THE PAISANO
UTSA community on edge after sexual assault incident at University Oaks
By Laynie Clark News Editor
A8:20 a.m. on Sunday, UTSA students received an alert.
“UTSAPD is investigating a sexual assault at University Oaks. Unknown male entered the apartment through an unlocked window. Check your campus email.”
At 8:28 a.m., students received a mass email with more details.
“The UTSA Department of Public Safety is providing this notice in compliance with the Timely Notice provision of the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act,” the email stated.
“On Sunday, October 6, 2024, at approximately 4:19 a.m. the UTSA police Department was notified of a sexual assault at the University Oaks Apartments. The survivor reported that the suspect was unknown to them. A male entered an apartment through an unlocked window and assaulted a female resident. The suspect fled the apartment and remains at large. Suspect is described as a stocky male, light complexion, wearing a grey t-shirt, dark shorts and backwards baseball cap. This matter is under investigation by the UTSA Police Department. Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the UTSA Police Department at (210) 458-4242.”
The email concludes by listing off ways students can keep themselves and others
“Ensure doors and windows are secured properly. Report suspicious behavior, even when you are not directly threatened. Report any suspicious activity to University Police immediately at 210-458-4911. Never attempt to engage persons involved in criminal activity.”
Immediately following the alerts, students began taking to apps like Reddit, YikYak and Instagram to share their thoughts.
“woke up this morning to an apparent assault happening at University Oaks and Phi Delta facing grape allegations!!!??? girlies pls stay safe this whole thing is insane,” a Reddit user posted.
“Yall saw that alert too right?? Like wtf is going on???” a YikYak user anonymously posted.
The following day, the UTSA Office of the President emailed a statement to UTSA students.
“Over the weekend, a deeply concerning incident occurred at University Oaks, managed by Campus Living Villages,” the email stated. “UTSA’s Police Department issued a notice regarding a sexual assault. As the investigation continues and we work to support the survivor, we are reaching out to our entire campus community to reaffirm our commitment to a zero-
UTSA polls Bexar County voters
By Jasmine Williams
Copyediting Coordinator
The results of a scientific survey of registered voters in Bexar County conducted by the UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR) have been released. CPOR, established in the fall of 2023 and located in the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, is a full-scale academic public opinion research center that produces and facilitates basic and applied opinion research.
There were 692 registered Bexar County voters queried from Sept.11-16 on a multitude of topics, some of which being their perceptions of new downtown sports facilities and San Antonio’s proposed charter amendments.
The results showed that 34% of respondents were in favor of building a new arena for the Spurs downtown near the Hemisfair and the Alamodome, which is less than the 37% that were in favor of the arena in CPOR’s foundational poll in June. The September survey found that 42% of Bexar County voters were not in favor, with 11% being unsure and 12% having no opinion on the matter. In June, only 36% were not in favor.
stadium to be built.
health support, safety resources, learning opportunities and events that students can read about for future reference. Additionally, the email detailed “bystander intervention.”
“Understanding bystander intervention is an important step in combatting sexual violence. Green Dot is a nationally recognized anti-violence initiative aimed at decreasing and preventing the occurrence of power-based personal violence.”
This is followed by a slew of sentences promoting a virtual event dedicated to combatting sexual violence and the safety of the UTSA community.
Residents of University Oaks, while appreciatve of UTSA’s communication, are disappointed with the lack of communication from management.
“My heart sank the moment I read the notification regarding U Oaks,” Madison Williams, a current resident, said. “I could only think about the victim and how she must be feeling. I still do. Knowing that the
“We see at best tepid support for these new plans and not overwhelming support for the construction of new facilities downtown and close to downtown,” said UTSA CPOR director Bryan Gervais. Gervais said “they believed the Missions ballpark plan had more support due to concerns over funding.”
The September poll also found that 81% of respondents were unfamiliar with the six proposed amendments to the City Charter that they will be asked to consider on Election Day on Nov. 5. One of the proposed amendments, Proposition E, seeks to increase the baseline salaries of city council members and the mayor by $25,000 annually from their current $45,722 and $61,725 salaries, respectively. Just over 50% of respondents were not in favor of voting for this proposition, while 28% were in favor and 22% were unsure.
42% of respondents approved voting for while 43% disapproved voting for Proposition F, which aims to extend the terms for the mayor and members of the City Council from two years to four years and change the term limits from four full terms to two.
The City of San Antonio announced a plan for a new stadium for the San Antonio Missions minor league baseball team, the cost of which would be offset by the development of land surrounding the stadium. Around 40% of the responses from the survey were in approval of the stadium while 34% disapproved, 16% were unsure and 10% had no opinion. The plan for the stadium was approved while the survey was being conducted. The city received backlash for their decision due to the tenants of the Soap Factory apartments — one of the few low-cost apartment complexes downtown — being made to move out over the next five years for the
“The Center for Public Opinion Research aims to provide valuable insight on a broad array of topics impacting residents in our city, our region and our state,” Gervais said. “An ongoing and systematic understanding of how residents feel about key issues has the potential to fuel stronger community engagement and create opportunities for our city, our region and our residents to work together toward shared goals.”
The margin of error for the September poll is +/- 3.7%.
To view the full results of CPOR’s Bexar County Registered Voter Poll, visit https://www.utsa.edu/ today/2024/images/CPOR_9.24_Raw_Data_FINAL. pdf.
any information.”
First-year resident Mia Olivo shared a similar sentiment.
“When I got the news about the incident, my stomach dropped,” she said. “I was supposed to feel safer living in this area, but now, even walking to class feels unsafe.”
“University Oaks only sent us a vague email days after the incident occurred, but I think UTSA handled it the best that they could.”
As this is an ongoing investigation, The Paisano will continue following along and updating students.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the UTSA Police Department at (210) 458-4242
Sexual assault, drunk driving
By Alejandra Garza Distribution Manager
In compliance with the Clery Act, UTSA keeps a public daily crime log that houses all on-campus crimes. The log summarizes the case’s date, time, location, incident and current status. The crimes detailed below are taken directly from the crime log, showcasing the trends premiered from Sept. 27 to Oct. 2. Larceny and theft
On Sept. 27 at 10:28 p.m., a report was made on the Main Campus in Brackenridge Ave. Lot 1 regarding a theft amounting between $750-$2499.99. This case remains active. Another case of theft was reported on Oct. 1 in the John Peace Library with damages resulting in an amount of $100- $749.99. This case remains active, as well.
Driving while intoxicated
On Sept. 29 at 4:51 a.m., an individual was arrested while driving intoxicated in the Bosque St. Lot of the Main Campus. Another case was reported on Oct. 1 at 2:31 a.m. regarding an individual driving intoxicated with a 0.15 BAC or higher. This case was cleared by arrest.
Disorderly conduct
On Sept. 30 a case was reported regarding the offense of disorderly conduct located at the University Oaks in Building 12 at 5:30 p.m. This case remains active. Another incident on Oct. 2 at 2 pm was reported on the issue of disorderly conduct in the North Paseo Building on the Main Campus. This case remains active. Striking unattended vehicle
On Oct. 1 at noon, an unattended vehicle was struck by another car on the Main Campus in Bosque St. Lot. This case was closed by exceptional means. At 12:12 p.m. the same day, another vehicle was hit in the Barshop Blvd of Lot 1 on Main Campus. This case remains active.
