. The funds made from the tax then go to the state’s general fund, with education and health services being major recipients. Look at Illinois, whose sports betting tax goes to infrastructure. Texas, a state much bigger in both population and size, could use the extra couple of dollars to fund projects and other services like the two aforementioned states, especially infrastructure.

For a while now, Mark Cuban has been a major vocal point for the legalization of sports gambling in the state of Texas. The former majority owner of the Dallas Mavericks played with the idea of building a casino for the DFW area in partnership with Las Vegas Sands. Later, Cuban sold his majority stake in the Dallas Mavericks to Las Vegas Sands owners, the Adelson and Dumont families. For a state that prides itself on being the bearer of freedom, Texas has not done enough to earn that title for the sake of the gambler and the resident who would like to spend money for fun.

Politically, that piece of legislation of the legalization of gambling is a low priority for lawmakers in the state. In a May 2023 tweet made by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, “There is little to no support for expanding gaming from Senate GOP.” In some areas, Texas lacks innovation even with fellow Republican states. While the government is dealing with “more” important issues such as private school vouchers or the border crisis, the state needs to break out of its hardcore shell for the benefit of the risky bettor and the entire state.

Mariana Ramos/The Paisano

Noah Willoughby/The Paisano

Vincent Agquiz/The Paisano

Pornhub is the man flashing children at the park

I am upset I cannot make a profit turning a blind eye to kids watching porn is the sentiment behind Aylo Vice President of Brand and Community Alex Kekesi’s statement in response to HB 1181. In a recent decision, Texas required adult content websites to implement age-verification measures on their page through governmentissued IDs, which would affect the pornography giant and Aylo subsidiary, Pornhub.

In her statement, Kekesi says, “Not only will it not actually protect children, it will inevitably reduce content creators’ ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey with it.”

In an open letter on its website, Pornhub notes that it believes “the only effective solution for protecting minors and adults alike is to verify users’ age on their device and to either deny or allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that verification.”

Following the triumphant persistence of the attorney general, Pornhub has decided to cut off access to all Texas residents.

The motivation behind Pornhub’s pettiness is telling of the morally bankrupt ethics of its industry. Anyone with a personal device understands

that basing eligibility on age verification on a device is the least effective measure possible. For Gen Z and younger generations, part of being internet natives includes learning to bypass birthday and age checks as soon as one knows how to read the request on screen. It is challenging to believe Pornhub is unaware of this.

suggesting the number to be higher.

The wisdom of HB 1181 is that it protects children from becoming repeat customers and restores the potential for healthy development. A 2023 report states that 90% of children aged eight to 16 have viewed porn, with the highest consumers of the material being 12 to 17-yearold boys. In self-reports, 11% of men and 3% of women agree to have some degree of an “addiction to pornography,”

Kara Lee/The Paisano

Pornography has been regularly proven through research and surveys to wreak havoc on relationships, promote violence and abuse, increase mental health issues like loneliness and low self-esteem, ruin physical performance and fuel financial coercion and sex trafficking. When the bill was initially proposed, it also would have required the websites to display the following health warning: “TEXAS HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WARNING: Pornography increases the demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography.” In 2020, an expository article from the New York Times revealed a missing 15-year-

San Antonio’s got the blues and a list of problems to peruse

Commentary

By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Recently, San Antonio was dubbed the “Unhappiest City in Texas” by the finance company WalletHub and it was the 18th saddest overall city in the United States. Considering the unhappiest city was Detroit, San Antonians ought to be worried. While it is easy to get defensive upon hearing the news, once WalletHub’s parameters are studied and understood, their conclusion is easier to digest.

Based on previous research studies, the WalletHub team looked at aspects such as poverty rate, divorce rate, suicide rate and unemployment rate, among other categories. Out of 182 cities featured in the study, ranked from happiest to unhappiest, San Antonio ranked 155th in Emotional & physical well-being, 130th in Income & employment and 169th in Community & environment. WalletHub does not provide any answers on how to fix San Antonio’s sad state. They can only share their findings and guess their causes. Of course, this study is singular and based its standards on other studies they have previously done — for example, they previously ranked Texas as the 39th

happiest state. Nevertheless, their measures are not without merit and their conclusions are not unbelievable.

San Antonio’s poverty rate is higher than the national average with nearly 20% of citizens living in poverty. In Bexar County alone, the suicide rate is higher than both the national and Texas average. Other problems cited in the study are food insecurity and lack of green spaces, all of which negatively impact San Antonians’ physical and mental health.

