THE PAISANO
University Oaks residents advised to be cautious after suspicious activity
By Anika Engler Staff Writer
University Oaks residents are advised by the University of Texas at San Antonio to be on high alert at all times following an alleged sexual assault taking place in the complex.
On Oct. 6, a sexual assault was reported to the UTSA Police Department. While this student was sleeping in her apartment, an unknown male broke in through an unlocked window and proceeded to sexually assault her. The suspect escaped before anyone was able to capture him.
While the perpetrator remains at large, there have been some advancements towards finding the offender. On Nov. 4, a report was made concerning a suspicious individual “wearing a baseball cap, black shirt and shorts.” This description matches one illustrated in an email sent by the UTSA Department of Public Safety
shortly after the sexual assault. described as, “a complexion, wearing a gray t-shirt, dark shorts and backward baseball cap.”
This recent thread concerning the report was posted on Reddit. After the post was published, some students spoke out.
“Maybe residents should establish some sort of ‘neighborhood’ watch group. I know their own security shouldn’t be left up to themselves but with the lack of resources UTSA is providing, it may help in identifying this man,” a Reddit user posted.
“I really wish they could identify this person,” another said.
Two freshmen who currently reside in University Oaks shared their
fearing that the intruders might be targeting females. I was always diligent about locking my doors, but now I’m even more cautious, making sure everything is secure. I also carry pepper spray with me at all times for added protection. One thing that has helped ease my anxiety is the installation of a safety tower with cameras overlooking the apartments, along with the increased presence of police in the area.”
“Ever since the second sighting, I have been much more attentive of my
Death of UTSA student prompts swift response from Administration
By Jake Mireles Editor-in-Chief Incident
Following a second on-campus death in six months, an unprecedented decision was made by UTSA Administration to cancel all classes scheduled for this past Friday. The day of reflection was announced to students via email and UTSA Today.
This response is extraordinary in nature. When confronted with a similar situation in early May, the university did not cancel or postpone scheduled classes, much to the dismay of the student body.
Student’s response
UTSA students had a mixed response to the university’s actions following the incident on Wednesday. Some Roadrunners took to platforms, like Reddit and Instagram, searching for answers about what tangible changes the university could make to rectify the situation in the future.
Joshua David, a freshman majoring in Film and Media, was alerted to the incident via UTSA’s email announcement.
“Their response was pretty basic. To me, it makes sense to just link all of the resources,” Davis stated about the university’s response. “They could have harped on it more, sent out more emails or something.”
Senior Electrical Engineering major Jian Perez also was alerted to the incident via the email announcement. Compared to the university’s response to the last student death on campus, Perez felt there was a noticeable improvement.
“Definitely would say it definitely took a higher step than last [semester],” Perez said. “This time, they did the rest day so as students we can just relax, don’t have to take care of school, and just make sure we’re aware of each other.”
Perez noted that as a member of the engineering department, the reminders about mental health service access by faculty has been consistent.
“In the engineering department, I constantly see things of people talking and announcing and telling us, ‘Go get help, there’s people to talk to. Don’t be afraid to talk about that stuff.”
Cheyenne, a senior Cybersecurity major, learned
about the death through Reddit. Cheyenne noted that the lack of safety infrastructure in the on-campus parking garages was particularly concerning.
“I feel like [UTSA] did the best with what they had, but I do also believe that they could do more physically,” Cheyenne stated. “ This is the second [death] that occurred on the garage, and I think setting up some bars or improving the resources we currently have. I know a lot of other students have problems with the counseling that’s here, so maybe facilitating more work on that would definitely be better.”
UTSA’s Response
Following the incident on Wednesday, UTSA has committed to providing students and staff with “additional well-being services” following Friday’s day of reflection.
The university is offering online and in-person student listening sessions “to hear directly from our students” in coordination with the Wellbeing Enhancement Taskforce. Students and faculty will also have access to free “daily mental health support resources” in the Sombrilla from Nov. 11 to Nov. 15. Additional “meaningful mental health programming on topics ranging from healthy body image, recovery, therapy animals and more” will also be available to students. More information about this health program can be found on Rowdylink.
However, UTSA has currently made no concrete commitment to making tangible, systemic changes to the mental health resources it provides to its students. Additionally, UTSA has currently made no commitment to adding additional safety measures to its on-campus parking garages — where the two most recent student deaths by suicide took place.
When contacted for an interview to clarify the university’s stance on further commitments to addressing the situation, Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Affairs Joe Izbrand did not respond.
When contacted for an interview on how / if their organization would advocate for the needs of the student body following this incident beyond hosting a Mental Health First Aid Workshop, the UTSA Student Government Association did not respond.
not to walk alone late at night and that my friends don’t walk alone either. I have also seen a lot of police in the area so I feel a lot safer with them there.”
This is a developing story. To stay updated, visit paisano-online.com.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the UTSA Police Department at 210-458-4242
Red Hispanic wall
By Christopher Delgado Staff Writer
In 2018, Beto O’Rourke ran for Texas Senate and lost to Senator Ted Cruz by a mere three percentage points — prompting many to believe Texas would soon turn blue. Two years later, the opportunity arose with the 2020 presidential election. President Joe Biden ended up losing the Texas electoral votes by less than six percentage points.
The 2024 presidential election reinstated Texas as a definitive red state when President-elect Donald Trump won by a margin of 14%. What changed in Texas between the 2020 and 2024 presidential election?
Major counties, such as Bexar, Harris, Dallas and Travis, continued to vote in favor of the Democratic nominee. However, Vice President Kamala Harris faced a 3-5% decrease in support compared to Biden in 2020. Tarrant County favored Biden by a slim 0.2%. The margin split open in 2024 by Trump, who garnered 51.9% of the popular vote compared to Harris’ 46.7%.
Already missing several of the votes in major cities that Biden had harnessed, it was all but guaranteed Harris would not be turning Texas blue. However, what became most shocking was the lack of support she received from counties in the Rio Grande Valley.
In 2020, Biden won 51% of the popular vote in Starr County and 58% in Hidalgo County — holding a 5% lead in Starr and 17% advantage in Hidalgo. The Democratic support wavered immensely in the 2024 election. In this election, 57.7% of voters in Starr County elected Trump, while 51% of Hidalgo County voted in favor of the GOP candidate. In Willacy and Cameron, previously blue counties, a little more than 50% of voters approved of Trump.
No counties who had previously supported Trump wavered in their endorsement during this election.
The increased support for the GOP is a trend that rings true across the nation. Surprisingly, the shift has been dominant in many Hispanic communities. Hispanic male voters remain concerned with economic issues. This attracted them to Trump, as he often lauded creating one of the best economies in United States history during his presidential term. The claims were disproven.
NEWS
UTSA leads nuclear space exploration research
By Matthew Moses Staff Writer
The beginning of October brought with it UTSA’s selection as the lead institution for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy’s most recent multimilliondollar project. The award is set to stimulate nuclear energy research at UTSA and provide professional training to prepare undergraduate and graduate students for careers in nuclear energy science. Researchers at the university will collaborate with the University of Texas at El Paso and the Idaho National Laboratory to investigate fission product (FP) behavior in advanced reactor fuels. The project is one of three Integrated Research Projects awarded by the DOE for fiscal year 2024, and as the lead institution, UTSA is designated to receive over half of the $3 million award.
“This research will contribute to the knowledge base and understanding of novel nuclear fuels proposed to power advanced systems that will bring us all one step closer to achieving our clean energy and climate goals, while also advancing space exploration beyond our planet,” said Elizabeth Sooby, principal investigator on the project and associate professor in the UTSA Department of Physics and Astronomy. The new project comes as UTSA has steadily increased its presence in the nuclear research field.
Earlier this year, UTSA announced its participation in one of two new DOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) consortia committed to nuclear security and nonproliferation.