Armin Suljovic/ The Paisano
NEWS
2024 vice-presidential debate recap
By Izabella Hernandez Contributor
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, vice-presidential candidates Senator JD Vance of Ohio and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota met in New York City for the first and only vice-presidential debate of the 2024 election, hosted by CBS News. Questions asked by the moderators were directed at one candidate, who was given a two-minute window for response. Candidates were asked about issues facing America today and allowed to clear up any misconceptions. Provided is a recap of those issues, policies and both parties’ stances.
The Middle East
Walz: Walz was asked if he would support a preemptive strike by Israel on Iran following the recently failed attack by Iran on Israel. Walz states that he believes Israel’s ability to defend itself is fundamental, along with putting an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Walz continues by mentioning how Donald Trump pulled the program to box in the development of nuclear weapons in Iran during his presidency and, in contrast, the Biden administration’s repeal of Iranian attacks. This was confirmed by the moderator followed by Trump’s recent statement, “We must make a diplomatic deal with Iran because the consequences are impossible.”
Vance: Senator Vance was left to pick up the pieces of Trump’s recent comment when asked by the moderator if he believes the former president made a mistake by leaving the coalition to box in Iranian development of nuclear weapons. Vance claims Trump made the world more secure and that Iran received over $100 billion in unfrozen assets thanks to Kamala Harris. This was later proven false by CBS News.
Climate Change
Vance: Senator Vance, who has previously acknowledged climate change as an issue in the past, is left to defend Trump’s previous claim that climate change is a hoax. Vance claims to support clean air and a clean environment. Addressing the concern of carbon emissions, Vance refers to it as “weird science” and begins by saying “Let’s say this is true.” Vance believes the answer is to restore as much American manufacturing as possible and to produce as much energy as possible in the U.S. claiming, “We’re the cleanest economy in the entire world.” This was also proven false by CBS News. Vance goes on to claim Harris’ policies have led to more manufacturing overseas, and in contrast, he believes in making America more self-reliant.
Walz: Proven correct by the Washington Post, Harris casts the deciding vote for the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, designed to foster green manufacturing jobs in the U.S. Walz uses farmers in Minnesota as an example of those witnessing first hand the effects of climate change. Walz supports natural gas and clean energy and believes the U.S. can be an energy superpower in a clean way.
Immigration
Vance: The Trump-Vance campaign plans to carry out the largest mass deportation plan in American history through the use of the military. Vance has made former criticisms of Trump’s deportation efforts by saying they are quote “So unworkable to be laughable.” He claims “Kamala Harris’ open border” has led to a fentanyl crisis in the U.S. as well as the loss of 320,000 children by the DHS. This is deemed misleading in a fact check by CBS News. Additionally, Trump refused to pass a bipartisan immigration bill while in office.
Walz: “Look, crossings are down compared to when Donald Trump left office.” A true claim made by Walz. Walz agrees fentanyl is a crisis, supporting his running mate by mentioning that Harris has prosecuted transnational gangs for human trafficking and drug interventions as attorney general of border state California. Walz believes there should be less demonization of immigrants and believes it leads to consequences rather than solutions.
Tax Credits
Walz: The Wharton School says the HarrisWalz economic proposals will increase the nation’s deficit by $1.2 trillion. The proposal includes three million new houses with down payment assistance with the belief that tax cuts, such as the $6,000 child tax credit in Minnesota, should go to the middle class. Walz believes in the use of small business tax credits and child tax credits to lower child poverty.
Vance: The Wharton School analysis says the Trump-Vance economic proposal will increase the national deficit by $5.8 trillion. Vance replies by stating “a lot of those same economists attack Donald Trump’s plans and they have PhDs, but they don’t have common sense and they don’t have wisdom.” Vance claims the southern border has made middle-class life unaffordable by driving up the cost of food and housing. This was deemed partially true by CBS News. The housing shortage in the U.S. along with competition has made the housing market scarce. Vance also claims to believe in a higher take-home pay implemented by the Trump administration for the middle class.
Leadership Qualities
Walz: Walz was asked about his false claim made in 2014 that he was in China during the Tiananmen Square protest. Walz has made several trips to China, however this was an
exaggerated claim.
Vance: Vance has previously stated in 2016 that he believes Trump was “unfit for the nation’s highest office” and “could be America’s Hitler.” Vance claims despite this he still voted for Trump in 2020. Vance has also stated he regrets those comments. He has shifted many of his policy stances to align with Trump, and says he’s “open about the fact that he was wrong about Donald Trump.” Vance claims the Trump administration could have done better if “Congress was doing its job.”
Reproductive Rights
Walz: Minnesota has had the least restrictive reproductive policies with the reinstating of Roe v Wade in the state. Walz believes medical care needs to be decided by doctors and women should be in charge of their bodies. “We trust women and we trust doctors,” Walz said. Walz also believes women should make the decision rather than the states. “How can we as a nation say that your life and your rights as basic as the right to control your own body is determined by geography?” Walz said.
Vance: Vance has supported a federal ban on abortion in the past; however, a referendum in Ohio in 2023 voted against Vance’s position on abortion. He denies the idea of implementing a federal pregnancy monitoring agency. He believes Republicans need to earn back the people’s trust on the issue of abortion and support fertility treatments and housing for young families; however, he believes that the proper way to handle the issue is by letting the states decide individual abortion policies instead of implementing it on the federal level.
He also claims the Minnesota law signed by Walz says, “an abortion where the baby survives, the doctor is under no obligation to provide lifesaving care to a baby who survives a botched, late-term abortion.” This is false. The law states that an infant “born alive shall be fully recognized as a human person, and accorded immediate protection under the law.”
Gun Violence
Vance: Gun violence is the leading cause of child death in America. Vance has opposed laws and legislation to ban assault rifles such as the AR15. “We know unfortunately that a lot of kids are going to experience the epidemic of gun violence,” Vance said when addressing the issue of gun violence in America. Vance claims there is an increase in substance abuse and mental health issues in America. He also believes schools should increase safety precautions such as policing.
Walz: ‘‘I own firearms but our first responsibility is to our kids,” Governor Walz said about his stance on gun violence in America. Walz was questioned about his change in position on the issue to which he replied his stance changed when he met with the families of the Sandy Hook shooting. Walz believes guns are the problem. “Sometimes it just is the guns,” Walz said. “Just because you have mental health issues doesn’t mean you are violent.”
Inflation
Walz: Walz plans to build new homes and invest in housing down payment assistance. Walz believes the government should assist in Americans becoming first time homeowners claiming stable housing leads to stable jobs and stable education for children which saves money in the long run.
Vance: Vance promises to seize federal land to build homes, remove regulation, provide tax breaks and cut back on immigration which Vance claims drives up housing prices. “If we open up American energy you will get immediate pricing relief for American citizens” Vance says.
Healthcare
Vance: Vance believes health care should cover Americans with presiding conditions. Vance claims Trump worked bipartisan with Obama care during his time in office. This was proven false by CBS News. Additionally, Vance claims prescription drugs are up 7% under Biden, but under Trump, they went up 1.5% over four years. This claim was also proven false.
Walz: Minnesota is a major healthcare state ranked first on affordability and accessibility in the quality of healthcare. The Harris-Walz campaign is negotiating ten more drugs to be added to Medicare and promises to protect and enhance the ACA.
Child Care
Walz: The U.S. currently provides no national pay leave program for mothers and families. Minnesota currently has a state family medical leave program that has experienced growth through implementation. The Harris-Walz campaign proposes a $6,000 tax credit for newborns and a $3,000 tax credit for children over six years old.