San Antonio is too beautiful a city to be the unhappiest city in Texas — but the solution will not come easy. This problem is not one private

Why the TikTok ban is necessary

Commentary

By Bela Ross Staff Writer

Earlier this month, the House passed a bill that could potentially ban TikTok in the United States. In the bill, the alternative to being banned is for the app to be sold by its Chinese owner, Bytedance. The bill was passed even after TikTok told users to call on Congress not to ban the app. Last year, Governor Abbot even issued a directive banning TikTok on stateissued devices, prompting UTSA to implement a ban on using their internet network to access it.

TikTok itself is not what Congress wants to ban; it is specifically their algorithm that makes the app so addictive, which is what makes people believe that the app could be a threat to national security.

In CEO Shou Zi Chew’s testimony before the House, he repeatedly mentioned that although Bytedance has

Chinese founders, it does not mean that the Chinese Communist Party controls TikTok. However, because Bytedance is a Chinese company, they are legally pressured to create a committee of party members within the company, and the Chinese government owns 1% of Bytedance, so it is hard to know what to believe.

old girl was found through 58 videos of her surfacing on Pornhub. Videos of an unconscious 14-year-old girl who was sexually assaulted were reported to police by a classmate who recognized her on the platform. The posters were arrested and Pornhub kept the profits. Pornhub then scrambled to remove almost 10 million videos, or about twothirds of the total content, that it could not verify the age of the actors within. The most searched video game in 2023 on Pornhub was Fortnite. Some of the top categories last year included Japanese, Pinay, Latina and Ebony, stoking the fire of racist and sexist stereotypes of women of color as sexual objects. The top category, Lesbian, continues to perpetuate homophobia by reducing lesbians to a sexual niche. The first categories when opening the website feature “barely legal” or “stepsiblings,” often code for actual incest. There is more than reasonable concern in shielding children from this content that is disturbing even to adults. Yet, Kekesi seems to believe there is a valid artistic message in a woman of questionable age having kinky sex. Pornhub’s departure from Texas is a great riddance. With this law, Texas can pride itself on actually protecting children — and now many adults — from the depravity of pornography.

citizens can fix by taking long walks in the park and talking to a therapist — this is on the city to solve. WalletHub’s study is a wake-up call to San Antonio officials, demonstrating shamelessly that although the city paints a pretty picture, its people are not being cared for properly. Countries, states and cities are only as happy as their unhappiest citizen — and San Antonio’s got a lot of them. The city must move forward in economic and societal reform to bring forth a higher quality of life, focusing on livable wages, environmental protection, and healthcare services.

Mohitha Ravikumar/The Paisano

It could be considered a threat to national security because the users do not specifically choose the content on their “For You” page. The algorithm takes the data of what videos each user has interacted with to find their interests and chooses what videos to promote, which is most likely the government’s concern. The worry is that TikTok could be

taking advantage of its large U.S. audience and spreading misinformation, especially knowing that many people get their news from the app. Because a U.S. company does not own it, the government cannot be sure that TikTok is not abusing its access to user data.

At this point, TikTok has become a large part of businesses’ marketing techniques, which includes small businesses and large corporations. One of the relatively newer features of the app is the “TikTok Shop,” which contains suspiciously low prices. However, thirdparty sellers are supposedly required to meet certain criteria to sell their products on the app. Creators are incentivized to create product advertisements by earning a commission, which, in turn, floods the app with videos promoting products.

Arte de San Antonio

By Maria Wence Contributor

The recent production of “El Gato con Botas” provides an operatic twist to the infamous Spanish feline movie, “Puss in Boots.”

‘El Gato con Botas’ purr-fectly charms

UTSA Lyric Theater presents ‘El Gato con Botas’

Presented by the UTSA Lyric Theater and written by Xavier Montsalvatge, UTSA’s rendition of “El Gato Con Botas” took the plot from the original story and added a Latin twist. The production was sung in Spanish with a beautiful piano accompaniment. A full English explanation of each act and a complete translation of the lyrics were provided for those not proficient in Spanish. In complete astonishment at the singing, one could relate the experience to being at a true Broadway show. “El Gato con Botas” was cast with two actors for each role: the cat, the lowly miller master, the princess, the king, the ogre, and the white rabbit. The play premiered for three

days, March 21 to 24, each show lasting an hour.

From the start, the production was whimsical. The first act begins with a small background story about the cat and the miller master. The master is poor and considers exchanging the cat for money, but the cat convinces the miller master to spare him, and in return, the miller master will achieve the wealth and love he seeks. So, the cat’s adventures began, leading to the meeting of the king and princess and the ogre’s introduction. While only lasting an hour, the acting and singing kept the audience attentive and laughing endlessly.

Though the acting was a strong point of the production, the light effects, costumes and props

Leaders in environmental action

By Kara Lee Graphic Editor

In a time marked by pressing environmental concerns, the work of conservation organizations stands as an influential movement in protecting the planet. From protecting ecosystems to promoting sustainable practices, these organizations play a pivotal role in safeguarding our planet.