The DOE says the consortia were established to facilitate collaboration between universities and laboratory researchers to advance science and technology that furthers NNSA’s nuclear security and nonproliferation missions. The hands-on approach and professional training also have the goal of “enabling an effective pipeline of talented next-generation experts to establish careers at DOE national laboratories.”
Each consortium will receive up to $5 million per year for five years to further these objectives.
The new research project is titled “Experimental and Computational assessment of thermodynamic stability of fission products in advanced reactor fuels.” With combined efforts from other academic institutions, this project will utilize experimental and computational methods to investigate FPs and their influence on the thermal and mechanical properties of advanced reactor fuels, specifically uranium mononitride.
Fission products are particles that remain after nuclear fission, the process that occurs when a nucleus is split into two smaller nuclei to generate energy. Uranium mononitride is a chemical compound that refers to an oxidation state where nitrogen binds to the fissile fueluranium leading to high uranium density as well as high thermal conductivity, resulting in more efficient power production and heat transfer.
“This discovery will propel us forward by granting greater access to cleaner and more efficient forms of nuclear energy that will help us achieve our current climate and space propulsion goals,” Sooby added.
Nuclear power provides one-fifth of America’s electricity and is the nation’s largest domestic source of clean energy according to the DOE. Due to the massive potential energy and conductivity, uranium nitrides are seen by the nuclear materials community as exciting candidate fuels for advanced nuclear systems, namely civilian power systems and even space nuclear propulsion.
“Nuclear reactor developers all over the U.S. are proposing designs for safer, more economical, proliferation resistance systems,” Sooby added. “Many of these new technologies necessitate the use of nuclear fuels which are not yet on the market. Further, with the push to go to Mars, there’s a great deal of attention being placed on space nuclear power systems to both power habitats and space craft.”
With two operational nuclear power plants in Texas, UTSA’s involvement in advancing clean energy technology “places us on the leading edge of advancements in this area” while simultaneously engaging students in cuttingedge research.
“We will combine our world-class capabilities with experimental expertise and experience in synthesis and testing of uranium compounds to advance the world’s understanding of fission product mobility in non-oxide fuels,” Sooby said. “This discovery will propel us forward by granting greater access to cleaner and more efficient forms of nuclear energy that will help us achieve our current climate and space propulsion goals.”
Sooby’s research team includes UTSA faculty members Xochitl Lopez-Lozano and Patrick Warren, along with collaborators from UT El Paso and Idaho National Laboratory. The project will also recruit two UTSA graduate students and more than 15 undergraduate students to gain hands-on experience and assist with the project.
2024 election results
By Noah Hernandez Staff Writer
After yet another turbulent election cycle, democracy has once again spoken. Nearly 800,000 voters headed to the polls in Bexar County this year, placing the county’s voter turnout at 58.7%. Here are the winners of the 2024 election at the local, state and federal levels.
San Antonio Charter Propositions:
Proposition A: For Proposition B: For Proposition C: For Proposition D: For Proposition E: For Proposition F: For
Bexar County:
Bexar County Sheriff: Javier Salazar (Dem)
Bexar County Pct. 1 county commissioner: Rebeca Clay-Flores (Dem)
Bexar County Pct. 3 county commissioner: Grant Moody: (Rep)
Bexar County Pct. 2 county constable: Leticia Rodriguez Vasquez (Dem)
Texas Congressional Races:
State Senate District 25: Donna Campbell (Rep)
State House District 116: Trey MartinezFischer (Dem)
State House District 117: Philip Cortez (Dem)
State House District 118: John Lujan (Rep)
State House District 119: Elizabeth Campos (Dem)
State House District 120: Barbara GervinHawkins (Dem)
State House District 121: Marc LaHood (Rep)
State House District 122: Mark Dorazio (Rep)
State House District 123: Diego Bernal (Dem)
State House District 124: Josey Garcia (Dem)
State House District 125: Ray Lopez (Dem)
want to stay in-theknow? Read more news on our website.
Students hold vigil for suicide victim
By Daniel Botello Contributor
Axolotls, a love for all things living, and an unwavering passion for learning. These characteristics make up the man that was Jose Bruno Del Rio-Malewski.
He is remembered by his friends and family for his curious and gentle demeanor. His most memorable aspect was his love for the Axolotl, a type of salamander that is native to the Xochimilco wetland in Mexico. His passion for learning made him an expert in all things that piqued his interest, and his love for his Mexican heritage made him a great candidate for an enriching conversation.
When someone met Bruno, they were likely met with a one-worded response and his iconic stutter. But given enough interaction and a few questions about his weekend, his stutter would disappear and he would instantly turn into a completely different person. His love for science, and unwavering passion for learning made him instantly popular at his lab at the UT Health Science Center, as well as on-campus at Dr. Hutchinson’s Aquatic Ecology Lab.
“He always had that joy of learning, and he was always eager to learn, and help people, and correct them when they were wrong,” his aunt Lorena Del Rio said. “In a way I’m still in the stage of nonbelief because of how sudden everything is. A lot of things pass through your mind like, ‘How did this happen? ’‘Why?’ You want to have all the answers but at the end of the day it’s life. I’m still trying to understand it, and I still believe
that I’ll wake up and it’ll all be just a dream.”
Bruno, the doctoral candidate for environmental science tragically passed away when he fell from the top story of the Bauerle Road Garage at the Main Campus last Wednesday. His lab partners and family hosted a vigil for him on-campus on Monday outside of the Flawn Sciences building. Attendees were able to learn more about Bruno’s past, and share stories of their best memories with him. Students, faculty, family, and friends alike, all gathered to light a candle and celebrate Bruno’s amazing life and accomplishments.
“He was very authentic,” brother Gideon Del Rio said. “I learned a lot from him about pursuing my own authenticity. So I want to honor him in that way, by continuing to be authentic. He was there my entire life, so I don’t know what life looks like without him. We’re in uncharted waters, and it’s the most deep pain I think I’ve ever experienced.”
Bruno’s legacy serves as a valuable reminder of the importance of mental health and wellbeing. His friends and relatives mention that one of his last wishes was to see the Xochimilco wetland once again thriving with Axolotls, and to see the reptile be taken off of the critically endangered list. People can donate to the wetland by visiting https://www.moja.ong/ donate/, and learn more about mental health and wellbeing at UTSA by visiting https://www. utsa.edu/students/wellbeing/.
State of the City Week of 11/12
By Nathan Hilfer Contributor
State Executive Races:
Texas Railroad Commissioner: Christi Craddick (Rep)
State Board of Education District 1: Gustavo Reveles (Dem)
State Board of Education District 3: Marisa Perez-Diaz (Dem)
Judicial Races:
Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District, Place 3:
Todd McCray (Rep)
Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District, Place 4:
Lori Massey Brissette (Rep)
Justice, 4th Court of Appeals District, Place 5: Adrian Spears (Rep)
Texas Supreme Court, Place 2: Jimmy Blacklock (Rep
Texas Supreme Court, Place 4: John Devine (Rep)
Texas Supreme Court, Place 6: Jane Bland (Rep)
Presiding Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals: David J. Schenck (Rep)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 7: Gina Parker (Rep)
Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 8: Lee Finley (Rep)
U.S. Congressional Races:
U.S. Senate: Ted Cruz (Rep)
Bexar County: Alred, 56.8%
House of Representatives, District 20: Joaquin
Castro (Dem)
House of Representatives, District 21: Chip
Roy (Rep)
House of Representatives, District 23: Tony Gonzalez (Rep)
House of Representatives, District 28: Henry
Cuellar (Dem)
House of Representatives, District 35: Greg Casar (Dem)
U.S. Executive Race:
U.S. Presidential Race: Donald Trump (Rep)
Bexar County: Kamala Harris, 54.3%
Merger of Climate Advisory Committees approved
San Antonio’s two existing climate advisory committees have been approved to merge after this week’s City Council meeting. The San Antonio Climate Ready Equity Advisory Committee and the Technical & Community Advisory Committee have been operating separately since 2019. To solve challenges stemming from the compartmentalization of these committees, these two departments will be merged into the San Antonio Climate Ready Advisory Committee. This new singular committee is expected to have its first meeting in early 2025, focusing on sustainability efforts for the city.