Vance: Vance believes there should be various family models provided for those who want paid leave and those who want to go back to work. He believes there is a bipartisan agreement. The Trump-Vance campaign proposes a $5,000 per child tax credit. “It’s relatively speaking not very expensive compared to the kinds of numbers we’ll be taking in,” Trump said on child care. Vance claims the Trump-Vance campaign plans to penalize companies for shipping jobs overseas and penalize countries who employ slave laborers and ship the products to the U.S. along with promising to cut taxes for workers and businesses.
‘What
is zionism?’ YDSA Roundtable
By Kara Lee Graphic Editor
On Oct. 3, UTSA’s Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) hosted a “What is Zionism?” roundtable event in the MS building to help students learn what Zionism is, the historical context behind it, its impact and its reality.
Before starting the meeting, attendees were grouped up and told to discuss whether they had ever heard the word Zionism before, if so by whom and in what context.
The presentation explained the first 50 years of the history of Zionism from 1896 to 1947. The speaker voiced that Zionism is generally more of a political stance and an excuse for colonialism rather than anything else.
The presentation included words from the Balfour Declaration, a declaration of the promise of a homeland for the Jews.
“His Majesty’s Government view with favor the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.”
An explanation was provided for the conditions the Palestinian natives allegedly had to endure while being forced out of their lands
“And the thing that I would really like to emphasize is that modern Zionist claims center on the idea
that the state of Israel is something indigenous, that it is a form of a decolonial land back movement,” the speaker said. “And something that I hope you’re kind of seeing is that the repeated quotes from the founders of political Zionism, the movement that led into modern Zionism, is essentially colonial. It is a movement that has consistently appealed to other powers that rely on their funding and that rely on their backing and that consistently assert itself as people coming into a land to take it away from the people already living there.”
“Zionists utilized violence to assert themselves from the region and relied on external legal systems to enforce their claim on Palestine.
Over the course of these 50 years that I kind of covered, about 300,000 Palestinians were killed or expelled to the various colonial campaigns up to this point.”
At the end of the presentation, the speaker opened the floor for questions and allowed attendees to understand more of what was just discussed. Additionally, the speaker recommended a book titled “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine” in an attempt to understand more of the historical context of Zionism.
After attendees asked questions, the speaker and other members of YDSA started discussion questions to learn more of their attendees’ perspectives and their experience with knowledge of Zionism.
The speaker, as well as other members of YDSA, advised attendees to inform and help educate others they may know about Zionism and how it relates to the Oct. 7 events.
State of the City Week
of 10/08
By Zoe Hernandez Contributor
Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay upto-date on the happenings around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s topics range from the Blue Alert issued to the phones of Texans to a man who was attacked by his own dog. Public safety alert wakes up Texans A Blue Alert lit up the phones of Texans at approximately 5 a.m. on the morning of Friday, Oct. 4. The Blue Alert was issued for wanted suspect Seth Altman in Memphis, Texas. Altman shot and injured a law enforcement officer in Hall County near Amarillo, Texas. A reward is currently offered to anyone who can give the whereabouts of the suspect. Police say not to approach him because he is considered armed and dangerous but to contact 9-1-1 if he is spotted.
Following the alert, Texans took to social media to discuss the issuance of the Blue Alert. Some comments include, “Please be mindful and wake me up at a more decent hour next time,” “You couldn’t have done this at a more convenient hour?” and “@TxDPS I am begging you to stop sending blue alerts in the middle of the night. I’m sleeping.
I will not find the bad guy at 4 am. I am not Batman.”
27-year-old motorcyclist killed in motor vehicle collision
Friday, Oct. 4, at approximately 9:24 p.m., 27-yearold Mark Reyes was killed in a motor vehicle accident. Reyes was operating a silver 2017 Yamaha motorcycle. On Babcock Rd, a red El Camino made a left turn in front of the motorcyclist and struck him. Police said EMS treated his injuries, but Reyes was later pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the El Camino faces no charges at this time. Hit and run Friday. Oct 4, at approximately 11:20 p.m., a 61-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman were crossing an intersection of North St. Mary’s street at 200 Claudia Street when they were hit by an unknown vehicle. The suspect continued southbound on St. Mary’s Street. First responders arrived at the scene and assisted the two hit-and-run victims. When located by the authorities, the suspect will be facing criminal charges due to the failure to render aid. Dog dies after attacking owner
A 36-year-old man was attacked by his dog on Friday, Oct. 4 at approximately 10 p.m.. Law enforcement arrived at the scene of the man being attacked in his front yard by a large dog. Officers tried to get the dog off the victim; one of them fired their weapon, shooting the dog once. The victim suffered multiple injuries and bites throughout his body. The owner gave the police permission to put the dog down, seeing as the dog was believed to be beyond saving. It was unknown why the dog attacked its owner. Following the attack, the man was taken to the hospital with lifethreatening injuries.
Dustin Vickers/ The Paisano
OpiNION
Lighten the Load, America
Biden
Editorial
One of the key promises of President Joe Biden’s administration has been to relieve the pockets of Americans from their student loan-related debts. The plan is not an immediate, freefor-all erasure of debt, but rather an outlined series of steps meant to facilitate and provide relief for low-income Americans. While the final application of the plan is still under review, it would provide partial or full relief for borrowers who have entered repayment in at least one of their loans and would apply only on the loans in the repayment process.
When it was first introduced, a number of states sued the Biden administration to prevent it from going forward, claiming that it would affect their tax revenue. The suit was filed in Georgia in September and U.S. District Judge J. Randall Hall issued a temporary block on the plan. After review, he dismissed Georgia’s complaint last Wednesday, Oct. 2. He then transferred the case to the U.S. District for Eastern Missouri as a more proper venue for the suit since Georgia could not prove that it would be affected as it claimed. The plan was then blocked immediately on Thursday, Oct. 3 by the U.S. District
Judge Matthew Schelp, who insisted it required more court review.
The legal hurdles that Biden’s plan is going through harms not only his presidency, but also over 25 million Americans who could benefit. Some debtors have been dealing with the consequences of student loans for years, long after graduation. It is
Biden’s incompetence leads to division
Commentary
By Hannah Haffke Contributor
Amidst the rampage of Hurricane Helene, entire communities have been demolished, leaving families absolutely devastated. The Biden Administration is failing to secure confidence in people affected by the disaster and those concerned nationwide.
Conspiracy theories sourcing from X are drastically affecting how citizens perceive the crisis and the matter in which it is being handled. False claims of dams on the verge of bursting and a second storm on its way have plagued the algorithms of many. Representative Marjorie Taylor Green posted to X, “Yes ‘they’ control the weather” on Saturday night, alluding that the Democratic Party created Hurricane Helene which as of Saturday has taken 227 lives across six states. A sane voice within the government is essential when elected officials spread such conspiracy.
Along with this, former president Donald Trump has spread many false claims surrounding the hurricane aid. On Thursday, Trump claimed Vice President Kamala Harris had stolen Federal Emergency Management Agency money to give it to “illegal immigrants.” This is an abhorrently untrue statement used by Trump in an attempt to weaponize falsely interpreted facts against undocumented people, causing division in a time where unity is essential. The funding from FEMA that had been
authorized by Congress was for the Shelter and Services Program (SSP), not associated with disaster relief. This is just one of over half a dozen lies the former president has spread about the hurricane aid this week, with no statements from Biden disproving such claims.
The Biden Administration has contributed over $137 million to funding relief for Hurricane Helene survivors. Despite bipartisan approval and praise for the administration’s handling of the crisis, President Biden’s inability to efficiently disprove lies and conspiracies proves to be the leading issue. As victims of the disaster continue to search for loved ones, truth and solidarity are desperately needed. The country needs a competent president to support and validate the truth in devastating times when citizens are most vulnerable to conspiracy.