The Nature Conservancy

Founded in the U.S. through grassroots actions in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has evolved into a wide-reaching environmental organization that spans the globe. Employing over 400 scientists and conservationists in 79 countries, The Nature Conservancy works to protect natural habitats and biodiversity through outright purchases, placement of easements and partnership with local agencies.

Ocean Conservancy

Originally founded in 1972 by Bill Kardash as the Delta Organization, Ocean Conservancy was renamed three times. Its mission is to educate and inspire people to care for animals and wildlife, particularly combating overfishing and aiding whale conservation.

Kardash’s efforts led to the establishment of the Whale Protection Fund, which gathered over 500,000 petitions against commercial whaling. Initially focusing on individual species such as seals and sea turtles, the organization soon recognized the need for broader conservation efforts to protect species and their habitats.

In 1980, it was renamed Ocean Conservancy and has since become a leading force in ocean conservation due to the impact oceans have on air, water and food resources.

completed the play. Some of the most impressive props were the detailed masks created for the ogre, big chess pieces and huge hand-made cube blocks with letters that were changed for each act. The lights were timed perfectly, specifically during the third act, when the ogre was introduced. The cat convinced the ogre to shapeshift into animals that he had heard so much about. Throughout these transitions, perfect strobe lights were placed, with a green tint to show the ogre’s transformations. The costumes, though put together well, sometimes threw the attempted aesthetic for

the character’s off. As a whole, the cast and background work made the play truly enjoyable for many. Upcoming events for the school of music include student recitals happening the rest of the week at 5 and 7:30 p.m., in the recital hall located in the Arts building. For more information, visit the UTSA Lyric Theatre website.

Carbon180

With a mission to design and advocate for science-based policies promoting carbon removal solutions, Carbon180 collaborates with companies, national labs, research universities and NGOs. Its goal is to develop technologies that capture carbon dioxide emissions and convert them into renewable energy sources for various industries.

Carbon180 advocates for federal and state-level policies supporting carbon removal and has achieved significant regulatory victories, making carbon removal a central component of climate strategies.

Rainforest Action Network

The Rainforest Action Network works to preserve forests, protect the climate and uphold human rights by challenging corporate power and systemic injustices. The

organization holds corporations accountable for their ecological impact by assessing urgent social and environmental threats.

Utilizing globally recognized research, direct action and highlevel corporate negotiations, the Rainforest Action Network advocates for policy and practice solutions to drive positive change.

Natural Resources Defense Council

Combining the collective power of over 3 million members with the expertise of 700 scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) confronts the climate crisis and protects wildlife while ensuring clean air and water for communities.

Founded on Jan. 1, 1970, by New York-based lawyer John H. Adams and like-minded individuals, NRDC was the first

national environmental advocacy group to prioritize legal action.

National Park Foundation

This organization generates private support and builds partnerships to protect and enhance America’s National Parks for present and future generations. The National Park Foundation is rooted in legacy; a century ago, private citizens took action to establish and protect national parks. The National Park Foundation carries on its mission to directly support the National Park Service.

These organizations exemplify the role of collaboration, science-based approaches and activism by addressing pressing environmental issues. Engaging governments, corporations and communities, these organizations strive to create a sustainable future where nature thrives.

The final ‘Evangelion’ release

‘The End of Evangelion’ returns to theaters

Reviews

By Ray Rodriguez Staff Writer

“Neon Genesis Evangelion”’s reputation as both the greatest anime of all time and a 14-year-old’s introduction to Kierkegaard has left the franchise at a fascinating crossroads in the modern public consciousness. Immediately following its initial 1995 Japanese release, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” follows young mech pilots Shinji Ikari, Asuka Langley-Soryu and Rei Ayanami as they navigate adolescence in a post-apocalyptic cyberpunk Tokyo-3. They attempt to balance their mental anguish and psycho-sexual malaise while protecting the world from the monstrous “angels” that routinely descend from the heavens to obliterate mankind and quickly become a cultural phenomenon.

The series took its mecha anime concept to its dramatic limit, employing everything from psychological realism to expressionism to explore a myriad of relevant themes. Touching ideas of identity, religion and existentialist philosophy, creator, co-writer and director Hideaki Anno weaponized uncharacteristically sophisticated ideas for an anime to build weight and reality in his

otherwise fantastical story. The series never reveals its full hand until its final stretch of episodes, when it fully displays all of its bold experimentation and cements itself as one of the greatest animated series of all time.