Alleged hit-and-run driver arrested
The driver of a Blue Chevrolet Silverado struck a man crossing the street at the intersection of SW Military Drive and Roosevelt Avenue. As the driver fled the scene, a witness was able to get his license plate number and contact the police. With this information, police were able to arrest the driver, charging him with one count of collision involving serious bodily injury. The pedestrian was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Brad Simpson charged with murder of wife
After several weeks of searching for the missing San Antonio mother, Suzanne Clark Simpson, a murder charge has been filed against her husband, Brad Simpson. Suzanne went missing in early October shortly after a reported altercation between Suzane and Brad. While Suanne’s body has not been found, The Olmos Police Department assures there is enough evidence against Brad to escalate charges to murder. He remains at Bexar County Jail on a $5 million bond. The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to look for Suzanne’s remains.
Spekboom Lodge officially open
The San Antonio Zoo’s Spekboom Lodge houses its first guests on Friday, Nov. 8. This new overnight retreat, starting at $840 per night, accommodates up to four guests in the zoo’s Naylor Savanna, where they can sleep alongside giraffes, rhinos and other African wildlife. A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Giraffe Conservation International, an organization dedicated to the preservation of giraffes in the wild.
San Antonio Weapons Exchange Confirmed
The City of San Antonio has announced a weapons exchange event for Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Alamodome parking lot. This voluntary event will allow anyone in San Antonio to drive in and exchange their firearms for H-E-B gift cards. This is the second year the city has held the event; the previous having surpassed over 900 exchanges, distributing $175,000 worth of gift cards. The goal of the exchange is to make homes and communities safer by providing a secure and incentivizing way for individuals to get rid of unwanted weapons.
UTSA needs tangible, continued growth
Editorial Administration pledges to improve mental health resources after death of student
The Paisano is deeply saddened by the loss of a member of the UTSA community. As students near the end of the semester, with final examinations approaching, it is important that they can rely on the safety and sanctity of campus. It is the responsibility of the administration to ensure that students, faculty and staff all feel supported and have resources readily available.
On Wednesday, UTSA confirmed the death of a student by the Bauerle Road Garage. According to an email sent out by President Taylor Eighmy, the death was likely by suicide. This would be UTSA’s second student suicide on campus in the past six months; the previous one occurred at the Ximenes Garage in early May.
On Thursday evening, UTSA announced all Friday classes were canceled and a “Day of Reflection” would be held instead. There were a series of free events hosted
meant to support and comfort students; they included therapy animals, suicide prevention gatekeeper training and a yoga class among others. It was also announced that efforts to improve mental health on campus will continue to evolve, led by the Wellbeing Enhancement Task Force and the Employee Success Center.
President Eighmy and the administration’s response to this Wednesday’s tragedy has been very swift and attentive to the needs of students. At such a time, it can be easy for students to feel overwhelmed and even unsafe; their effort put into addressing students’ concerns should be commended.
However, classes cannot be canceled every Friday to hold Days of Reflection, and improving mental health services is an ever-changing process. If UTSA truly intends to do better for its community, it is imperative that these efforts continue to be developed
Rowdy Thoughts
Is the use of shein and temu unethical?
and prioritized. The administration has to do its part in bolstering resources and the student body has to keep the pressure on. To strengthen the UTSA community, everyone must come together and make an effort. In the face of such tragedy and uncertain times, people must come together and become a support system for each other. It is good to be aware and take advantage of the professional services offered by the university. Still, it is also crucial for students to reach out for help or to offer help to those near them, from friends to family to classmates. When a group stands together and protects each other, it becomes a stronger, healthier community. Students who are struggling with their mental health can reach out to the Wellness 360 Counseling Services and Timely Care, which are accessible through their MyHealth portal. For emergencies, the Crisis Help Line is available 24/7 at 210-458-4140.
data gathered by Paisano Social Media Team
Is red ribbon week useful in raising drug awareness?
Did Elon Musk’s giveaway influence the election?
What humbled Harris
Commentary
By Malaki Lingg Arts & Life Editor
As the majority of Americans may already know, Donald J. Trump has just been elected the 47th President of the United States. He beat his rival from across the aisle, Kamala Harris, with 312 points from the Electoral College and a lead of approximately 3 million in the popular vote. President Trump is the first Republican in twenty years to win the popular vote in a presidential election, shocking many by once again taking the presidential office.
With what seems like the unwavering support of the Democratic party, why did Harris lose in this pivotal matchup? What may seem like a complex question is very simple: Harris and the Democratic party failed the American people, leading a disastrous campaign whilst failing to garner support on all sides of the centerleft political spectrum.
During the election cycle, it seemed as if much of Harris’ attention was on gaining the support of the youth. While campaigning on all fronts is important, the youth vote is overwhelmingly blue already. Her “brat” themed memes and youth-centric strategies ultimately failed because much of the youth was voting for her already. Harris and her team missed on rallying older generations further, especially those who were still indecisive about which side they were going to cast their ballot for.
In an editorial op-ed published by the Boston Globe, Senator Bernie Sanders discussed why he believed the Democrats ultimately failed during this election. He discussed statistics such as the 60% of
are facing. Trump used these issues to enrage voters, while Kamala failed to correctly respond to these issues, leaving much of America confused as to how the blue party would help them if she was sworn into office. These issues directly affect all Americans, and it seems like the left dropped the ball, targeting smaller groups while believing their former core voters would not shift — with that being a critical mistake made by the Democrats.
With that being said, racism and sexism had a part in the election too.
With Harris running a campaign to be the second Black president, as well as the first woman president, it would be a massive hurdle to overcome prejudice. Men overwhelmingly voted against Harris, with 55% of men voting for the GOP in key states — with even more staggering results in Texas, having all race demographics except for Black men voting more in favor of Trump. There was a 2% increase overall in men voting red from the last election, and major jumps in Republican voting for minority groups, with Latino men having a 14% increase since 2020, from 32% to 46%.
Following the election, many men expressed their views on the pivotal win in regard to their views on women. In a viral thread, Nick Fuentes posted “Hey, bitch, we control your bodies! Guess what, guys win again.” Another viral post from Fuentes said, “It’s your body, my choice.”
Posts like these show the overwhelming disrespect for women and their bodily autonomy from the now growing political right, but it does not mean their bigotry is why Kamala lost.
While sexism may be attributed to much of this, Harris lost ground with women as well in this election. In 2020, 57% of women voters were blue while in this election cycle, only 53% voted blue. Harris and the party were unable to keep ground with what should have been their strongest demographic, especially so with the back-and-forth struggle between abortion rights and healthcare action across the U.S. and the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Democratic party seems to have fallen short this election cycle, leading a pitiful campaign; they will surely have to build themselves up to have a chance in 2028.
should politics be kept out of sports?
Did politics affect where you applied to college?
Six more years suffering setbacks from Cruz
Commentary By Hannah Velasquez Distribution Manager
Republican, former Canadian and longtime Cancun vacationer, Ted Cruz has been reelected to serve in the Senate, representing Texas for six more years.
Cruz won with 53% and beat out Democrat Colin Allred, who only got 44%. Bearing another six years with Cruz in the Senate, battling progressive policies and setting Texans back, is an exhausting prospect.
Cruz first served as senator from 20032008 and was elected again from 2012 to present. A report from NBC shows that during this election, 47% of women cast their ballots for Cruz, while 51% voted for Allred.