Rock on, Mr. Carter
Commentary
By Marcela Montufar Soria Opinion Editor
Former president James ‘Jimmy’ Carter turned 100 years old on Tuesday, Oct. 1. He celebrated with his family and was honored with a military flyby, as well as many birthday wishes from prominent American figures, such as former president Barack Obama and political commentator Jon Stewart.
Carter served as the 39th President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 as a Democratic nominee, defeating former President Gerald Ford in the 1976 election. He, in turn, was defeated in a landslide by Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980 after events in the final months of his presidency, such as the Iran hostage crisis, decreased the public’s trust in him. After leaving the White House, Carter dedicated his life to humanitarian causes. He and his wife Rosalynn Smith established the Carter Center in 1982, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that promotes healthcare, advances democracy and fights for human rights across the globe.
In honor of his 100th birthday, here are five fun facts facts people may not know about the centenarian:
He is America’s only peanut farmer president Carter grew up on his parents’ farm in Plains, Georgia. His father started growing peanut crops in his childhood, and he got first hand experience on the management of the farm and warehouse,
as well as the labor of agriculture. During his 1976 campaign, there were many political cartoons of Carter as a smiling peanut. He put photovoltaic panels in the White House As America faced an oil crisis due to their dependence on foreign oil supply and the Arab oil embargo in the 70s, the Carter administration called for conservation of energy and alternative methods. In 1979, he installed 32 solar panels on the roof of the White House as a call for a new era of renewable energy in America. The panels were removed in the 80s by Reagan. He hosted a jazz festival at the White House Carter was a lover of music, hosting various concerts of all genres at the White House, from blues to classical. He had the friendship and support of many American musical icons, such as Bob Dylan, John Denver and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In 1978, Carter held a great jazz festival in the South Lawn of the White House, welcoming everyone with a speech that talked about racism and elitism in the music scene and highlighted the beauty of jazz. He called it “the best party we’ve ever had.” He plays the harmonica More than just a listener,
Carter has some musical talent, as well. A long-time friend of country icon Willie Nelson, the former president joined him on stage in Atlanta in 2008 to play the song “Georgia on My Mind” together. Carter gave no speech or pushed any agendas, he was only there to have a good time and play his harmonica. He built Habitat for Humanity houses at age 95 The Carter Center and Habitat for Humanity have had a longstanding partnership to build much-needed homes. Still, in 2019, people were shocked to see the former president donning a hard hat with his wife, busy at work building houses. Although the press went to take some photos, the couple were not there for a photo-op — they were there to work.
Happy birthday, Mr. Carter! It has been a century well spent.
not acceptable that young people need to financially shoot themselves in the foot to get a career. The people burdened by these debts are not irresponsible or lazy; they were simply doing what they had to to afford an education.
And this education does not even promise a future. It is not guaranteed that every college graduate will get a high-paying job, but if they had to take out loans to pay their tuition, it is certain that they will carry the weight of that decision for decades to come. It is a privilege to graduate debt-free from university, an opportunity that UTSA is trying to facilitate for its students. In 2023, the university reported that 43% of its students graduated debt-free. In the future, it is imperative that this percentage rises so that UTSA alumni can be the most successful they can be.
One does not have to be a Democrat to see the vision behind Biden’s student debt forgiveness plan, as the problem affects Americans on all sides of the political spectrum. USA Today reports that as of 2024, 42.2 million Americans have student loan debts. The administration’s plan cannot offer relief to all of them, but it is a start to tackling this growing socioeconomic problem.
Port workers fight back
By Hannah Velasquez Staff Writer
For the first time since 1977, East and Gulf Coast port workers went on strike for higher wages and better job security, affecting 45,000 dockworkers. Some consumers have seen this as an “inconvenience,” though struggling to live on wages as low as $20 in exchange for being one of the backbones of America is an even bigger inconvenience.
“Struggling
to live on wages as low as $20 in exchange for being one of the backbones of America is an even bigger inconvenience.”
After a three day strike, workers were called back into work on Thursday as their union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, and their employers, United States Maritime Alliance, came to an agreement and contract extension until Jan. 15, 2025. The USMX counter offered what the union was asking; they did not agree to the full terms being asked even though they could give the union what they were asking for, but overall, this is a step in the right direction.
The ILA and the USMX have temporarily agreed to a 62% increase in wages over the next six years, a stark contrast from the 50% USMX had offered before the strike. This highlights why these workers were striking and just how much their employers think of them. In this day and age, it is important that workers stand their ground against their employers that profit off of their work unfairly.
Before the strike, Johnnie Dixon, the ILA head of Fort Lauderdale, told CBS, “We are looking for a 77%, close to 77% increase over the next seven years. When you look at the cost of inflation, that’s more than reasonable.” They were looking to get a $5 increase per hour for each year of the contract.
The work that port laborers carry out is not easy, and for little pay, it is frustrating. The job is grueling, technical and physical. In general terms, port workers handle anything cargo related, the loading and unloading of ships using various machinery and the supervising of tasks and teams. Risks of injury include machinery, chemical exposure, weather conditions, falls, being crushed from equipment or containers and occupational illness.
By Kara Lee
Marcela Montufar Soria/The Paisano
Valentina Quintanilla/The Paisano
Valentina Quintanilla/ThePaisano
OpiNION
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
By Dr. Bryan Gervais Director of UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research
With the Nov. 5 election weeks away, most voters know who they will be voting for in the presidential race. San Antonio voters, however, are less sure how they will vote on six proposed amendments to the city charter, which will also appear at the bottom of their ballots in November.
If you have not heard about these proposed amendments, you are in good company, at least according to polls conducted by the UTSA Center for Public Opinion Research (CPOR). CPOR, which I direct, began polling Bexar County residents earlier this year. Unlike many other major metropolitan areas, the San Antonio area has lacked public polling; information about what issues the public cares about, what the public’s chief concerns are and where it stands on a number of policy issues has largely been restricted to those who can pay for or are privy to private polling. It is CPOR’s mission to change this. Our team, which includes undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in experiential learning and enriching local politics, aims to provide objective, rigorous and transparent analysis of local public opinion — and our analyses of the area residents’ knowledge of the charter
amendments demonstrates that essential information is not reaching folks who will soon begin casting ballots.
In our September poll of likely San Antonio voters, less than two in 10, 19.5%, said they had heard about the proposed changes to the city charter. This was unchanged from June, when CPOR last asked local voters about their familiarity with proposed changes to the charter.
We also asked voters about whether they supported the changes the propositions would make if they were passed. At least two of the amendments are rather uncontroversial; one would update outdated charter language, and another would make minor changes to the city’s Ethics Review Board. According to CPOR’s poll, a majority of voters say they support both changes.
Our poll found far less support for an amendment that would increase the baseline salaries for members of the City Council and the Mayor of San Antonio — $70,200 for council members and $87,800 for the mayor. Slightly more than a quarter, 27.3%, said they would vote in favor of it, with a majority, 50.7%, saying they would vote against it. A substantial number, 22.0%, are unsure
Elon Musk against humanity
Commentary By Gbekeleoluwa Shebioba Contributor
In a surprising turn of events that was on nobody’s 2024 bingo card, the creators of the popular party game, Cards Against Humanity (CAH), are suing Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX, over a land dispute.