As overwhelmingly great as the last episodes of “Neon Genesis Evangelion” are, budget constraints, creative indecision and schedule issues produce a grand finale that is less of a neatly assembled wrap-up and instead a stream-of-consciousness catharsis. It ties up all of the emotional loose ends while leaving the strands of its actual story on the cutting room floor. Whether “Neon Genesis Evangelion”’s plot or its psychology is its central identity has been up for debate for nearly 30 years, but the contemporary backlash eventually led Anno to begin production on what would be the series’ true finale, his 1997 magnum opus, “The End of Evangelion.”

Viewers at the time anticipated a concretely definitive resolution to all the series’ lingering plot threads, but instead, they were delivered a borderline agonizingly personal, excruciatingly bleak 87-minute shotgun blast of a film.

Alex Dewees/The Paisano

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Arts & Life

Refill, reuse, repeat

Eco-friendly refill station, Revolutionary Refillery, celebrates first birthday

SA Gems

By Riley Carroll Arts & Life Editor

With a rising global need for climate action, any change — big or small — can make a world of difference. This is why 24-year-old San Antonio native Emily Larson opened her sustainable store.

“I saw other refilleries in different states and thought that was such a cool idea,” Larson said. “We really needed a sustainable store here in SA and I was switching to all the products myself anyway so [I] decided to start it as a business.”

Back in July 2022, Larson was

vending products at local farmers’ markets until she opened her brick-and-mortar refillery on April 22, 2023. Larson will be celebrating Revolution Refillery’s first birthday and Earth Day with an event on April 20.

“I started looking at spaces for lease [on] Feb. 1, 2023, and signed the lease for the space we have now in March 2023, so it all happened pretty quickly,” Larson said. “I repainted the walls, ripped out the carpet and put in the new flooring, built all of my shelving and got all the goods in to open by the end of April.”

or properly recycled at their facility. Everything else they order comes in cardboard boxes with either paper or dissolvable packing peanuts.

“I wanted to have all of your basic home needs — dish soap, laundry detergent, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, etc. — but I also used quite a few of these products and brands myself so it was easy for a good amount of them,” Larson said. “I wanted to make sure we carried good ingredients, non-toxic products that were still comparable prices to other leading ecofriendly brands.”

The most challenging part for Larson was finding a space perfect for the refillery’s needs, but she learned a lot in the process.

“I looked at about 20 different spaces before finding this one,” Larson said. “There [were] quite a few certifications to go through as well before opening.”

Larson shared that our society’s standard cycle of buying products with plastic containers, using up the product and then throwing away the plastic is creating too much waste. To combat this, Revolution Refillery offers sustainable, plastic-free home goods and zero-waste refills. Everything in the shop is non-toxic plant or mineral-based.

“People should shop at zero-waste stores and bulk refilleries to reduce the plastic waste they create as an individual to help the Earth out,” Larson said.

“So far, we have refilled over 2,000 bottles. Imagine if all those were just thrown into the landfill.”

Larson shared that she spent days researching the perfect products to sell in her store, and she uses Revolution Refillery’s products at home too.

All her research paid off, as she shared that almost all of her bulk refill products operate on a closed-loop system, which means the containers they receive the product in get sent back to the company to either be sanitized and refilled again

Larson’s advice to those interested in switching to eco-friendly products is to start small. Switch your Zip-Lock bags to reusable ones and your plastic bristle dish brushes to naturally sourced options. Similarly, consider exchanging your plastic shampoo bottles for shampoo and conditioner bars instead.

“If you are starting out fresh, switching to eco-friendly home goods, it can definitely be overwhelming with how much there is,” Larson said. “I always say starting with either the kitchen or the bathroom for beginners is easiest. Starting with just one or two switches can make such a difference.”

While Larson’s business is a significant step in the right direction, there is always more work to be done, especially since Revolution Refillery is the only zero-waste refillery in San Antonio.

“Hopefully, there will be more around eventually so that sustainability can be more easily accessible to everyone,” Larson said. “Everything we have here is either zero-waste, refillable, recyclable or reusable.”

For more information on Revolution Refillery, check out their website at revolutionrefillery. com, their Instagram page @revolutionrefillery, their TikTok @revolutionrefillery and their Facebook at Revolution Refillery. Mark your calendars for 12 to 5 p.m. on April 20 for their first anniversary party and Earth Day market and keep an eye out for future Revolution Refillery job listings this summer.

Five of the best state parks near Main Campus

By Sarthak Mohanty Contributor

of the Texas Hill Country. All of the following have their daily rates; alternatively, you can get a State Park pass for $70 that covers all parks and recreation facilities for a year after purchase. The Outdoor Recreation Center at the UTSA Recreation Center allows students to check out kayaks, hiking equipment, camping equipment or even just small

essentials like a backpack that can be helpful when visiting any of these parks.