According to Cruz’s website, he “has long fought against Democrats’ attempts to limit Texans’ freedoms.” He says that he will be a senator for all Texans. However, his actions say otherwise. From restricting women’s rights to undermining Texas education, Cruz disregards what Texans want and need.
Cruz does not believe that women can make their own choices about their bodies, as seen in his vote against pro-choice
circumstances, which are often difficult to prove. Many women have had to jump through hoops in order to seek medical help from Texas hospitals. This has led to multiple deaths this year. Most recently, 18-yearold Nevaeh Crain died after an ER did not treat her for more than two hours while she was experiencing complications in her pregnancy.
While Cruz’s stance on women’s rights has wreaked havoc on Texas families, his approach to education similarly undermines the future of the children in Texas. Cruz believes in school vouchers and choice. This gives financial support to families who remove their kids from public school to put them into private school. S.B. 1 bill would allot $8,000 annually to cover all fees being charged. Even though Texas Republicans have pushed for these things to be signed into law, no law has been passed. Division from Republicans and resistance from Democrats has halted the progress to defund public schools and turn them into religious private schools. Defunding public schools puts disadvantaged communities at risk of not being able to afford their children an Republicans have once again sold out our kids’ future. Public dollars belong in public schools. Period,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said in an Oct 13. Statement. six more years ahead of us, Texas will have to survive under Cruz and figure out how much longer they can tolerate his policies. Cruz’s policies have systematically halted and undermined progress in Texas, leaving its minority population without protections. From restricting women’s rights to weakening public education, Cruz’s policies prioritize his conservative ideology over the real needs of the people who
Phillip Murphy /The Paisano
Caroline Puckett /The Paisano
Oh, ‘bro’ther
Commentary
By Khoi Nguyen Staff Writer
As the 2024 election concluded, the term “bro vote” has been used across the internet, referring to the voting bloc of men under 30. While young men have been politically inactive in the past, and young voters tend to lean left, Trump’s victory has brought them into the spotlight of postelection discourse, with many deeming them the tipping point for the right.
Although the bro vote was coined just this election, its power has been building over the past decade as social media has supplanted traditional journalism. Online, left-leaning hubs embraced the #MeToo movement and cancellations, favoring identity politics that valued the rights of its constituents. At the same time, men disillusioned in the democratic party flocked to the “Manosphere” — a safe haven for tech and frat bros governed by the likes of Andrew Tate, Adin Ross, Jake Paul and Joe Rogan.
All it took was someone who the bros saw as their own to mobilize them. Trump, who was ringside at the UFC, interviewed by Joe Rogan and on livestream with Adin Ross, was their pick.
Men showed out in droves on election day. Polls show that men 18-29 favored Trump, a notable shift from 2020’s election results. 24 hours later, Dana White stood by President-elect Trump calling Joe Rogan “mighty and powerful.”
It is not surprising why a historically privileged group of men would be attracted to Trump, whose platform is buoyed by a sea of misinformation. Trump’s story seems to reflect many of these men’s own. He committed sexual abuse. He espoused blatant misinformation. He will once again be president.
The “bro vote” does not have to think about the implications of their vote as most of them already enjoy society’s highest privileges. They do not have to face the loss of autonomy and the fear of deportation that Trump’s platform represents, nor do they care. The price of gas and groceries eclipse the livelihoods of other people.
Beyond the next four years, the decidedly red “bro vote” portends a bleaker America. The decline of traditional news and, in turn, the rise of curated social media streams has given impetus to misinformation. Media literacy is compromised. Political fractures have yet to heal.
Americans too often have a habit of blaming the media for their predicament. It is time to take a look in the mirror.
Rest in peace, P’Nut & Fred
By Marisela Cruz Staff Writer
Justice for P’Nut the Squirrel and Fred the Raccoon for his owner Mark Longo, who were wronged by New York state officials on Oct. 30. State departments of Environmental Conservation and Health raided Longo’s house as if he was a drug dealer, only to obtain the beloved squirrel P’Nut and a recent addition to Longo’s family of animals, Fred the raccoon. The state officials are responsible for the euthanizing of the famous squirrel and raccoon because they assumed they had rabies when taking them into custody. It appears that Elmer Fudd is the mastermind behind all of this; truly, why else would state officials act so ludicrously because a squirrel and a raccoon were hanging out in a man’s house?
Longo had taken the squirrel into his home and cared for him for seven years after P’Nut’s mom was hit by a car.
OpiNION
The failure of America
Commentary
By Luna Infante Interim Marketing Manager
One week ago, Donald Trump was elected as the 47th president of the United States. Since then, an array of reactions has swirled through the country. From celebrations and parties to disputes and tears — the U.S. has seen a passionate fight simmer down to another division. However, one cannot help but wonder if Trump’s victory is a reflection of a unified nation or a display of the hatred hidden under MAGA hats.
Trump has promised a series of changes that will have harmful effects on various groups of people. From women and LGBTQ+ communities to immigrants, Trump’s presidency will dim the path for progression and unity. Yet, the people chose this.
PBS reports that for his term, Trump pledged to introduce a 15-week federal abortion ban and will allow states to continue prohibiting them altogether. He has also said that states with abortion bans will have the right to monitor pregnancies and prosecute violators. Despite the reality that some women are forced to choose abortion for medical or economic reasons, Trump is vowing more limitations on their access to this choice.
Trump has also promised to cut funding for schools with curricula that include subjects on race, gender and oppression. This directly slams the critical race theory, which says that “race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies.”
American youth must be aware of how racism and inequality have shaped the U.S., not only for educational purposes but to continue working toward an equal and just culture. Additionally, Trump plans to eliminate educational positions that oversee diversity, equity and inclusion. These changes will have a negative impact on youth who should be well-versed in these subjects. By taking away the younger generation’s knowledge of diversity and history, an ignorant, apathetic future generation is being raised.
Donald
Apart from the damaging future Trump’s presidency will likely bring, one must ask themselves how someone like him was elected. Trump is a convicted felon, having violated numerous laws and even Constitutional Amendments and he is the first president in American history to be impeached twice. It is shocking to see how this well-known, public knowledge of the president-elect flew over heads, taking him to victory.
After election day, Vanity Fair published a digital magazine cover of Trump. On the left-hand side was a list of things he is responsible for: “34 Felony Counts, 1 conviction, 2 Cases Pending, 2 Impeachments, 6 Bankruptcies, 4 More Years, The 47th American President.”
This cover went viral, amassing thousands of views across various social media platforms and stirring controversy among audiences. One user on X wrote, “You guys @VanityFair are so brainwashed. Get out of your bubble and talk to some regular people for a change.”
Despite the negative reactions, nothing negative was said or written about Trump; simple facts and public records were listed. If the words appeared to be an attack, people should ask themselves why. No left-leaning standpoints were taken; perhaps the cover simply made people question how he came to be where he is.
The question of whether or not Trump is fit to be president should not fall on whether or not someone is a Democrat or a Republican, or depend on whether Kamala, Biden or even Jill Stein are better choices. It is a matter of common sense and morality. It is difficult to accept that someone with such limited views and so much power will be taking care of a country that seems to be walking backwards in time.
Having elected a president who is a convicted felon and promises more limitations on marginalized groups, the morals of Americans need to be brought into question. Trump’s abundant success shows how people are continuing to neglect minorities, continuing to turn a blind eye to those who struggle every day to find their voice, their ability to choose and their rights.
J. Trump is no spring chicken
Commentary By Jasmine Williams Copyediting Coordinator
President Joe Biden is currently the oldest U.S. president at a whopping 81 years old, and he will be 82 years old by the end of his term. Concerns were raised about Biden’s age and ability to handle another four years in office during the 2024 presidential election as 80% of voters thought he was too old to serve again. Biden’s “cognitive decline” was highlighted in a side-by-side clip of a 2020 debate versus a 2024 debate. He dropped out of the 2024 presidential election just a few weeks later.