“We have terrible news. Seven years ago, 150,000 people paid us $15 to protect a pristine parcel of land on the US-Mexico border from racist billionaire Donald Trump’s very stupid wall,” the makers of the game stated on their website. They claimed that after trying to protect their land from Trump, Musk “snuck up behind them” and damaged the land with “gravel, tractors and space garbage.”
Musk and his company were in the process of building something nearby and ignorantly trespassed by dumping their construction equipment all over the land that belonged to the CAH creators. When the CAH creators caught on to what they were doing, SpaceX gave them a 12-hour ultimatum to accept a lowball offer that was worth less than half of CAH’s land’s value. This resulted in the CAH creators
By Marisela Cruz Contributor
When the topic of terrible road conditions and reckless driving is brought up in San Antonio, most people will respond with, “Tell me something I don’t know,” but what if the people were set up to fail? Is drivers ed covering how to adapt with terrible road conditions? Locals are not to blame for the driving culture when poor road conditions are presented around every corner; driving recklessly is inevitable. The city’s highways need to be fixed as soon as possible because the lives of the people that make up San Antonio depend on it. There were a total of 39,355 car accidents in the city in 2022. These alarming statistics show the lack of safe driving practices. Sometimes it is not the drivers who are to blame because there are unpaved and trashed roads throughout the city. The highways are filled with remnants of blown up tires, plastic waste
if they would support the amendment.
There was slightly more support for an amendment that would extend the terms of office for the mayor and members of the City Council from two years to four years; 42.7% said they would support it, with 43.8% opposed.
However, the amendment with the least amount of support is one that would remove caps on the salary of the city manager and the number of years a person could serve in that position. A super-majority, 68.9%, said they would not vote for it, with only 16.9% in favor of the amendment.
The city manager amendment is perhaps the most controversial, for a couple of reasons. These caps were originally put in place in 2018 via another ballot measure. The effort to get the 2018 measures passed was led by the city’s firefighters’ union, which had sought the caps after feuding with thencity manager Sheryl Sculley over health care costs in the city’s labor agreements for both the fire and police unions. Opponents of the ballot measure argued it would prevent San Antonio from attracting and competing for top-tier administrators to serve as city managers.
retaliating by suing SpaceX for $15 million. If they win, the CAH creators plan to equally split the lawsuit’s net proceeds among all the original 150,000 people who donated $15 for the protection of the land that Musk has now laid his greedy hands on.
The vile actions of SpaceX are just a reflection of Musk and other multibillionaires as a whole. They do not care about the environment and believe that they are too rich to consider the fairness of their activities, as evidenced
or random potholes. These conditions are putting drivers at risk of swerving and crashing into one another, or worse, losing their lunch in the driver’s seat. Other times drivers sometimes forget to abide by the rules of the road. Which leads to the source of it all, what is missing in driver’s education. When participating in the driving test there is a lack of practices that should
by the pitiful ultimatum SpaceX gave the CAH creators, when they were the ones who ruined the land in the first place.
The morally virtuous thing to do in this situation is to support the CAH creators in this lawsuit. It is important for CAH to fight against the blatant greed and disrespect by helping the 150,000 individuals who have been robbed of the land they tried to protect. “With great vengeance and furious anger,” SpaceX and Musk must be put in their place.
be tested. For example, driving on the highway is not mandatory, as well as driving through a roundabout. The drivers test should include more scenarios of driving in a city since they are ranked the most dangerous areas to drive through. Aiding people with the proper knowledge and practices on how to maneuver themselves throughout a city should be a subject of top priority.
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By Malaki Lingg Arts & Life Editor
Farts & life
What happened at ACL Weekend One?
or the 23rd time, the Austin City Limits Music Festival kicked off its first weekend this past Friday, culminating in three days of music, vibes and community. The festival ran for its typical time range — Friday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. This year’s impressive lineup was sure to draw crowds, especially with the stacked Sunday bill at the American Express Stage, boasting new star Chappell Roan followed by headliner Tyler, The Creator.
well as his deep cuts. This was the opposite for Blink-182, whose antics, skits, jokes and crazy visuals carried the show. Every rest had bassist Mark Hoppus joking with guitarist Tom DeLong, while drummer Travis Barker sat in the back, acting cooler than he probably is; though, he is a superstar.
ACL had a phenomenal opening day on Friday, and it only got better over the next two days.
Saturday
Friday
Friday started slow at ACL, with gates opening at 11 a.m. and the first act, Asleep At The Wheel, performing at the Honda Stage at 12:55 p.m. Being the first day of the festival, the stages started off more sparse; attendees felt more inclined to check the various merch booths, food trucks and Tyler, The Creator’s Golf merchandise store. However, the action quickly picked up as the afternoon set in.
As 2 p.m. rolled around, the stages finally garnered worthy crowds for the festival. Chaperelle, an upcoming country artist, opened the IHG Hotels & Resorts Stage, while indie-pop artist Sir Chloe opened the T-Mobile Stage. Both put on great performances, setting expectations high for all the later time slots throughout the night.
At 3:10 p.m., Mannequin Pussy had an impressive performance at the Miller Lite Stage. The vocalist, Missy, entranced crowds with her phenomenal stage presence. Performing their new poppier works and previous punk tracks, there was something for everyone. Halfway through the show, mosh pits erupted, and bodies began to fly overhead. The energy from both the band and the crowd was phenomenal; for performing early in the day, at a smaller stage and at a festival, they brought in the perfect demographic to enjoy their sound. They surely had one of the best performances of the day.
Skipping ahead, Foster the People performed at 6:10 p.m. at the Honda Stage. The indie-rock icons drew in a massive crowd, performing their impressive roster of smooth, danceable hits. The crowd was locked in on the performers the entire time, especially when they played their hit single, “Pumped Up Kicks.”
At 6:30 p.m., Leon Bridges came out on the American Express Stage, aptly wearing a University of Texas jersey — a sad sight for fans from San Antonio. His unique sound entranced those who were more so looking for a country experience, meshing R&B and soul into a smooth, loving experience. With Bridges’ hour-long set ending at 7:30 p.m., attendees could turn around and take a short trip to the T-Mobile Stage, where The Marias were starting up.
The Marias, returning to ACL for the second time since 2022, quickly drew in a large crowd. Performing their psychedelic pop tracks just as the sun had finished setting. Their visuals were memorable and the bright violet lighting perfectly contrasted the lights coming from the Austin skyline to the west.
Once The Marias ended, attendees had to make a huge choice — should they see country star Chris Stapleton at American Express, or should they head down to Honda to see pop-punk legends, Blink-182?
Both headlining acts put on phenomenal shows, evoking entirely different feelings. Chris Stapleton played as many songs as time allowed, saying he would speak as little as possible, so he could deliver all his hits, as
Being the middle day of the weekend, expectations were high, luckily there was a great mix of small and large DJ sets, indie icons, pop stars and rappers to draw in a crowd.
Opening the day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., artists like Godly The Ruler, Obed Padilla, PawPaw Rod, promqueen, SHXWNFRESH, The Criticals and Goldie Boutlier. Right off the bat, there was so much going on, leaving something for everyone — though stages were left somewhat empty while crowds still gathered outside in the entrance queue.
While the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage may be skipped over by many, it was packed later by 6:45 p.m. when Kenny Beats came out. Though he traditionally produces artists — working with musicians such as Joji, Vince Staples, Denzel Curry and Ed Sheeran — his DJ set was impressive. The crowd was bumping the entire time, even lining up outside the tent, because the entire space had been filled. While being overlooked by many, he definitely pulled in an engaging crowd alongside his excellent set.