Government Canyon State Natural Area

Although not a state park, Government Canyon is only 20 minutes away from campus. It is an excellent introduction to Texas’ state park system and is a great park for hiking and biking. One of the park’s coolest features is dinosaur tracks that visitors can get extremely close to. The park also features a backcountry with numerous historic windmills and gorgeous

overlook views. Government Canyon is almost always empty, or at least feels empty because of its over 12,000-acre size.

Guadalupe River State Park

This park is about a half hour away from campus. The Guadalupe River has the perfect temperature for swimming and the flow is perfect for kayaking. The park can become packed on the weekend, especially during lunchtime and the afternoon, but if you go around sunset on a weekday, the park is silent except for the native fauna. Unlike the other parks on this

A love that drives you crazy

A review of ‘Love Lies Bleeding’ Reviews

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

A24’s newest film, “Love Lies Bleeding,” was announced in December last year and quickly took the internet by storm. In the film, Kristen Stewart co-stars with Katy O’Brian in an LGBTQ+ romance-thriller.

Stewart portrays Lou, a small-town girl stuck working at a gym, hoping to escape her life’s mediocrity. Soon, the musclehead Jackie, portrayed by O’Brian, enters Lou’s life, and everything goes head over heels. Lou and Jackie quickly become infatuated with one another, with each shot showing Jackie getting physically stronger as their relationship strengthens. Eventually, an extreme act of violence changes everything for the pair, pushing them into disarray.

From scene to scene, the film is exciting and fresh. It is hard to guess what happens next, and when things go wrong, the violence is fantastic. The gore in each scene can be hard to watch, but it is top-notch and expertly done. However, some of the story writing could be improved, and at times, the director breaks away from the shots’

surrealness too soon.

A24 has become the master at making great films based on niche ideas, and this is no exception. The idea is niche, but the story-building and execution let it truly excel, especially alongside the perfect casting. Stewart and O’Brian have amazing chemistry together and sold the flick. Even in marketing ads on Instagram and TikTok, you can feel the tension and feelings the characters have for one another. The comparison between Lou’s romantic expression in “Love Lies Bleeding” and Bella’s in the “Twilight” saga is somewhat shocking. Bella always felt flat and insincere, while Lou’s emotional range is full of energy and endearment.

At times, the film does take you out of the immersion with interesting writing choices or chaotic scenes that take away from the film’s authenticity. For the most part, “Love Lies Bleeding” is a great watch, with some small caveats.

list, Guadalupe has little to no cell signal throughout most of the park. The park has few trails, but the water bodies are its main attraction.

Hill Country State Natural Area

This park is about an hour away from campus and offers classic hill country views. It has a lot of rugged terrain and is the perfect park for trail running. Horses, armadillos and turkeys are often seen in this park. Hill Country State Natural Area does not have a backcountry but has an extensive trail system and

multiple scenic overlooks, one of which is the highest in the Texas Hill Country. Trails here are extremely rugged, more so than the others and visitors can get tired fast, so bring a water bottle.

Blanco State Park

Blanco State Park is about 45 minutes away from campus. There are no hiking trails, but the crystal blue water is amazing to swim in. It is like a less crowded and bigger Barton Creek.

Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Photos courtesy of Emily Larson

Mariana Ramos/The Paisano

UTSA stuns No.10 ECU in three-game series Baseball earns highest-ranked series win in program history RylanRenteria/ThePaisano

Distribution Manager

UTSA baseball opened up its first series as members of the American Athletic Conference in historic fashion, winning the first and third games against No.10 East Carolina over the weekend at Roadrunner Field.

After allowing 14 runs to Texas State on Tuesday, the Roadrunners (12-12, 2-1 AAC) regrouped to hand the Pirates (16-6, 1-2) their first series loss of the season. Getting a series win is great for any squad, but to do it against the highest-ranked opponent in program history meant something a little extra to coach Pat Hallmark.

“I feel good. We did so many things right, which you have to do to beat good teams,” Hallmark said. “There was no phase of the game where we came up short today, it was our best game of the year.”

In Sunday’s series finale, UTSA drew first blood in the bottom of the first inning with RBIs from senior infielder Alexander Olivo

utility Broc Parmer, allowing Matt King and Mason Lytle to score. After ECU brought in a run in its next at-bat, UTSA responded with two additional runs from junior infielder Zane Spinn and senior outfielder Caleb Hill, making the score 4-1.

While the offense was doing their part, the game was ultimately decided on the mound. Hallmark called upon sophomore pitcher Ruger Riojas, who played in Friday’s opener, to close out the final two innings and secure the 6-5 victory. “I had to go in there with 110% effort and be completely focused on every single pitch,” Riojas said. “I was just really feeling myself

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

The UTSA Roadrunners visited the Wichita State Shockers for a three-game series this past weekend at the Wilkins Stadium in Wichita, Kansas. The ‘Runners fell to the Shockers in all three games, getting out-scored 30-2.