Former president Donald Trump, only three years younger than Biden, has been re-elected and will serve as president from 2024 to 2028. He will be 81 years old by the end of his term, so it is a very real possibility that he will face the same decline that Biden did.
Peter Baker, senior White House correspondent at The New York Times, analyzed some of Trump’s speeches and noted some striking instances of Trump misremembering recent, key details, names and faces as well as the rulers of certain countries. Baker also pointed out how Trump’s elocution, or his style of speaking, indicates Trump “has a hard
The Paisano
Editorial Board
Jake Mireles | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com
Dustin Vickers | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com
Laynie Clark | News Editor News@paisano-online.com
Marcela Montufar Soria | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com
Malaki Lingg | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com
Haley Aguayo | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com
Raul Martinez | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com
Armin Suljovic | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com
Kara Lee | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com
Samantha Ysaguirre | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com
Sofia Mejia | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com
Jaclyn Banda | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com
Jasmine Williams | Copyediting
time focusing. He often doesn’t stick to the same point for very long. He kind of roams from thought to thought.”
Seeing as Trump is experiencing similar difficulties to Biden before stepping into office, he may end up in worse condition than Biden much sooner. He should have taken a page out of Biden’s book and sat this election out. This presidency will take a far greater toll on him than his previous one.
Presidents face “unabated, unfathomable stress,” according to Ronan Factora, a physician specializing in geriatric medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. “[Their] cognition slows, [they] may feel more depressed, [their] ability to concentrate goes down. And it just builds on itself — a real cascade,” Factora said.
Trump’s current age, inevitable exposure to chronic stress and his lack of sufficient physical activity will all play significant roles in wearing him down during his presidency. It will be no surprise if a year or two from now, Trump’s running mate JD Vance and his cabinet will have their hands full trying to preserve a faulty image of Trump’s physical health and mental status. After all, he is no spring chicken, and he is not immune to the harsh realities of aging.
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.
Noor E-Saher/The Paisano
Commentary
Orion Tuck/The Paisano
arts & life Explore Old Town Through Antiques
By Kira George Contributor SA Gems
Tucked away fifteen minutes northwest of the Main Campus lies The Cottage of Helotes Antiques, a quaint store with historic charm.
The Cottage sits among several local businesses ranging from coffee shops, diners, bars and wineries, spas and much more. Do not let the drive cause frustration — past the never-ending construction sites and otherwise pale landscape, the old-timey buildings and friendly faces of the area pleasantly welcome newcomers. The area is quite popular on fair weather days; something to keep in mind for those driving themselves there.
Notice the signs and various items outside The Cottage invites wanderers inside; feel free to peruse the one-of-a-kind collection as everything comes from local vendors.
“We have a bunch of different vendors,” Christa Vento-Jones, one of the managers at The Cottage, said. “They get to bring in whatever they want. For some people it’s things from their grandma’s house; others get it from estate sales and so on.”
Vento-Jones has worked at The Cottage for the past four years and feels as if time moves slower in the comforting environment.
“Everything has a story,” Christa said. “There was a woman who came in; she was born in the 1960s and looking for a doll. She said every year on her birthday, she finds a doll that was made the year she was born. I’ve always been drawn to antiques and what they can say.”
Inside, one will find a plethora of objects, trinkets, household goods, collectibles and many more items ready to be purchased.
From stuffed animals to authentic vintage pieces, such as the 1940s English phone booth situated in the middle of the floor, The Cottage is the perfect place to browse.
The Cottage of Helotes is located at 14398 Old Bandera Rd, Helotes, Texas 78023. It is open every day from 11 a.m to 5 p.m. Whether serious about antiquing or simply seeking a spot to spend some time at, The Cottage of Helotes is waiting.
Cumbia in the cul-de-sac
By Miles Jones Staff Photographer
In the backyard of an unassuming house just off UTSA Blvd, an unconventional music venue comes to life. This past Friday marks the fourth show hosted by Musicians of Business this semester. With a dirt dance floor and a tiny porch as a stage, they have fostered a reputation for putting on an unbelievable show. With five vendors selling a breadth of items from keychains and bumper stickers to char-grilled hotdogs plus a great lineup of local bands, this weekend’s show promises to be a standout.
The indie-folk band, Orca, opens the evening, warming up the crowd with their smooth pop style. The band plays songs from their debut album, “Sirens,” as well as their recently released single, “Rumors.” While they are a fairly new band, their performance shows the maturity of a seasoned group.
The second band to take the limelight was betweenmeandthebirds, a current staple for MOB shows, having played at three out of four shows hosted this fall. This alt-rock group punches way above their weight class, outputting a sound many in the scene would, and should, envy. Beware of Dog, the host of the evening follows with tight performances from
each band member. Their performance alternates between traditional shoegaze and a hardcore-influenced sound, with each song sounding fresh. Normally, uptempo songs of theirs like “IDC” would whip the crowd up into a frenzy, but tonight it would take a little more than that.
To close the night, Vintage Pictures takes the stage, and immediately there is something different. A self-described “melting pot of sounds,” Vintage Pictures mixes pop-punk with Latin rock to create a distinctive sound. The crowd becomes energized as the lead guitarist launches the band into their first song, “Bandito” with a Latin-inspired solo. Pretty soon people start moshing and dancing enjoying the impressive show Vintage Pictures put on. As they reach the end of their set, the crowd erupts in cries for an “ENCORE.” The band relents and plays two more songs with the last culminating in a crowd-wide conga line.
As the show wound down, people mill about the vendors making last-minute purchases and socializing with new and old friends. Yet another successful MOB show in the books, showcasing incredible bands and bringing an incredible atmosphere makes this one of the most interesting and exciting places to see local music near campus.
No space, no budget, no problem for RTA
By Khoi Nguyen Staff Writer
“The show must go on” is often heard backstage. For UTSA’s Rowdy Theatrical Association (RTA), no dedicated stage exists, yet the show still goes on.
Gearing up for their production of“Twelve Angry Men,” the cast and directors inhabited a lecture hall for an evening, one of many impromptu rehearsal studios across campus. With a limited drama program and no plan degree offered, UTSA’s main access to theater comes from RTA. While this presents logistical challenges, like little faculty involvement and no assigned space nor funding, RTA’s scrappy members continually rise to the occasion.
“I mean, right now, [the crew] all went to grab wood and stuff from the Richard Liu [auditorium] to bring here. We store a lot of stuff back there, but it’s not really our space,” John Pelayo, director of “Twelve Angry Men,” said.
“We have to make all our own money,” assistant director Aidan Mills said. “I don’t believe we get any outside money from the school at all, and that leads to a lot more budget constraints than we would like.”
While a shared common interest in theater brings its members together, RTA’s limited resources keep them connected.
“So far, I’ve had a great time with RTA. Honestly, my college life here would not be the same without RTA,” Samantha Fitzgerald, who works on crew, said. “I’ve just made so many friends. I’ve had a lot of fun doing what we do.”
“I love having this creative outlet for myself. I’m always looking forward to rehearsals,” Amanda Hopfe, who plays Juror Number 6, said. “I just love the community. I love being around these people, and I just have a great time when I’m here.”
While the intimate setting of RTA has built a strong community, many of its members envision a future where RTA plays a larger role at UTSA.
“I would love for us to have a bigger budget [and] be able to do more,” Fitzgerald said.
“It’s very difficult not having our own space to put everything into and not having a budget at all,” Hopfe said. “I know that there’s quite a few people who dream of doing a musical, but the rights to a musical cost a lot of money. Maybe someday we’ll be able to do a musical.”