Another great artist on a smaller stage was Vince Staples, who performed at the IHG Hotels & Resorts Stage at 7:20 p.m. He pulled in a loyal crowd, who when asked if they had seen him perform before a resounding, “Yes,” erupted through the ever-growing crowd. Staples’ unique flow and subjective commentary were impressive.
After the later artists ended, crowds once again flocked to American Express to see day headliner, Dua Lipa.
The pop powerhouse lived up to the hype set by the amazing headliners the day prior, playing banger after banger nonstop. With such a large catalog of radio hits and TikTok blow-ups, there was at least one recognizable song for everyone in attendance.
She downright stole the show Saturday night, her powerful vocals never straining, and the downright incredible video effects and choreography from her dancers showed that she is not just a music artist, but a stage performer.
Sunday
Finally came Sunday, the last day of the first weekend and surely the most memorable day. It was surely a mistake not to stay at the American Express Stage, with its star studded lineup.
The day was set from the start to be memorable, with Chappell Roan’s rise to stardom drawing in thousands of fans who purchased tickets just to see her. These fans were ready, at 11 a.m. sharp you could see cowboy boots and pink-attired attendees rushing to the stage to grab their spot at the barricade. It would be a long wait, but surely worth it.
Opening the stage was Empress Of at 1:15 p.m. Her club pop, drum-heavy sound was reminiscent of Dua Lipa’s performance the night prior. She drew in a decent
crowd for such an early slot, especially with many fans gearing up to camp for spots during
Following Empress Of was indie-rock band,
The band came out swinging, with what is probably one of the best, if not the best, performances out of all the nonheadlining artists. The band’s summery, backyard indie sound carried across the crowd, dragging those into their sound for the next hour. They are heavily reminiscent of The Backseat Lovers and Two Door Cinema Club, a sound perfect for a memorable outdoor festival experience. Their melodic riffs and powerful vocals really sold the show; the stage presence was apparent. If you cannot make it to their ACL set next week, be sure to make it to their headlining show at Scoot Inn, on Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. Next came Cannons at 4:45 p.m., their indie-pop sound and catchy, repeating chorus helped them live up to the expectations set by flipturn. Vocalist Michelle Joy and the keyboardist Paul Davis truly carried their show, her captivating vocals complimented by the enchanting synth work were magnetic. Their track, “Fire for You,” from their 2019 album “Shadows,” made their show, with the stage monitor repeating the lyrics “on fire” for the crowd to sing the whole show. It was as if an angler fish swam through and ensnared the audience into their music.
After hours of waiting, Chappell Roan finally made her entrance alongside her band at 6:45 p.m. The crowd then hit its peak, filling up almost half of Zilker Park’s 351 acres of land just to see her perform. With such a large crowd, the expectations were set unrealistically high — and yet Chappell rose above them. There was not a moment where the performance lacked, from her Y2Kinspired graphics on the monitors, her stunning cowgirlinspired stage costume and her talented band and absurd vocal range. Every song was sung by the crowd, there was not a single person in attendance who did not know her lyrics. Even more impressive was the sheer amount of people doing the “HOT TO GO!” dance, so much so that fans could hardly raise their arms to dance. Chappell also had a surprise in store; she performed a shocking cover of “Barracuda” by Heart, overall killing the performance — indeed making ACL “hot like Papa John.”
Finally, ending the weekend came Tyler, The Creator at 8:45 p.m. This is Tyler’s second time headlining Sunday for ACL, with his first being in 2021. He immediately came out swinging, especially so with such a stellar performance an hour before his. The stage was decorated with a Wild West aesthetic, old barrels, cacti and a large rocky hill for him to climb. Behind him was a backroads country backdrop that tied the look together. Tyler has always had a phenomenal stage presence, taunting the crowd and cracking jokes, but this was something more. With so many people in the crowd, it felt even more special when he chose sides of the stage to sing parts of the songs or teased guest appearances that never happened. Out of the entire festival, there was not a single act more worthy of closing the weekend out than Tyler.
While weekend one may be over, ACL will be back this upcoming weekend with a slightly different lineup and hopefully just as much fun. The festival truly was something special and might be the best one since the festivals break during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
For more information on ACL check out their site at https://www.aclfestival.com/.
Courtesy of Charles Reagan Hackleman
Courtesy of Roger Ho
Courtesy of Chad Wadsworth for A3/LNE
Courtesy of Roger Ho
Courtesy of Dusana Risovic
Courtesy of Greg Noire
Chappell Roan.
flipturn.
Arts & Life
Eight-legged marvels: Explore a world of spiders
By Analiyah Olivarez Contributor
The Witte Museum is hosting a crawling exhibition from Sept. 28 through Jan. 5: “Spiders: From Fear to Fasciation.” This fascinating exhibition is presented by Mary West and Richard Traylor, funded by H-E-B and the Mary Pat and Michael Bolner Exhibition Endowment Fund. This three-month-long exhibition is open to all ages and is located in the Gunn Gallery of the Museum; just follow the spider-designed steps to the exhibit.
Upon entering the exhibition, visitors are greeted by virtual spiders crawling on the floor as if they are enveloped in the forest with them. The exhibition is filled with 3D sculptures, interactive games, educational videos and many Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. The main attraction, however, is live spiders on display; the exhibition showcases 250 species of spiders, with a small number being live specimens. Visitors can observe the spiders in their enclosures catered to their natural habitats or learn about different species and their environment via interactive displays.
The first interactive display people encounter in the exhibition are the itty bitty spiders on the floor. Past those, are the many displays meant to engage the viewer. One of the displays is powered by a magnifying glass, where visitors can view tiny or large spiders up close. Beyond that, there are screens where people learn about many different spider species, dance with a spider or listen to all the sounds of the different spiders.
People and pollinators alike flood Brackenridge
There are more than five live spiders exhibition can by all ages; it exciting, insightful and the perfect weekend adventure in San Antonio. It offers something for everyone from young children to students doing research or even spider experts. For those looking to overcome their arachnophobia or indulge their fascination with spiders, visit the “Spiders: From Fear to Fasciation” exhibition at the Witte Museum.
Park was buzzing with activity this past weekend as San Antonio commemorated the ninth annual Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. Taking place right outside the San Antonio Zoo, the festival celebrates and raises awareness for the migration of Monarch Butterflies and other pollinators that make their way through San Antonio this fall. There were many creative ways to celebrate, from the kid-centered attractions and interactive demonstrations to the
Joker takes the stage and disappoints
By Ezequiel Pena Staff Writer Reviews
Director Todd Phillips and actor Joaquin Phoenix return to bring one more chapter to the iconic story of the first Joker film but with a splash of musical sequences added to the mix. Phillips had originally made the first film thinking it would be a standalone film. With the film making over a billion dollars at the box office, being nominated and even winning many awards at the Oscars, it was clear there was pressure on Phillips from Warner Bros Studios to make more with the story he had in mind.
This time, however, the studio supported the project with a whopping budget of $200 million for the film and added Lady Gaga into the mix. While audiences did not think a sequel was necessary, fans were still cautiously optimistic holding out hope that Phillips and Phoenix would deliver with the sequel. “Joker: Folie à Deux” takes this hope and bashes it in the skull with an oversized gavel.
Despite being filled with gorgeous cinematography, it does not amount to much when the camera’s focus is on something that feels like a drag for two hours. What is worse, is when the film is trying to say something, begin interesting but becomes frustrating since most of the film’s ideas attempt to go back to what the entirety of the first film amounted to.
The acting in the film is phenomenal, yet feels bogged down by the poorly done musical sequences. At times, they succeed in developing the story and what the characters are feeling, but most of the
This was present at the festival this year in the form of the “Lights Out! Bird City Maze.” In the maze, participants assume the position of a migrating bird navigating a city in the dark of night to simulate the dangers of light pollution that these birds face. In a conversation with The Paisano regarding the event, educational director Maura Bobbit stated, “When [the migrating birds] hit cities they navigate by the stars. So when they hit cities and all our lights are on, they can’t see… That maze is meant to simulate that. They will run into windows and stuff like that…” She continued, “All of our education is set up that way. It’s meant to be truly interactive. Using your mind, your body, your heart, all together, to impact behavior and make actual change.”
Beyond the maze, the event was home to dozens of booths ranging from local businesses to food trucks, all pollinatorthemed and centered. Participants upon entering had the opportunity to take part in a “People as Pollinators Experiment.” This experiment invited them to choose a pollinator along with corresponding headbands and face paint. Around the park, they could find various information stations, obstacle courses and interactive exhibits related to their choice. Also scattered throughout were communal art pieces that invited passersby to add small additions to the mural, culminating in a grand image of a butterfly against a skyline.
time they just feel intrusive and pointless. The greater problem is that it ends up holding back the ability of Phoenix and Gaga to improve the film with their musical capabilities.
Another problem with this approach is howthe film never really seems to decide on what it wants to be. It ends up feeling like an ugly moshpit of a beautiful musical on par with “Titicut Follies,” and a genuine drama trying to continue the feel and tone of the first film. It just ends up being a bitter mess with a lot of letdowns.
Some respect can be had for this movie with what it was intending to do. It seems the script was aiming to try and mock the idea some had with the first film, that the Joker was a figure to be looked up to, rather than being a product of society oppressing the mentally ill. At first, it almost works, as the first half of the film delves deeper into Arthur Fleck’s psyche in an interesting way and presents a lot more than in the later half. It fails by making it seem like Arthur did not did not change at all from the first film. In the first film, the audience was able to view deep enough into Fleck’s damaged psyche to understand him, and they felt bad for him because of how grim the world felt while still being believable. There is an attempt made to recreate that in this film, but at many points, it feels cartoonish, pointless, or even downright pathetic.
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By Hannah Velasquez Staff Writer
UTSA soccer played a heated match against the University of North Texas on Thursday night at the Mean Green Soccer Stadium; the two teams tied 2-2 in the final moments of the game.
North Texas (7-3-3, 3-1-1 American Athletic Conference), with four minutes left in the game, scored a goal on UTSA (6-5-1, 1-3-1 AAC), bringing the score to a tie. North Texas midfielder Emma King scored when she shot over UTSA
sophomore goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler’s head after she received the ball from teammates.
The Mean Green scored at the beginning of the second half and tied the game 1-1. The goal came as North Texas forward Summer Brown scored against Kessler after she kicked the ball into the corner of the goal. In the same minute, sophomore midfielder Michelle Polo crossed the ball towards senior forward Jordan Walker who headed the ball and scored a goal, catching the Mean Green goalkeeper and defense off guard.
Heading into this game, both the
UTSA football bye week breakdown
Key takeaways from the Roadrunners’ first five games
By Rylan Renteria Assistant Sports Editor
For the second consecutive year, UTSA football finds itself entering the bye week with a losing record. In 2023, the Roadrunners came out of the break and won seven straight conference games. Having already lost their conference opener against East Carolina University, fans are skeptical about a similar performance out of the Roadrunners in 2024. With uncertainty around the team going forward, here’s what we know about the team right now.
The UTSA passing game has been underwhelming
This is not an indictment on quarterback Owen McCown; rather, this is a play-calling issue. UTSA has enjoyed offensive success since Jeff Traylor took over in 2020. When your offense stands out as a Group of Five program, Power Five programs are going to want to take that from you. Former UTSA passing game
“If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.”
coordinator Will Stein was credited with a lot of the Roadrunners’ offensive success from 2019-2022, and rightfully so. The UTSA offense was creative and found ways to spread the ball out and take advantage of a roster with talent at almost every skill position.
Stein left in 2023 to become the offensive coordinator of the Oregon Ducks, who have boasted one of the most electric offenses in the country since Stein’s arrival. Justin Burke took over as offensive coordinator
UTSA and North Texas battle for a tie
‘Runners and North Texas were both coming off of losses in their previous matches.
The Roadrunners scored on The Eagles within the first two minutes after receiving a free kick. Sophomore midfielder Sophie Morrin sent the ball flying to her teammate, junior center back Kameron Kloza, who shot a header into goal.
Even though North Texas had possession over the ball throughout most of the game, UTSA maintained an aggressive strategy that helped them score and get past the Mean Green. Both teams were relentless as a total of 26 fouls were given during
scored in the American Athletic Conference. The UTSA defense is elite After years of being known for its offensive prowess, UTSA now looks to win off the backs of its defense. Even after losing key pieces in the offseason, the Roadrunner defense is arguably the best it’s been under Traylor. With names like Martavius French and Jamal Ligon patrolling the middle of the field, UTSA has earned an 87.9 run defense grade from PFF. Former fivestar recruit Denver Harris and 6-foot3 corner Zah Frazier have provided consistent coverage on the boundary.
Jimmori Robinson and Ronald Triplette have been the ‘Runners’ most dominant edge players, both with two sacks on the season so far. Despite allowing 31.6 points per game through five games, the Roadrunners have faced stout competition, with losses to No.2 Texas and rival Texas State Bobcats amounting for 105 of the Roadrunners’ 158 total points allowed. Owen McCown is UTSA’s best option at quarterback
Though most fans’ perception of McCown changes depending on whether or not UTSA is winning at the moment, he should undoubtedly remain the starter for the rest of the season. Through five games, McCown is tied for fifth in the AAC in touchdowns, while only tossing two interceptions. McCown is also third in the AAC in on-target passes that were dropped with 13 and third to last in turnover-worthy plays with five. What we’re seeing right now is a young quarterback trying to find his footing, with a fanbase that is used to seeing consistent greatness from an eighth-year senior. Development takes time. If you compare McCown’s first five games to former quarterback Frank Harris’ first five games, with a minimum of 25 dropbacks, their stats are very similar. Rotating quarterbacks rarely works out. It does little to instill confidence in either quarterback and creates unnecessary controversy. It’s as legendary coach John Madden once said: “If you have two quarterbacks, you actually have none.”
the game, amidst the Mean Green being notably more aggressive after their head coach was red carded by a referee during the first half. Kessler put on an impressive display by deflecting almost all 20 attempted shots by North Texas. Throughout the game, the ‘Runners showed persistence and strength when it came to combating The Eagles’ feisty strategy, nearly resulting in a win. UTSA will play University of Tulsa at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Park West Athletic Complex.
Roadrunners continue their loss streak with two away games
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer
This weekend, UTSA lost to East Carolina University on Friday night at Williams Arena 3-0 and The University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Sunday afternoon at the Dale F. Halton Arena 3-2. The Friday night game was a tough three-set loss to the Pirates (10-4, 3-1 AAC). UTSA spent most of the match fighting to close the point gap. The Roadrunners (6-11, 0-4 AAC) fell to long runs from Eastern Carolina, not being able to break from them.
The ‘Runners found some holes in the Pirate’s defense with freshman outside hitter Ally Tribe leading UTSA with nine kills.
The third set saw the ‘Runners come on strong where freshman middle blocker Caroline Tredwell picked up an early kill off of a free ball. Sophomore setter Annika Sokol took of sophomore middle blocker Kai Bailey which let her close the game with seven kills.
The score stayed close until the end where Eastern Carolina took a lead and ultimately won the set 2521. UTSA had eight serve errors and 17 attack errors against the Pirates, consequently, this led the Roadrunners to lose their third conference game.
The Sunday afternoon game against the 49ers (413, 1-3 AAC) saw another loss for the ‘Runners in a long five-set match.
This match, like the match on Friday, saw UTSA fall to many long runs made by Charlotte, and they had a tough time getting out of them. Junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger led the Roadrunners in kills with 16.
Tredwell opened the fourth set with another kill from a free ball, which gave UTSA the confidence to go on a run of 7-1, while they used Bailey to help close the point gap, who ended the game with nine kills. UTSA took the set 25-11, which pushed the game into a fifth set. fifth set was a back-and-forth game where the score was tied for most of the set. The 49ers were able to finish strong and took the set 15-13. will play Tulane University at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Convocation Center.
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Lacrosse — A growing sport
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer
The UTSA men’s lacrosse club was founded in 2002. The club plays field lacrosse, which differs from lacrosse sixes.
The modern rules of men’s lacrosse were created by Canadian William George Beers in 1867. Men’s field lacrosse and women’s
shoulder pads. Women only have to wear goggles and gloves are optional. Men’s sticks have deeper pockets to carry the ball, and the head of the stick is wider than in women’s lacrosse.
Men’s field lacrosse has 10 players on the field: one goalie, three defenders, three midfielders and three attackers. The defenders have longer poles, called d-poles or long poles,
“[Lacrosse] is everything, I would be a completely different person if I never played lacrosse,” close defender Joaquin Forero said. “I found the sport and the sport has embraced me while playing it.”
The club has 10 new players this year, bringing the team total to 16 players. They practice every Tuesday and Thursday from
huge part.
“I think [lacrosse] is one of the best sports in the world,” president and midfielder Luke Wardlow said. “I just think it really is one of the most fun sports to me and just the culture here, just having a bunch of guys. It’s just a great way not only to meet new people but just be in a great group of guys and just have a ton club’s season starts in the spring, but Corpus Christi on Oct. 19 at the UTSA Recreation Fields. To keep up to date about other events follow lacrosse
Top three must-watch games for men’s basketball
By Logan Martinez Staff Writer
Officially announcing their 2024-25 regular season schedule, UTSA men’s basketball has made sure to include multiple gems in their sea of 30 games. While almost every matchup possesses some level of importance, there are three in particular that will prove to be the best of the year.
Opponent: St Mary’s CA
Date: Dec. 3
Starting their December campaign in Moraga, the Roadrunners will take on the Gaels of St. Mary’s College of California on Dec. 3. The matchup will serve as one of the first true tests for UTSA, as their opponent consistently produces stellar guard play along with excellent coaching. Finishing last year with a 27-5 record and a third consecutive NCAA tournament berth, the team has remained one of the most respected within the West Coast Conference. The game will undoubtedly be an exciting one, as it will give fans a chance to see how the Roadrunners will size up against a proven opponent. If the team hopes to make a deep conference tournament run in March, they will first need to prove themselves against elite programs such as St. Mary’s.
Opponent: Arkansas
Date: Dec. 7
Traveling to Fayetteville, Arkansas almost immediately after their battle with St. Mary’s, UTSA will once again be tested in a nonconference matchup against the University of Arkansas on Dec. 7. A newfound powerhouse thanks to the hiring of former Kentucky head
coach John Calipari, the Razorbacks have been touted by numerous analysts as one of the premier teams in college basketball. Coming in as a heavy underdog, the Roadrunners will have to play at their best if they hope to steal a win in Fayetteville. The head-to-head matchup of the ‘Runners guards Skylar Wicks and Primo Spears against touted stars D.J Wagner and Johnell Davis will surely be one of the best of the year. The game is set to be one of the three best in UTSA’s schedule.
Opponent: Memphis
Date: March 4
Marked as the last home game of the regular season, the Roadrunners will host conference opponent Memphis University on March 4 in what looks to be a packed Convocation Center.
Coached by NBA legend Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, the Tigers have consistently been a thorn in the ‘Runners’ side, as UTSA has failed to corral a win against the rival university. The game stands out as one of the best on UTSA’s schedule due to the level of opponents and hype surrounding the game. With an almost completely new roster, the Roadrunners seem better suited than ever to finally take down their infamous conference adversary. Hoping to secure the university’s first win against Memphis, the matchup will be one best experienced in the halls of the Convocation Center.
Each of the three games will serve as some of the best UTSA basketball has to offer. All of them possess elite levels of play, high stakes and great opportunities for the Roadrunners and the future of their season.
Big season awaits women’s basketball amidst schedule release
By Aramis Santiago Staff Writer
With their 2024-25 regular season schedule released, the upcoming UTSA women’s basketball season is filled with anticipation as the Roadrunners face a mix of challenging non-conference programs and American Athletic Conference opponents. This year will serve as a turning point for a team looking to build on its momentum following a successful 2023-24 campaign. With key early meetings and a series of significant conference games to close the season, UTSA will aim to claim the top spot in a very winnable conference.
The non-conference schedule features a marquee matchup against Texas A&M University, one of the top programs in the Southeastern Conference. The battle at College Station, while presenting an early challenge for the Roadrunners, also offers them a valuable opportunity to gauge how frontcourt players like Idara Udo and Emilia Dannebauer stack up against a physically imposing team fresh off an NCAA tournament appearance and a top-40 national ranking at the end of the 2023-24 season. With Aaliyah Patty coming off a stellar year for Texas A&M, the ‘Runners will be tested on their ability to control the glass and keep pace with the Aggies’ fast-tempo offense.
Following Texas A&M, UTSA will travel to California to face Stanford University, a team that consistently competes at the top of women’s college basketball. Stanford finished the 2023-24 season ranked in the top ten nationally, largely due to star players Cameron
By Morgan Brown Staff Writer
Brink and Kiki Iriafen. The Cardinals remain dangerous this year, led by sharpshooter Hannah Jump, who averaged 10.4 points per game last season while shooting nearly 42% from three-point range. However, with the loss of Brink, Iriafen and the retirement of legendary head coach Tara VanDerveer, this matchup becomes a very winnable opportunity for the Roadrunners.
Later in the non-conference schedule, UTSA will face off against Texas State University in San Marcos in the I-35 Rivalry. The Bobcats have dominated the ‘Runners across multiple sports in the 2024 season, adding extra pressure for the Roadrunners to secure a victory on the basketball court. Despite a rough 2023-24 campaign in which Texas State finished 4-14 in Mountain West Conference play, the Bobcats remain a capable team. UTSA will need to neutralize their key players, especially senior forward Da’Nasia Hood, who averaged 16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season. This game offers the Roadrunners a chance not only to avenge their losses to Texas State in other sports but also to build momentum heading into their conference play. The AAC will see UTSA face some of its most important challenges, including a tough game against Rice University — the reigning AAC champions. The Owls dominated the 2023-24 season, winning the conference tournament and advancing to the NCAA tournament.
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Pilates Flow Pilates Flow is one of the best workout classes that the Recreation Center offers for a few reasons. This yoga-inspired pilates class was accommodating for all experience levels. The calm and welcoming instructor offered different levels of difficulty for each exercise. Pilates flow is a great combination of strength building, meditation and stretching, all while using minimal equipment.
By Logan Martinez Staff Writer
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