All three games of the weekend ended with the same result — the Roadrunners (924, 1-8) getting run-ruled and Wichita State (16-10, 7-2) getting an easy win. The journey to each devastating loss, however, followed a different narrative.

Friday’s doubleheader showed the only offensive success of the series for UTSA with an RBI off the bat of senior designated player Erykah Guerrero in the top of the fifth inning. This play led to two runs scored, one being a result of a fielding error by the Shockers. The ‘Runners collected six hits in the shortened five-inning game, also leaving seven potential runs on base.

Defensively, UTSA committed two errors, one leading to a run scored. Senior pitcher Jamie Gilbert started the game and only went three innings before being replaced. She finished her time on the mound with three innings pitched, nine hits allowed, three earned runs and four strikeouts.

It was the ‘Runners’ inability to drive in necessary runs that caused them to take the

UTSA women’s tennis team

first loss of the series with a final score of 102. Friday’s second game included only two hits and zero Roadrunners making it all the way around the diamond. Pitching issues began early when senior starting pitcher Kenzi Schultz could only manage to go one complete inning, where she gave up four hits and four earned runs. On the field, UTSA committed two errors, which has increased their season total to 44.

Their lack of offense and early struggles in the circle caused the ‘Runners to drop the second game of the double-header 8-0.

The series’ final game on Saturday was an abysmal performance for UTSA on both sides of the ball. The Roadrunners only managed to get one hit en route to scoring zero runs and the pitching staff gave up seven home runs which led to the Shockers scoring 12. On the bright side, UTSA managed to record zero errors thanks to most of the opponent’s hits finding their way over the fence.

The Shocker’s homerun frenzy propelled them to collect the third game and the sweep over UTSA with a final score of 12-0.

The Roadrunners searched for different narratives in hopes of finding a better result, but sometimes it takes more than three attempts to do so.

UTSA’s next game will be against Lamar University at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Roadrunner Field.

UTSA’s offense came out hot in Friday’s series opener. An RBI single from King allowed Lytle to reach home untouched. UTSA tacked on three more runs in the third from RBI singles from Parmer and junior utility James Taussig, as well as a sacrificial bunt from sophomore outfielder Tye Odom. “It feels great. Their pitcher is really good and I’m impressed and proud of our hitters,” Hallmark said. “There’s a few things we didn’t do well but we threw strikes and played good defense. I’m proud of the team.”

Following the Pirates’ first score in the sixth inning, Riojas made his debut in the series to seal game one for the ‘Runners.

tough, he’s a guy who wants the ball with the game on the line,” Hallmark said. Riojas treated it just like any other game, capturing the 4-2 win for the ‘Runners. was just trying to get some outs and get my team back in there hitting,” he said.

A late rally in game two saw UTSA score six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to bring the score to 12-10. ECU answered with two runs of their own in the top of the ninth, to which UTSA had no response, falling 14-10. The Roadrunners gave up 16 hits and committed four errors.

With conference play officially underway, the Roadrunners will get a fresh start with a winning record. The team will continue to be tested down the stretch, but for Hallmark and his squad, the mentality remains the same.

“Every game is so important,” he said. “We’re trying to win every game like it’s the last weekend of the season.”

UTSA will hit the road to face Baylor. The

Men’s basketball hires Austin Claunch as new head coach

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

UTSA named Alabama assistant coach Austin Claunch as the new head coach of the men’s basketball team. Replacing former eight-year coach Steve Henson, Claunch will look to improve the Roadrunner program, as the last three seasons have consisted of losing records. Although Claunch is helping Alabama make a deep NCAA tournament run, the new coach has continued to voice his excitement for the upcoming off-season.

Sitting down for a media introduction, the Texas native spoke glowingly of his hometown and his eagerness to get in the gym with his new players.

“Genuinely a dream come true,” Claunch said. “I’ve been all over the southwest parts of Texas and it feels like a full circle moment to come home and coach here in San Antonio.”

As an assistant coach for Alabama, Claunch has played a major role in the Crimson Tide’s success. He has helped elevate the university to a 21-11 record and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Though hired while being an assistant, Claunch is no stranger to coaching, as he served as the head coach at Nicholls for five seasons. Claunch helped lead Nicholls to two straight conference championships in 2021 and 2022 and put together multiple winning seasons. His ability to coach and develop talent has not been overlooked, as ESPN touted him as a member of their 40 under 40 coaching list in 2020. Extremely experienced and decorated, Claunch is set to immediately

Highest division i ranking in ita at #61

Coach KI kroll now has 50+ wins under his belt

has remained incredibly humble and eager to get to work.