According to Pelayo, this future is not too far ahead.
“Paul Arduin, who [oversees] the film program, came to the general meeting last week talking about how they’re starting a theater [major],” Pelayo said, “And I know they’re gonna be doing their own productions at the downtown theater. So, I mean, they’re ramping up.”
“He wants to do more stuff with the club, which does have huge implications, we could maybe end up downtown,” Mills said.
“At the start, you talked about how we don’t have like someone overseeing us, like a teacher or something. I would guess that that is the step towards the solution for that,” Pelayo said. “Someone like Paul or someone in the UTSA staff who really cares about the theater arts is eventually going to become an overseer for this club. That’s what I would hope. That’s what I would assume.” Support RTA’s growth by seeing their production of “Twelve Angry Men” at the Richard Liu Auditorium in
Kira George/The Paisano
Miles Jones/The Paisano
arts & life
Les Ballets Russes: Women, design and dance
By Cora White Contributor
Featuring dazzling costume designs, fabrics laced with jewels and captivating photographs, “Women Artists of the Ballets Russes: Designing The Legacy” is an exhibit exploring and highlighting women involved in the Ballets Russes ballet company.
Specifically, it captures work done by Bronislava Nijinska — who was the company’s only female choreographer — and Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova. It also boasts work by costume designers Sonia Delaunay and Alexandra Exter, who collaborated with Nijinska to create innovative costume designs and sets but never worked directly with the company. This exhibition explores the legacy of these women and their influence on ballet in the United States and the company itself.
The Ballets Russes was a Russian ballet company, although they never performed in Russia, instead choosing to perform on the stages of Europe and North and South America. Their company focused on the idea of “Gesamtkunstwerk,” or total artwork. This translated into their choreography, costumes, sets, music and storylines all receiving equal attention and importance creating a unified whole.
Upon entering the exhibit, striking visuals swim into view with colorful, bedazzled fabrics that seem almost alien
to what is seen in ballet today. The costumes are layered, complicated and heavy looking, which makes one wonder how they were able to dance in such extravagant outfits. A beautiful lone costume captures all attention drawing viewers in; “Cloak for Queen of Shemakhan in Le Coq d’Or (The Golden Cockerel), 1937” is a huge pink and turquoise cloak, which looks like something royalty would wear, complete with alluring beading and gold lamé. The craftsmanship on this cloak and others like it is truly incredible and demonstrates how dedicated these women were to the arts and to their craft.
The walls display sketches and photographs of costume designs, sets, dancers and programs. Gontcharova’s costume sketches often incorporated vivid colors and simple techniques with grand effects. “Costume Sketch for
Better than Bach
By Sarah Quintanilla Staff Writer
Classical guitar is not for the weak; it takes an extraordinary ability, dedication and a strong memory to interpret what Andrew Rubio played at his Graduate recital on Friday. Rubio led an outstanding performance, leaving the performance hall perplexed and attentive to every note played.
Lights dim as a singular stool stands in the large auditorium. Rubio walks in, bows to the sea of applause, sits down and tunes his guitar. The audience patiently waits, and suddenly, a relaxing piece came out of his guitar. He concentrates on the notes, yet his eyes are closed; His hands look like tarantulas shifting quickly from chord to chord. It is an impressive sight.
Coming from Houston and set to study astrophysics, Rubio said studying music was a “last minute decision.” He was “always in a guitar ensemble growing up,” and his main inspiration was to “exclusively play The Beatles,” the remnants of his Beatlemania clearly seen in the way he holds his guitar and plays his notes similarly to, or better than, George Harrison. Rubio is set to teach after graduation, which is how he has spent the last two years. “Being able to support [my students] and their musical growth and having the support back is a wonderful feeling.”
As he ends the four-act interpretation of “BWV 997” by Johann Sebastian Bach, the audience erupts in a huge round of applause. Rubio rises, bows and thanks the audience for being here. He starts tuning his guitar once again, and a loud strum begins a livelier piece. This was the three-part performance of “Sonata Giocosa” by Joaquín Rodrigo. He swiftly went through the strings, barely touching
them. The exact precision in his chords makes one wonder how he is doing it without looking at the strings. His eyes close as if he was feeling the music first and picturing the notes in his mind. Applause came immediately after he ended the piece. Rubio stood up, bowed once again and left the performance hall momentarily. Another stool sits next to his as Rubio re-enters the hall with a second performer, Jesse Reece. Rubio and Reece bow to the audience, tune their instruments and play the last three-part piece of the recital “Grand Sonata Pathétique no. 8 op. 13,” by Ludwig van Beethoven and arranged by Lorenzo Micheli. They are both extremely concentrated; one plays a complex guitar picking while the other sweeps through the scales, and vice versa. The song increases in intensity, a melodic tune coming out of both guitars, each taking turns to go through the chords and arrangements — reminiscent of the playing of Andrés Segovia or Paco de Lucía. They both look at each other to finish with a strum. Reece strums more intensely than Rubio, who plays more strategically and technically. Everyone wants to applaud, but it is concert etiquette not to until the complete piece ends, restricting themselves to look dumbfounded by the musicianship. The audience, in awe, admires the amount of skill and coordination it takes to play these complex songs, and when the performance ends, the largest round of applause rumbles through the hall.
A successful and spectacular performance finishes Rubio’s six-year musical training in the best possible way with his students, family, friends and attendees rushing backstage to congratulate him and joyfully celebrate his performance.
a Squid in Sadko 1916” shows a dancer wearing a squidesque costume with flowing green hair, blue leggings and, most interestingly, silver foil was applied to parts of the costume making the draping fabric pop out on the already bold colors. Techniques like this likely made her designs stand out and easier to translate into physical costume form. Photographs lining the walls capture the essence of these women and their work; they show off the striking costumes in full form and the designers, who look just as extravagant. Some photos are playful and depict the designers and dancers striking silly poses, while others capture the true craft and beauty these women were able to create. Fully made-up dancers dance on pointe in elaborate costumes and makeup — some wear crowns, others headdresses — but all perform in truly professional fashion. All of these women had a vision, something more they wanted to show and bring to the world. They worked together to bring this to fruition, and the remarkable results inspire generations.
This exhibit offers a unique and beautiful look into the early ballet industry and the women who influenced it. “Women Artists of the Ballet Russes: Designing The Legacy” is on display at the McNay Art Museum from Oct. 12, to Jan. 12, 2025.
The McNay Art Museum is located at 6000 N New Braunfels Ave. UTSA students are offered free entry, while normal ticket prices vary from $10 to $20, and general admission is free every Thursday night from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Bronislava Nijinska collection, Music Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Alexandra Exter.
French, born Russia (now Poland), 1882 -1949 Scene design for Holy Etudes, 1925, Gouache and metallic paint on paper
Diego Cisneros/The Paisano
Friendship that keeps rolling through the years
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer
UTSA volleyball has seen many different changes over the last two decades. Among new players, different line judges and new fans, one thing remains consistent: the ball boys.
David Salisbury and Jon Houston have been the ball boys for the Roadrunners for the last 23 years. It all started for Salisbury and Houston in 2002.
Salisbury graduated and came back to play and coach the men’s volleyball club; that’s when he met Houston. Then, one volleyball game they were asked to help out, and they never really stopped.
“We’re volleyball players, so we both played; we both coached,” Salisbury said. “We both have been around volleyball gyms a lot. This is just a fun way for us to give back to our school.”
After six years of ball rolling, Houston was set to move, and Salisbury was going to retire with him gone. When UTSA was informed about their plans to leave, a ceremony was held for them and gave them a memorial to remember it by. However, Houston’s plans fell through, and the next season, they were back with the Roadrunners.
Although time has changed them, both
Honoring UTSA Athletics’ 2024 Hall of Fame class
By Michael Rios Staff Writer
The UTSA Athletics 2024 Hall of Fame Class was announced on June 14. The class includes five former studentathletes: Derrick Gervin, Monica Gibbs, Michael Rockett, Starlite Williams and Teddy Williams. The class was honored with an induction ceremony on Oct. 18. Here is a look back at their seasons to recognize what each member did during their time at UTSA.
Derrick Gervin
Derrick Gervin is known as one of UTSA’s greatest basketball players and one of the school’s first superstars. During his four years at UTSA, Gervin led the Roadrunners in scoring and rebounding. He was also the first in the program’s history to reach 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. By the time his collegiate career ended, he racked up a total of 1,691 points and 684 rebounds and became one of the first men’s basketball players to have his jersey retired by the university. Like his older brother George Gervin, Derrick went on to be drafted by the NBA in the fourth round by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1985. The small forward went on to play for the New Jersey Nets and overseas in the Israeli Basketball Premier League with Hapoel Gvat/Yagur, where he won its MVP award, averaging 27.0 points per game.
Monica Gibbs
Monica Gibbs is known for having one of the most impactful women’s basketball careers in UTSA’s history. During the 2007-08 season, she helped lead the Roadrunners to a 23-10 record and the program’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Shortly after, Gibbs was named first-team allconference and Southland Conference Tournament MVP. In 2009, the guard won the Southland Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year awards as she led the ‘Runners to a 24-9 record. The team would go on to win Southland regular season and tournament crowns but end up losing to Baylor University in the NCAA Tournament. Gibbs was also the first Roadrunner to pass 1,000 points, 900 rebounds and 600 assists. She finished her career with 1,460 points, 990 rebounds and 693 assists and is the first UTSA women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired.
Michael Rockett
Michael Rockett, a native of Sugar Land, Texas, was one of UTSA’s most incredible baseball players. The outfielder started off his college career in 2006 by batting .352, scoring 32 runs and recording 32 RBIs. During his junior year, Rockett batted .360, scoring
60 runs and recorded 68 RBIs. He recorded 10 home runs, five triples and 25 doubles. The outfielder also became the second Roadrunner to hit for the cycle against Sacred Heart University on March 1, 2008, in a 16-2 win. To end his junior year, Rockett earned first-team allconference, second-team All-American and Southland Player of the Year. During his time at UTSA, Rockett collected four all-conference awards, All-American honors and led the Roadrunners to back-to-back Southland Conference Championships. Afterwards, Rockett was drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 13th round of the 2009 MLB Draft and went on to play four seasons in the minor leagues.
Starlite Williams
Starlite Williams, originally from San Antonio, was a two-sport athlete in basketball and track and field at UTSA from 1983-1987. Playing women’s track and field in 1985, Williams became the first UTSA student-athlete to earn firstteam All-American honors at the 1985 NCAA Outdoor Championships by finishing eighth in the triple jump with 12.64 meters. Prior to making history in track and field, Williams averaged 17.6 points and 7.9 rebounds to lead women’s basketball to an 18-10 record and an Oil Country Athletic Conference Championship. Her remarkable season led to her earning a Kodak Honorable Mention All-American and an American Women’s Sports Foundation Honorable Mention All-American honors. Williams finished her career at UTSA with 1,607 points, 636 rebounds, 674 assists and 281 steals. She still holds the school record in points and steals.
Teddy Williams
Teddy Williams was a men’s track and field star during his time at UTSA. Williams earned All-American honors four times and was able to finish inside the top nine at national track and field meets four times. In 2009, the track star turned it up a notch as he finished with a time of 9.90 seconds in the 100 meter dash, the fastest in school history. He also holds the records for the indoor 55 meter dash with 6.23 seconds and the 60 meter dash with 6.59 seconds. Williams once finished fourth place in the 60 meter dash at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships. After his track and field career, Williams went on to get signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after he worked out for them. When Williams was in the NFL, he played from 2012-2016 with five different teams, including the Carolina Panthers in 2015 where he played in Super Bowl 50.
now married with kids and full-time jobs, the pair still makes time to come out and lend a helping hand.
Being a ball boy is not just about getting the ball to players; they also assist both teams during pregame warmups. Salisbury and Houston have worked and helped captain ball rolling in two Final Fours in 2005 and 2011.
The duo also train the next generation of young volleyball players to be future ball boys during games. Currently, Salisbury’s and Houston’s own kids come out and help them.
“It’s a family thing,” Houston said. “All the kids are enjoying coming out and getting on the court with us, so it’s become a family event now.” Houston and Salisbury will continue to aid during home games at UTSA. They are slated to work the National Championship in 2026. Houston and Salisbury are also applying to be volunteers for the 2028 Olympics in hopes of being ball rollers, so keep an eye out for UTSA’s honorary volleyball members.
Behind the sidelines: UTSA’s sports medicine
By Hannah Velasquez Distribution Manager
When it comes to UTSA’s journey with its sports medicine program, it is an “ongoing story,” according to Associate Athletic Director for Sports Medicine Rhodie Moss.
When Moss started working for the university he said, “We didn’t have much resources. We were working out of the Convocation Center. We didn’t even have football at the time. Seeing how we’ve gone from the Convo, to a trailer, to this beautiful RACE facility, that story is still being written.”
Over centuries, advancements have been made for the safety of athletes; however, injuries are still a common occurrence. Sports medicine specializes in the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries for athletes.
“There’s a lot of preparation in what we do,” Moss said. “If you watch a football game and you see all the sideline things that are set up, those are set up manually. There’s a lot of things that we do from a preventative standpoint. It’s countless hours of preparation.”
UTSA’s sports medicine is a team that consists of physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, student trainers and other health consultants who specialize in different fields to help college athletes. Contingent to what game schedules look like, the team creates a baseline to see how much time they have to work with. Regardless of what sport they’re assigned to, there’s hours that go into the job.
“We’re there at every practice, every game, we can watch what they do and that gives us first-hand insight into what they’re going to need to do in order to be successful. We cater our rehab to that. That’s what makes us a little bit different than say, a physical therapist or someone who works in a clinic. They might be trying to get somebody ready to be back into activities of daily living versus I have to be ready to play in a collegiate game,” Moss said. The trainers also receive feedback from athletes, considering what they want is important. “No athlete is the same,” Moss said. “It’s customized to the athlete.”
The schedule for UTSA sports medicine is always changing, but there is always a baseline. The team anticipates players’ needs and are able to move
around the schedules to accommodate them. If a player, for example, wants to participate in practice, conditioning and team meetings, they are able to schedule their rehab around it.
“It is a very demanding profession in terms of the hours. You have to have a passion for it,” Moss said. “Based on the timeline of healing, an injury will determine how long we’re going to work with the athlete. For example, you’re playing on a Thursday night. If someone sprains their ankle that night, they might have another game on Saturday. We have that timeline to assess and see what strength looks like and rule any major red flags to get them to an ability to participate again.”
UTSA has one of the largest teams in the American Athletic Conference and partners with UT Health to access resources for both the athletes and staff. Being a part of sports medicine can come with its hardships, but the staff takes care of each other.
“We don’t want each other to have to miss significant events,” Moss said.
“Our staff is a family within a family. We do social events outside of here, and we bring that family vibe into the training room. Our medical team is here to cover all of our student athlete body of between 400-450 student athletes, and we work as a team in doing that.” Sports medicine is a service job, and Moss said that they have to be resilient and learn how to balance. Finding the balance to take care of themselves and others while being healthy helps the team make an impact that ultimately makes a difference in the lives of athletes.
“So many athletic trainers shoulder the healthcare of their student athletes,” Moss said. “They take on so many challenges and they’re constantly trying to provide the best care. They’re always taking care of other people and they forget to take care of themselves sometimes. It’s hard for you to take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself.”