“There’s a ton of potential and talent at this university,” Claunch remarked. “I think we can be really good for a long time, but I don’t think it will take a long time to be really good.”

The hiring makes Claunch the seventh men’s basketball coach in program history. His addition will undoubtedly improve the team, as his plethora of experience makes him more than qualified for the head position. While the team may not experience a drastic improvement overnight, its newfound potential is seemingly limitless. Fans of the program and the university should be extremely excited about the hiring of the new head coach.

Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

sports

By Haley Aguayo Assistant Sports Editor

about what brought them to the roles they have today and offered advice about how to get more women involved in the sports industry. The goal of the panel was to inspire others to take on leadership roles, especially in sports. Wells currently holds two roles, vice president of National Events for San Antonio Sports and executive director for the 2025 NCAA Men’s Final Four, which will be held in San Antonio from April 4-7, 2025. Gavito was elected to City Council last June and is a representative for District 7 and Lizardo is

Empowering women empowers sports

the executive director for the south region of Special Olympics Texas.

“I think being in a sporting organization that’s largely led by women is a rarity,” Wells said of San Antonio Sports. “I went to UTSA. The athletic director at the time was Lynn Hickey, she had just become one of the first Division I, or one of the very few Division I, female athletic directors across the country. So just seeing them in those roles really impacted me and helped break through those cultural norms to show me that I could have a pathway in sports.”

In an industry such as sports, people need to

defy gender stereotypes and take on leadership roles to increase representation. According to Sports Business, “Women hold positions of responsibility in between 10 and 20 percent of the total positions in the sports industry field.”

Encouraged by male colleagues, Gavito moved up the corporate ladder in the tech industry. Despite not working in sports, she is a pillar of the San Antonio community and

works in a majority female-led city council. As Gavito’s work is in a male-dominated industry, she knows how difficult it can be for women to get their foot in the door or even want to take that step in the first place.

“I had to get really comfortable being uncomfortable,” Gavito said. “I found a lot of growth in helping others with salary negotiation, in particular, because it is nerveracking; you’re having to go prove your value and ask for more, and you have to be assertive, right? There’s no other way. You can’t ask kindly. So coaching a lot of other females to have those conversations and to put it out there and not apologize for it was helpful to me and others.”

Advocating for others is no new feat for these women. Wells shared that she is always looking to give people, especially women, an opportunity to work and move up in the sporting business. Lizardo was encouraged to take on her role for the sole reason of advocacy.

“Working

being able to advocate for those individuals with disabilities to empower themselves and show them that they can be more than what they are has been fantastic,” Lizardo said. “I think that I’ve been able to use those tools and resources that I’ve learned from my mentors and their guidance in order to empower other women. They see what I’m doing and if I can just highlight their successes and tell them they’re doing a great job, ultimately, they will grow and be able to aspire to [achieve] their goals that they’ve set for themselves.”

Women can impact the sports world in amazing ways that only serve to benefit the industry as a whole. After all, SAFC went on to win for the first time this season during Women’s Empowerment Night. If you are looking to get involved in sports, email The Paisano at sports@paisano-online. com, or check out the San Antonio Sports website for any internships and volunteer

Carlos Sainz wins Australian GP days after hospitalization

By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Round three of this year’s F1 season took place last Saturday in Melbourne, Australia, at the Albert Park circuit. Carlos Sainz from Ferrari qualified in second position (P2) during Friday’s qualifying, between the Red Bulls of World Champion Max Verstappen, P1, and his teammate, Sergio Perez, in P3. Red Bull Racing dominated the first two races of the season, but Melbourne saw their worst result in months.

Sainz sang the lyrics to “Smooth Operator” by Sade – his personal anthem – after crossing the finish line, taking the third Grand Prix victory of his career. The race ended under a Virtual Safety Car, meaning that the cars were driving at reduced speeds and unable to overtake those in front after George Russell

in the Mercedes crashed on the penultimate lap. Accompanying Sainz on the podium was his teammate Charles Leclerc and his exteammate Lando Norris, who got McLaren Racing’s first podium of the 2024 season.

Verstappen retired for the first time since Australia 2022 in Lap 5 of the GP due to mechanical brake problems that saw his back right suspension and tire catch fire. Lewis Hamilton became the second world champion to retire from the Australian GP after his Mercedes suffered an engine failure in Lap 17. Combined with Russell’s crash, the Mercedes team failed to score any points and is currently 28 points behind McLaren in the Constructors’ Championship. Red Bull remains at the top, with Ferrari only four points behind.

“It’s a mechanical sport,” Verstappen said in the Post-Race show, available on Formula 1’s official YouTube channel. “These things unfortunately happen, but I think it’s most

Texas’ worst mascot award goes to…

By Riley Carroll Arts & Life Editor

A mascot represents the heart of any given team — its triumphs, its passion, its motivations and its pride. The best mascots are not only a ferocious token for opponent intimidation, but they also show up and show out through interactions at events. That being said, not everybody is lucky enough to have a stud like Rowdy the Roadrunner as their mascot.

San Antonio

MySA Staff Writer Jess Elizarraras said it best; San Antonio mascots do not “settle for Eagles and call it a day. No, dear reader. That’d be too easy.” Step aside, San Antonio Zoo, the Alamo City’s chaotic mascots need a zoo of their own. The following are San Antonio’s top eight worst sports mascots, number one being the worst.

important that we understand why it happened.”

Scuderia was the incontestable victor this round, with both drivers on the podium since Bahrain 2022 when it was Leclerc on the top step. Sainz had previously beaten Verstappen’s win streak in Singapore 2023, being the only non-Red Bull driver to win a race in the previous season. Sainz, who missed the previous GP after undergoing surgery for appendicitis, is out of a race seat for 2025 after Ferrari failed to renew his contract, replacing him with Hamilton for the next season.

“I’m extremely happy,” Sainz said in the Suzuka International Racing Course.

8. Puffy Taco

While Ballapeño the Jalapeño, Missions Baseball’s spiciest mascot, is creative and humorous, Missions Baseball’s other mascot, Henry the Puffy Taco, falls short. The two pay homage to San Antonio’s treasured Tex-Mex and Mexican food selection, but the difference is that a taco is not nearly as fierce or funny as Ballapeño. Admittedly, it is not hard to outshine a faceless taco.

7. Globies

While a globe makes sense for the International School of the Americas, a magnet school housed in Legacy of Educational Excellence (LEE) High School, what are “Globies?”

6. Buttons

A button is part of a rattlesnake’s rattle, but why not just call the Central Catholic High School team the rattlesnakes? Buttons are unique but tame.

from its racist past, but only a small one.

1. Indians

Arguably equally as problematic as LEE High School’s previous mascot is Harlandale High School’s mascot, the Indian. Need the Kansas City Chiefs to remind y’all? Cultural appropriation is not okay.

Texas

15. Pegasus

Booker T. Washington High School’s (Dallas) mascot, Pegasus, is a unique one. Are they more whimsical and childlike than menacing? Absolutely.

14. Unicorns

5. Coyote

Speaking of Spurs, what is up with that coyote?

Save for sports enthusiasts, the general public would likely guess that the San Antonio Spurs’ mascot would be some iteration of a metal spike attached to the back of a cowboy boot, but rather, the Spurs’ mascot is a coyote with bulging eyes. Sure, the coyote has more of a ferocity factor than a spur or even a boot would, but it is still a bit out of left field.

4. Arrows

No, it’s not what you think. Communication Arts High School’s mascot is not an archery arrow; The Arrow is a seven-sided polygon you can see on a road sign. An archery arrow would have been much cooler.

3. Voks

Lanier High School’s Vok mascot is a mechanical gear that is part of a larger machine. While symbolic, a vok is not a mascot-worthy object.

2. Military Service Dogs

Don’t forget that LEE used to be named Robert E. Lee High School. During that time, the school’s Confederate soldier mascot was a tribute to its namesake, Confederate General Lee, the man who led the South in the Civil War. Since the school’s rebranding, the LEE Volunteers adopted the Military Service Dogs as their mascot. It’s an upgrade

In the same realm as the Pegasuses, but slightly less cool, are the Unicorns. As Keller Williams New Braunfels said, New Braunfels High School’s mascot was “originally taken from the coat of arms of Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels. This blue unicorn in a gold field was a nod to the city’s German roots.”

13. Zebras

Imagine having zebra print all over your high school walls. This isn’t far from reality for Grandview High School. Isn’t the world past its 2016 animal print obsession?

12. Clutch

Another H-Town team with a mascot that falls short is the Houston Rockets. You would expect the mascot to be a rocket, but no. The team took after the Spurs and chose a bear to represent their otherwise-named team. Clutch is cute, but where did the idea for a bear come from?

11. Skeeters

Once again, what is a skeeter? A mosquito. Mesquite High School and formerly the Sugar Land Skeeters minor league baseball team were both represented by a mosquito. Yes, Pfizer has said mosquitos cause over 700,000 deaths per year, but their small build is not threatening.

But which Skeeter is “Moe” mascot-worthy than the other?

Sugar Land would have taken the cake with the mascot name Moe Skeeter, whose name phonetically sounds like the word mosquito, but they have since been renamed the Space Cowboys, which could very well earn a spot among the worst mascots too.

Haley Aguayo/The Paisano

Kara Lee/The Paisano