In the ever-changing world of sports, sports medicine professionals like Moss and his team are indispensable. Through resilience, balance and focus, trainers are able to make sure that athletes are more than gameday ready.
Courtesy of UTSA Athletics
Izabella Hernandez/The Paisano
career night helps UTSA win thriller over UTRGV The Roadrunners survive home opener against Vaqueros
By Rylan Renteria Assistant Sports Editor
women’s basketball escaped with a 74-69 win over the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
Roadrunners (1-1) held the lead over the Vaqueros (1-1) for nearly three full quarters before finally surrendering it. A back-and-forth final period featured key defensive performances from sophomore forward Idara Udo and senior forward Jordyn Jenkins. Jenkins’ eight fourth-period points kept the Vaqueros at arm’s length in the final moments, earning UTSA its first victory of the season. thought the difference in the fourth quarter was just people stepping up to the plate on both the offensive end and the defensive end,” coach Karen Aston said. “Super proud of the win, something to feel [good] about as we head toward a two-game road trip.” and UTRGV battled for momentum in the opening period. Jenkins picked up the first points of the game for either team, drilling two routine free throws. A few minutes later, Vaqueros’ guard Kade Hackerott knocked down a turnaround jumper to tie the score at 8-8. Aided by contributions from Jenkins and senior forward Nyayongah Gony, UTSA took its biggest lead of the half, exiting the period with a 7-point lead. opened the second period with a 6-0 run, cutting its deficit down to just one point in a little over three minutes. The Roadrunner offense snatched the
Roadrunners sweep in last home game
UTSA volleyball scores senior day win
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer
UTSA volleyball defeated Florida Atlantic University 3-0 on Sunday at the Convocation Center.
The Roadrunners (9-18, 3-11 AAC) defense had 12 blocks and 36 digs which overwhelmed the Owls (15-11, 7-7 AAC) who had 107 attack attempts and 38 kills. UTSA closed out its home season with a win on senior day. The ‘Runners took the game in three sets 25-19, 25-21, 25-19.
“I think winning for our seniors is huge, they’ve done so much for this program,” junior opposite hitter Mia Soerensen said of their senior day win. “We all played for them today and kinda showed up. We need this win a lot, I think we are going to keep it up next weekend.”
Florida Atlantic went on a 4-1 run at the start of the set. Freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe served for the second time. The Owls received the ball and set outside hitter Valeria Rosado up for the attack.
Soerensen and senior outside hitter Faye Wilbricht spotted the play and roofed Florida Atlantic to tie the score 4-4. The ‘Runners went on two long point runs of 5-0 and finished the set with a 6-point lead.
“We’ve been trusting our training recently and trusting the process,” Tribe said. “We are working our butts off in the gym. We are doing all the right things. We have been trying to stay as consistent as possible, and that’s what we did today.”
Soerensen and senior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge built on
their previous momentum and stuffed the Owls five times in the second set. Florida Atlantic went on a 4-0 run when outside hitter Romina Cornelio was up to serve for the third time.
Junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger secured the ball and sent it to freshmen setter Morgen Durgens, who set the ball to Tribe. Florida Atlantic read the play and went for the block, but Tribe swung through a kill and tied the score 11-11.
UTSA set the standard for the third set by holding the lead over the Owls.
“We want to get two road wins really bad,” Tribe said. “I mean, beating FAU was so huge and USF was so huge, so we have it in us to compete with these big teams and we have it in us to compete at away games.”
The ‘Runners had 40 kills; Tribe led with 11 while Soerensen and Coppedge had nine. The Roadrunners had low attack and service errors with 12 and four, respectively. On the other hand, Florida Atlantic had 22 attack errors and six service errors.
“I think continuing to make serving adjustments, and what we’re doing serving wise and the girls just being really aggressive,” coach Carol Price-Torok said about the last two away games. “Just continuing to play free; right now we’re playing for ourselves and to continue to get better at this program and what we are building.”
UTSA will play the University of Tulsa at 6 p.m. Friday at Donald W. Reynolds Center.
momentum back off shots from Jenkins and junior guard Alexis Parker, reestablishing their 7-point lead heading into halftime.
The Vaqueros outscored UTSA 27-15 in the third period. Freshman guard Damara Allen got her first collegiate start in place of injured starter graduate guard Nina De Leon Negron. Allen, along with junior guard Sidney Love, kept the ‘Runners afloat as the Vaqueros offense roared to life and took the lead with 1:26 remaining in the period. Allen finished with nine points and five rebounds.
“It was really exciting,” Allen said of her first home contest. “Just sticking to everything my coaches and everything people were saying to me was very important.”
UTSA began the final period with back-to-back threes from Love and Allen. Following a jumper from Hackerott, Allen and Jenkins added six points to the board, giving UTSA a 68-66 advantage. With nine seconds left, Udo sent senior guard Tierra Trotter to the line off a shooting foul, setting up UTRGV with an opportunity to tie the game late.
Love led all UTSA scorers in points and assists with 21 and 11, respectively. Jenkins finished second in points with 19; Allen and Love tied for the lead in rebounds with five apiece. UTSA as a team shot 51.1% from the field against UTRGV, a significant increase from the 34% the team shot against Texas A&M on Thursday.
The Roadrunners will head west to face New Mexico State at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Pan American Center.
UTSA overwhelms Dolphins in fall contest
By Matthew Moses Staff Writer
In a commanding Friday night performance, UTSA baseball dominated Alvin Community College in an exhibition matchup, securing a 25-1 victory over the Dolphins at Roadrunner Field.
Coach Pat Hallmark remarked on the benefits of having an extended 14-inning game compared to the regular nine innings, “It’s good because a lot of people get to play the extra innings. [It] allows more players to get in the game which is important this time of year, it’s very important to do that.”
The game’s defining moment came in the third inning when UTSA’s offense caught fire. After senior utility James Taussig’s atbat with bases loaded, the team scored three consecutive runs. Junior utility Broc Parmer added to the onslaught with a two-run homer, helping UTSA post seven runs on four hits during the inning.
UTSA’s pitching and defense proved equally impressive. Junior pitcher Zach Royse set the tone early while the bullpen maintained control with both senior pitcher Braylon Owens and sophomore pitcher Robert Orloski tossing three hitless innings and three strikeouts by each arm.
“Two errors in 14 innings isn’t bad,” Hallmark said of the team’s defense. “Our goal is one error every nine innings or less, zero would be great. So, not bad, but still room for improvement though.”
The fall contest gave opportunities for several promising new players to highlight themselves to the coaching staff. “Well,
Caden Miller is a good player,” Hallmark said of the true freshman newcomer. “I think he had three hits; he walked a couple things. [He] just gets on base. That’s the name of the game. He’s just one of many, you know. Sam Simmons pitched today, so we have good new players. We’re excited.”
The Roadrunners continued to build onto their lead throughout the middle innings, with senior outfielder Mason Lytle and sophomore utility Diego Diaz contributing key plays. The team’s aggressive baserunning and strategic hitting led to a steady accumulation of runs, reaching 11 runs on nine hits by the game’s midpoint.
UTSA’s offense reached new heights in the late innings with a home run by senior catcher Andrew Stucky and multiple scoring plays that pushed the lead to 20-0 by the end of the 13th inning. Alvin Community College managed to avoid the shutout, scoring its lone run in the 14th inning.
In the final frame, senior utility Ty Tilson delivered a wild hit to right field that brought home three runners.
After entering the fall with 23 new players, Hallmark said there wasn’t a clear picture of who the team was, but after making a couple of cuts last week, the image is becoming more focused.
“I didn’t know exactly what we had, but the fall’s been good. I feel like we know who we are; we got a good team.”
The Roadrunners have yet to announce their spring schedule. To stay updated with the latest UTSA sports news, visit paisanoonline.com.
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano