THE PAISANO
Marigolds and Mariposas at Muertos Fest read article on page 5
Sprinting toward mental health
By Noah Hernandez Staff Writer
Former Dallas Cowboy and UTSA track and field star, Teddy Williams, has pledged to raise between $500,000 and $1,000,000 to develop a mental health program for UTSA’s athletes. The surprise announcement came late Oct. 18 at Pedrotti’s Ranch during UTSA Athletics’ second hall of fame induction ceremony. During his acceptance speech, Williams cited his own mental health struggles as a major contributor to this decision.
“I was once an athlete here, and I didn’t have a place to go. I didn’t know where to turn to get the help that I needed,” Williams said.
Williams is not alone in this sentiment, as a 2019 study found that 35% of elite athletes struggle with mental health, particularly feelings of anxiety, burnout and depression. To combat this, Williams hopes the funds are used to develop areas where athletes can decompress and feel comfortable seeking help and expressing vulnerabilities.
“If you can create a safe space where
people can go and actually be able to dial down and feel their emotions, and be able to do what they do to get the best out of themselves, I want to create that space. I want to be able to bring that to UTSA,” Williams said.
Hailing from Tyler, the UTSA alum was a four-time Track and Field AllAmerican, setting a world record in 2009 for the 100-meter dash with a time of 9.90 seconds at the UTEP invitational. After graduating from UTSA, Williams went on to be the first UTSA athlete to enter the NFL. Despite never setting foot on the field during his four years as a roadrunner, he went on to play for nine seasons.
Alongside Williams, four other alumni were inducted into the UTSA Hall of Fame: Derrick Gervin who played men’s basketball, Monica Gibbs who played women’s basketball, Michael Rockett who played baseball and Starlite Williams who played women’s basketball and ran track.
For those struggling with mental health, UTSA offers a wide array of services that can be found on utsa.edu/students/ wellbeing/ or by contacting a Wellness 360 health provider at 210-458-4142.
Public intoxication, assault, graffiti
By Luna Infante Interim Marketing Manager
In compliance with the Clery Act, UTSA keeps a daily crime log for 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 Oct. 18 to Oct. 24
Assault
On Tuesday, Oct. 22, an assault was reported at University Oaks Phase 2. The assault was by contact through dating violence. The offense was unlawful restraint. The case was cleared by arrest. Public Intoxication
On Sunday, Oct. 20, and Tuesday, Oct. 22, reports were made regarding public intoxication. Saturday’s report was made at University Oaks Building 4, and Tuesday’s report was made at the John Peace Library. Both cases were closed by exceptional means, which means “the agency must have: Identified the offender. Gathered enough evidence to support an arrest, make a charge, and turn over the offender to the court for prosecution.”
Graffiti
On Friday, Oct. 18, graffiti was reported
Panelists explore downtown’s potential at CityFest opening
By Kara Lee Graphics Editor
San Antonio Report and Texas Public Radio partnered to host The Future of Downtown panel and discussion. This event marks the beginning of this year’s CityFest, a four-day celebration of live journalism running from Monday, Oct. 28, through Thursday, Oct. 31. The panel addressed the future of downtown San Antonio, exploring its potential boons and challenges.
Panelists Erik Walsh, Andres Andujar, Trish DeBerry, Veronica Salazar and David Robinson Jr. engaged in a discussion facilitated by SA Report founder Bob Rivard at the Carlos and Malu Alvarez Theatre at Texas Public Radio.
Walsh has served as San Antonio’s city manager since 2019. He is currently managing the city’s response to priorities surrounding the establishment of new sports entertainment districts.
Robinson is the development manager at Western Urban, focusing on multifamily development across the company’s portfolio.
Salazar holds the position of Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is leading the university’s campus master plan and the expansion of its
downtown campus.
Andujar became the CEO of the Hemisphere Park area redevelopment corporation in 2011. He is driving the vision to transform the 1968 World’s Fair site on the southeast side of downtown into an urban district featuring multiple parks, residences and local businesses.
DeBerry is the president and CEO of Centro San Antonio, a placemaking organization dedicated to fostering a more prosperous downtown. With 25 years of experience, she has been an advocate for San Antonio’s urban core, leading various campaigns and initiatives.
DeBerry began the conversation by expressing her enthusiasm for downtown, reflecting on her long career and the challenges San Antonio has faced.
“Let me just tell you, it’s hard for me to hide my passion for San Antonio, being born and raised here. As someone who worked downtown for the better part of 25 years, I like to say that I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly associated with downtown.”
Salazar then shifted the discussion to UTSA’s strategic growth and significant property acquisitions in downtown.“So we started with the development of San Pedro and San Pedro Creek, and partnered there to create a cornerstone of development around City Hall, around Bexar County, to bring what the tech corridor needed the
most,” Salazar said.
Salazar emphasized the university’s plans for San Pedro Two.
“We started with one building that we said we’re going to bring the school of data sciences, and we did that and it’s right there next door. We’re creating a new College of AI, cybersecurity and engineering, so all of that combined can bring up to 6,000 students to downtown, and we hope to achieve that by 2028, with a goal of 10,000 students.
We’re part of an ecosystem of the city, and we want to bring the economic development that the city and all of our citizens deserve. That comes with the work that the university does, creating talent that wants to stay here, live here, grow their families here and attract the companies we want for the future of San Antonio.”
Andujar provided an update on Hemisfair’s redevelopment, highlighting significant public investment and progress made.
“That investment just reminds me how I’m very optimistic about downtown and Hemisphere Park. I follow the enthusiasm that we’ve heard. It feels real. But as usual, you know how architects learn in school that form follows function. We have learned that form follows funding.”
Andujar discussed the ongoing development of Civic Park and its role
on campus at the arts building. On Monday, Oct. 21, this crime was reported again at the John Peace Library. Both cases remain active.
Possession
On Saturday, Oct 19, a report was made on campus at Brackenridge Lot 2 regarding possession of marijuana, less than two ounces. The case was closed less than an hour later by exceptional means. On Thursday, Oct. 24, possession was reported again at the same location. The offenses were possession of a controlled substance, PG 1, marijuana, less than two ounces and drug paraphernalia. The case remains active. Later that day, possession was reported again at Chisholm Hall. The offense was a minor in possession of alcohol; the case was cleared by arrest.
Criminal Mischief
On Saturday, Oct. 19, criminal mischief was reported at Tobin Avenue Garage. The damages resulted in $750-$2499.99. On Monday, Oct. 21, at 8:55 a.m., the same crime was reported at University Oaks Building 25. The damages amounted to less than $100. Hours later at 9:26 a.m., this crime was reported again at University Oaks, the damages totaling to less than $100. All cases remain active.
in attracting visitors and large events, emphasizing the need for continued investment and collaboration to realize Hemisfair’s full potential. “We’ve learned how public spaces can create excitement, and you’re going to see that in your area.” Robinson noted the importance of residential-driven initiatives in creating a sustainable urban community.
“So I went back to school and studied urban planning, and to be studying urban planning at a university that’s in the midst of this amazing urban project is extremely exciting. The Pearl, South Town and Hemisphere are all about creating spaces for residents and locals.”
He highlighted the way projects like the Pearl, Riverwalk and Hemisphere are attracting younger professionals and fostering a sense of community, explaining how transit change could further enhance downtown development.
“One other project that didn’t get mentioned is advanced rapid transit, which is extremely exciting. When people talk about downtown, and even housing downtown, it shouldn’t be limited just to that geographic area; you’ve got to think about things as systems. And UTSA studied Urban and Regional Planning, so thinking about that regional interconnectivity is incredibly important.”
Miles Jones/ The Paisano
Where to vote in Bexar County
By Laynie Clark News Editor
As the election approaches, Bexar County residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with polling locations to ensure a smooth voting experience. A variety of venues are available throughout the county, making it convenient for voters to cast their ballots.
Here are some of the key polling locations in Bexar County.
Bexar County Justice Center
Basement, South End
300 Dolorosa Brookhollow Library
530 Heimer Road Castle Hills City Hall Community Room
209 Lemonwood Dr.
Family Baptist Church 1589 Grosenbacher
Claude Black Community Center
2805 East Commerce
Branch Library 11441 Vance Jackson Collins Garden Branch Library
200 N. Park Blvd.
Converse Community Event
7286 Dietz Elkhorn Dr. Frank Garrett Multi-Service Center
1226 N.W. 18th St.
Great Northwest Branch Library 9050 Wellwood Guerra Branch Library
7978 W. Military Drive
Helotes City Hall
12951 Bandera Rd.
Igo Branch Library
13330 Kyle Seale Parkway
Johnston Branch Library
6307 Sun Valley Drive
Kirby City Hall 112 Bauman
Leon Valley Conference Center
6427 Evers Rd.
Lion’s Field Adult and Senior Center
2809 Broadway Macedonia Baptist Church
111 Hobart St.
Maverick Branch Library
8700 Mystic Park
McCreless Branch Library
1023 Ada Street
Memorial Branch Library
3222 Culebra
Mission Branch Library
3134 Roosevelt Ave.
Northeast Lakeview College
Medina CTE Center, Bldg. 800, Rm.
104 1201 Kitty Hawk Rd.
Northside Activity Center
7001 Culebra
Northwest Vista College
Mt. Laurel Hall, Rm. 101 A&B
3535 N. Ellison Dr.
Our Lady of the Lake University
Sueltenfuss Library Community Room
411 S.W. 24th St. Palo Alto College
Palomino Center, Rm 110 1400 W. Villaret Blvd.
Parman Branch Library at Stone Oak
20735 Wilderness Oak
Precinct 1 Satellite Office 3505 Pleasanton
Precinct 3 Satellite Office 320 Interpark Blvd. San Antonio College
Victory Center, Room 117 1819 N. Main Ave.
Schaefer Branch Library
6322 US Hwy 87 E
Semmes Branch Library at
Comanche Lookout Park 15060 Judson Road
Shavano Park City Hall Lobby 900 Saddletree Ct.
Somerset City Hall 7360 E 6th St., Somerset Southside ISD Administration Building 1460 Martinez-Losoya Rd.
St. Hedwig City Hall 13065 FM 1346 Texas A&M University (San Antonio)
Mays Center, Suite 111
One University Way Thousand Oaks Branch Library
4618 Thousand Oaks
Tobin Branch Library at Oakwell
4134 Harry Wurzbach
Universal City Library 100 Northview Dr. UTSA
Bexar Room 1 UTSA Circle
Windcrest Park Civic Center 9310 Jim Seal Dr.
Wonderland Mall of the Americas at Crossroads Suite A79 4522 Fredericksburg Rd.
Regan Williams/ The Paisano
SGA again highlights UOaks issues
By Matthew Moses Staff Writer
At the latest Student Government Association (SGA) meeting on Oct. 24, students addressed several pressing campus issues and upcoming events, while highlighting concerns about facilities and student services.
Students reported multiple challenges across campus, including parking congestion following BestFest and ongoing issues with The Runner’s shuttle app connectivity. Users have requested more frequent live updates about bus locations and service disruptions.
The Robotics Club’s continued funding requests remain unaddressed, with other students joining in agreement that their clubs are also in need of more financial assistance. While concerns about housing conditions at University Oaks persist, a handful of students shared personal experiences during the open forum portion of the meeting. Locks have not been changed on windows despite recent events, with many students reporting they still do not feel safe living there. One student mentioned that mold can be found within air vents and on walls, sometimes even being painted over. UTSA faculty present noted that, although not owned by UTSA, the University Oaks facilities are still maintained by the university. A student also reported Sukkot celebration flags were torn down from a club’s booth in the Sombrilla this past week.
A new senator was placed on the Financial Affairs committee before moving on to a brief Graduate Student Constituent Engagement Survey result. Students showed that there is a great need for more dedicated quiet spaces specifically for graduate students. Results also show a need to review college stipends at the university, with the College of Liberal and Fine Arts currently offering the most competitive stipends.
The SGA board noted there were still many vacant seats for prospective students to join, including a representative from the Alvarez College of Business and open senate seats for every class year. Filing for in-house elections will run through Nov. 1 with grade and disciplinary checks during Nov. 4-8. The business affairs committee representative, Christina Powell, also discussed dining hall concerns and her intent to address them, as well as plans to bring more bicycles from the sustainability office to accessible
Bexar County breaks records
By Jasmine Williams Copyediting Coordinator
Bexar County broke its in-person early voter turnout records on both the first and second day of early voting last week. Monday, Oct. 21, had a turnout of 46,903 in-person voters while Tuesday, Oct. 22, had a turnout of 48,067.
In 2016, Bexar County had 1,045,360 registered voters. That number increased to 1,189,373 in the 2020 election and 1,295,580 in this year’s election.
The in-person percent turnout during the first week of early voting this year is almost the exact same as 2016’s. However, from the fifth day through the rest of the week, there is a marginal increase in 2024’s percent turnout.
Days one through three of 2024’s combined in-person votes and mail ballots are noticeably less than the combined votes in 2020, but more than in 2016. The gap between the turnout in 2024 and in 2020 closes on the fourth day. By the fifth day through the rest of the week, this year’s turnout is greater than in 2020.
For the combined percent turnout of in-person votes and mail ballots, 2024 is experiencing the lowest percent turnout on early voting days one through five when compared to
both 2016’s and 2020’s combined percent turnout. This year’s turnout on day six exceeds that of 2020, but by day seven it is again below both 2016 and 2020.
Nevertheless, in-person voters have experienced difficulty securing parking at voting sites and over twohour-long waits in lines. Jacquelyn F. Callanen, Elections Administrator of the Elections Department, urges voters to remember to bring their voter ID and to download their individual, sample ballot from the Bexar County Elections Department website, and mark it ahead of time for a smoother voting experience.
Jon Taylor, UTSA professor and Political Science & Geography Department chair, had the following to say in an interview with KSAT about why voter turnout has been so high.
“It could be, again, just the voter enthusiasm. Issues that are related directly to what voters are thinking about, be it reproductive choice, be it the border, be it the economy. Those are driving voters. It’s obvious.” Taylor also noted that polls appeared to be busy statewide.
The last day of in-person early voting is Friday, Nov. 1. To search for a nearby polling location in Bexar County, visit bexar.org/2229/ Voter-Registration-Check-PollingLocatio.
State of the City
Week of 10/29
By Zoe Hernandez Contributor
Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay up-to-date on the happenings around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. Road Rage Shooting
Jeremiah Nevarez incited road rage that resulted in a deadly shooting on May 4. 2022 on Interstate 35. Police reported that Nevarez pulled up next to victim Andrew Rangel’s car and fired four times, fatally wounding him. On Thursday, Oct. 24, Nevarez pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to 60 years in prison. Early Voting
As of Monday, Oct. 21, early voting began for the Nov. 5 election. Casting a ballot has become easier for UTSA students due to convenient access to a polling location on campus. The polling location is available to UTSA students and the general public. Before the Oct. 7 deadline, UTSA provided many places to register or check voter registration status. Roadrunners can cast their votes in the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom, located on UTSA’s Main Campus.
The Return of Muertos Festival
locations on campus.
On behalf of the academic affairs committee, Paul Gonzales shared that on Oct. 29 there will be a talk on innovations related to AI and how these tools will benefit the academic space.
SGA advisor Chantea Swinson-Rhoe highlighted the alternative break options for students this holiday season. The Alternative Break Program is an experiential opportunity for UTSA students to explore a social issue in the community and have a direct impact locally. This opportunity builds upon leadership skills, fosters individual growth and promotes a deeper sense of global awareness through a weeklong service trip. The first alternative break option is the weekend before Thanksgiving from Nov. 22-24 and another holiday break will take place later in the winter from Jan. 6-9, 2025. The option during spring break will be from March 8-13, 2025. To apply for these trips, students must submit a completed Alternative Break Application on RowdyLink by Friday, Nov. 1 at Midnight.
Swinson-Rhoe also announced an opportunity for students called LeaderShape Institute. The LeaderShape Institute is an intensive and energizing, four-day educational experience designed to equip young adults to become extraordinary leaders. Each session is composed of approximately 60-70 students with applications being accepted through Nov. 1. The program will be taking place from Jan. 6-9, 2025.
The Student Body Vice President announced the SGA is hosting the Trick or Treat on the Paseo event on Halloween, with the UTSA police department also hosting a Trunk or Treat event the same day at Park West Athletics Complex from 6-9 p.m.
UTSA alumnus Zack Dunn will be making an appearance on Nov. 6 for the pizza with a changemaker event. While at the university, he was twice elected Student Body President, named Mr. UTSA and selected to be an Archer Fellow.
Student Success Day will take place on Nov. 12, where many university departments will be offering several different events including raffles, giveaways, music and more.
To end the meeting, the SGA board recognized Senator Sydney Self as the Senator of the Month for October.
For more information about any of these updates or to get involved with SGA, students are encouraged to contact their student representatives or email SGA at sga@utsa.edu.
During the weekend of Nov. 2, Muertos Festival will return to San Antonio in celebration of The Day of the Dead. The two-day event is free admission at Hemisfair Park and will be packed with local artisans and vendors of San Antonio. With over 80 altars on display, Muertos Fest invites the community to enjoy music and art that honors the loss of loved ones.
Apartment Complex Shooting
A man in his 20s was found in his apartment on the Northwest side of San Antonio near Fredericksburg Rd with an apparent gunshot wound. Officers responded to the scene at approximately 4 a.m. after they were called about a shooting at the complex. Officers arrived on the scene to find the caller uninjured and determined that the gunshots came from an adjacent apartment. Police encountered the victim and EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.
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By Jasmine Williams Copyediting Coordinator
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has extended the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) priority deadline to Feb. 15 for the 2025-2026 application cycle. TASFA is for Texas residents who cannot apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Students who are non-citizens or nonpermanent residents of the United States typically qualify as TASFA applicants. However, they should still contact the institution they plan to attend before starting the application process.
The overhaul of the TASFA and FAFSA during the 2024-2025 school year led to a three-month delay in the FAFSA’s release and significant complications. As a result, there was a 40% decrease in the percentage of high school seniors who completed
the FAFSA — most of which come from low-income, Black and Latino communities.
It is anticipated that the FAFSA will open Dec. 1 for the 2025-2026 application cycle. The TASFA will align with the FAFSA’s opening. The standard annual deadline is Jan. 15. Future aid cycles will revert to this date; however, it has not been specified when.
According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, “The priority deadline is neither a guarantee to receive funding if a student applies by the applicable date for the academic year nor is it a restriction to those that apply beyond the date. It is meant to encourage students to complete their application promptly to increase the likelihood of receiving state funding.”
To find updates about the TASFA and the FAFSA from UTSA, visit onestop.utsa.edu/financialaid/fafsatasfa-changes/.
Dustin Vickers/ The Paisano
OpiNION
Keep newspapers impartial
Texas newspapers endorse candidates ahead of general election
On Oct. 21, the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram Editorial Boards published a series of political endorsements in their Opinion sections, giving readers recommendations for who to support in the upcoming general election and providing their reasoning.
The Dallas Morning News gave recommendations for the U.S. Senate — endorsing Colin Allred over incumbent Ted Cruz — as well as Places 9-13 on the 5th Court of Appeals and the 3rd and 26th Congressional District seats. They also provided voting recommendations on the Dallas charter amendments and abstained from giving any about the Texas Senate.
The Telegram also endorsed Allred for the U.S. Senate and gave recommendations for the Fort Worth and Southwest Tarrant County seats in the Texas House of Representatives, the Texas Senate seat that covers the Parker and Collin counties, a seat in the Denton County District and Tarrant County’s sheriff and tax assessor.
The boards’ recommendations were presented with careful analysis and a thorough explanation of the candidate’s policies, put together with the aid of interviews and research. However, as an organization, a newspaper should never publish political endorsements because they compromise their journalistic integrity, provide candidates with free propaganda and take advantage of
their audience’s trust to influence their vote.
By publishing political endorsements directly from the editorial board, instead of individual opinion pieces, any news reporting they do in the future concerning the candidates and politics in question could be tainted by accusations of bias. Once people know that they, as an organization and united group of journalists, sway towards a specific side of the political spectrum or a candidate, readers will question why and how they write their news. Even if they claim that all editorial and opinion pieces are independent of the work in their newsroom — as the Telegram does — they have taken a blow to their credibility.
Rowdy Thoughts
Furthermore, that the entire editorial board was able to come together to make these political recommendations in the first place showcases a possible lack of diverse thought within the organization, which is not ideal for comprehensive reporting.
Already, Allred’s campaign and other news agencies are highlighting their endorsements, highlighting them as ‘Texas’ biggest newspapers’ and picking through their analyses to elevate Allred. Few people will read the original articles, especially considering both newspapers’ websites are behind a paywall — leaving readers and candidates to go off headlines and lines taken out of context. Allred and all other benefiting candidates have received a free-of-charge seal of approval from agencies with great influence within the state, and that is not correct. Both newspapers have a successful and long history in Texas, with Dallas Morning News having a wide reach beyond the confines of the city. They have a loyal audience that trusts and believes in them and is therefore more susceptible to the organization’s recommendations. The editorial boards have misused their trust by pushing a political agenda, no matter how well-researched it may be.
Endorsing candidates is something that should be left to individuals and political organizations. Newspapers and news reporting agencies have to remain impartial — at least at the leadership level.
How do you feel about freebirds on campus? How does it compare to freebirds off-campus? Interviews by
“It could be better. It’s kind of okay. Freebirds is kind of the bottom-tier of the buildyour-own burritos, right?
Last time I had Freebirds off-campus, it tasted like there [were] chemicals and I was kind of freaked out.”
“I think it’s way too expensive. I personally like a lot of toppings, and they charge $2 for potatoes. I can buy a burger somewhere else for that price. It’s just way better off-campus.”
“I’ve never actually been to a Freebirds off-campus. I’ve just been to the one here, and I think it’s great.”
“I love it. It’s so good. It’s like Chipotle, but a UTSA version. I’ve only had Freebirds off-campus, like one other time, and I think it’s like the same thing. It’s pretty good to me.”
“I really enjoy it. We have one that’s like fifteen minutes away from us. The staff is not really too good. They’re kind of rude. But here, I really enjoy everybody that really makes me feel like welcome whenever I go in in order.”
The truth Trump refuses to tell about mass deportation
Commentary
By Jasmine Williams
Copyediting Coordinator
The same man who wholeheartedly believed that Haitian migrants were eating cats and dogs also believes undocumented immigrants are on a sudden crime spree and should be deported from the country en masse. Former president Donald Trump has promised that he would deport the 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the U.S. if he is elected as president. This is an outright sinister promise he has pulled out of his rear in a desperate attempt to win the election, and he refuses to acknowledge the greater implications of doing so.
Trump has falsely claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris “let in 13,099 convicted murderers” to the U.S. during her time in office. This metric has been stripped entirely of its context and maliciously misconstrued.
A letter from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that there were “more than 600,000 noncitizens with criminal convictions or pending criminal charges – including about 13,000 convicted of homicide.” What Trump will not tell the public is that the data dates back 40 years and that the Department of Homeland Security clarified that many of the 13,000 are already imprisoned.
The crime spree that Trump alleges immigrants have gone on is blown out of proportion as well. In actuality, “U.S.born citizens were 10 times more likely than immigrants to be incarcerated for committing weapons-related offenses, five times more likely for violent offenses,
more than twice as likely for property crimes and nearly twice as likely for drug offenses,” according to a 2021 study from the U.S. Department of Justice.
The illusory truth effect has played a major role in the popularization of Trump’s blatant lies. “Repeated information is often perceived as more truthful than new information,” and Trump has lied about the criminal status of immigrants at least 575 times, the crime immigrants cause at least 185 times and murders committed by immigrants at least 235 times. Trump attributes his stance on immigration to what led him to win the 2016 election, so he is doubling down by lying incessantly about immigration to win this year’s election.
Another false claim Trump has made is that deporting 11 million people will be easy. “We are going to get [undocumented immigrants] out. And the police know who they are. They are known by law enforcement,” Trump said.
Local law enforcement has no way of knowing who is and who is not an undocumented immigrant. There are no lists of the names of undocumented immigrants; they do not have serial numbers either.
If anything, deporting millions of people will overload the criminal justice and immigration detention systems. Hundreds
of new detention facilities would need to be constructed and hundreds of thousands of new immigration agents, judges and staff would need to be hired. Should Trump get elected, he said he would authorize local law enforcement and the National Guard to conduct workplace raids where undocumented immigrants were suspected of being. He would effectively turn the U.S. into a surveillance state where the government would be constantly monitoring its population to hunt down those who are noncitizens.
It was estimated that deporting one person cost $19,599; deporting 11 million undocumented immigrants would cost hundreds of billions in taxpayer dollars. Meanwhile, it was found that “undocumented immigrants paid $96.7 billion in U.S. taxes in 2022, including $59.4 billion in payments to the federal government and $37.3 billion in payments to states and localities.”
On top of that, undocumented immigrant labor accounts for 10-18% of the workforce in the agriculture, construction, leisure and hospitality industries. Deporting them would mean dramatic reductions in industry output, nationwide shortages and significant increases in prices for goods and services from those industries.
Trump has grown entirely too desperate to win this election. He has admitted that talk of less divisive topics than immigration will bore his audiences, and so he is resorting to deception to gain political support. Mass deportation of hardworking people who support the economy and are less likely to commit crimes is not what this country needs; it needs the truth.
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer Commentary
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By Maria Wence Staff Writer Commentary
Chapel Ike Kristen Isaiah Giovanni
Philip Murphy/The Paisano Dallas Morning News
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Curing antisocialan
Commentary
By Jake Mireles Editor-in-Chief
Three guys walk into a bar. Except, the bar is empty. Actually, there is no bar anymore; it never recovered from COVID-19, and closed due to increasing labor costs. Those three guys — and many members of their community — lost their usual hangout place. The three guys drift apart, and eventually never speak to each other again. Funny joke, right?
Unfortunately, this is the sad reality for many Americans. According to the National Library of Medicine, many small businesses, including bars, restaurants, coffee shops, libraries and parks, have closed across the country. These places, while seemingly mundane and ordinary, represent an essential pillar of a healthy society that tends to go overlooked: third places.
While the decline of third places was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, their fall started long before then. For about a decade, the amount of time that people spend with friends has declined. According to Insider, “For decades, Americans reported spending about 6.5 hours a week with friends. But from 2014 to 2019, it suddenly dropped by 37%, to four hours a week.”
Whenever people spend less time with friends, they have less of a reason to go out and patronize these businesses. This has not only led to a struggling small business market but also an increasingly antisocial society.
To put it simply, Americans are becoming more isolated. Increasing cost of living, social distancing, working from home and social media have given the public plenty of excuses to avoid social settings — and many are taking advantage. The effects of this increase in isolation can already be seen. In an interview with PBS, Laurie Santos, a cognitive scientist and psychology professor at Yale University, poses the idea that America is becoming a lonely nation.
AI is not to blame for teen suicide
Commentary
By Luna Infante Interim Marketing Manager
As digital dependence increases and time rises, the connection between humanity and AI is brushing the lines of danger. In February, a teenager in Florida took his life after months of having concerning conversations with a Character.AI chatbot. Sewell Setzer III was only 14, and he was displaying a dangerous attachment to an AI bot in the months leading to his death, according to his mother Megan Garcia.
According to the CEO of Mostly Human Media, Laurie Segall, Character. AI can be seen “as an AI fantasy platform where you can go and have a conversation with some of your favorite characters, or you can create your own characters.” This is dangerous to those who struggle with socialization. Platforms like Character.
AI have the potential to replace human relationships, especially for people like Setzer, who battled mental health issues.
Setzer’s mother has since then filed a lawsuit against Character.AI, the platform Setzer was using to have conversations with a chatbot known as “Dany.” According to CBS, she claims that Dany “encouraged her son to take his own life.” Garcia found conversations between Setzer and Dany, saying that their artificial relationship had become emotional and sexual.
The New York Times revealed their disturbing final conversation.
OpiNION
Top five best moons in the Solar System Commentary
By Marisela Cruz Staff Writer
Frank Sinatra once sang, “Fly me to the moon,” but now anyone on Earth can ask “Which moon do you want to go to, Frank?” Since there is a new moon in orbit this Fall accompanying the Moon. According to NPR, the new moon is actually an asteroid spanning 33 feet long
and was first spotted in South Africa. The “mini-moon” is now named 2024 PT5 and will only be in Earth’s orbit for a short period of time. Good things can not last forever, so it will be nice to admire 2024 PT5 while Earth has it. But of course, this is not the best moon to come around. Here are the top five best moons in the solar system.
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Slow and steady saves lives
Commentary By Khoi Nguyen Contributor
In San Antonio, where traffic is already bad, raising the speed limit is a poorly thought-out solution to alleviate transportation issues. Increasing the speed limit may appear to be simple to implement and regulate, but upon further inspection, the consequences presented by the move deem it ineffective and dangerous.
For starters, raising the speed limit by 10-15 miles per hour does little to save time. Mathematically, as cars travel faster, increases in speed are less significant in reducing how long it takes to get from point A to B. Traveling 10 miles at 85 mph as opposed to 70 mph shaves off a little under a minute, and that does not take into consideration congestion, stop lights and road diversions that already limit speed. So what about areas that are not as fast? The answer to that question ends in dire consequences. Sure, raising the speed limit in residential areas will save far more time. Going from 30 mph to 60 mph in a neighborhood means drivers save twice as much time, but it also means a higher likelihood they will shorten that of pedestrians as well. The convenience of faster travel simply does not justify the heightened risk of accidents, which, in addition to deaths, can often mean more congestion that impedes travel.
Continuing on the theme of backward logic, cars are not built to function optimally at extreme speeds. Tires sand themselves into obsolescence, gas is chugged and batteries are overtaxed. These come at a cost to both the driver and the earth. They mean more refueling, more
maintenance repairs and ultimately more spending that could have been prevented in the first place. Additionally, the current condition of the planet demands a reduction in greenhouse gasses, a directive that faster driving outright contradicts as gas consumption and CO2 output rise with higher speeds.
San Antonio has a transportation problem that needs to be resolved; however, the solution does not lie in increasing speed limits. Residents need smarter and safer solutions, not faster ones. Expanding public transportation and improving road infrastructure not only achieves more efficient travel but also offers strategic benefits to San Antonio’s development. If planners and residents are serious about solving the city’s transportation issues, then they should start there instead of speeding to conclusions.
How many biopics does Hollywood need?
By Valentina Quintanilla Contributor Commentary
The lack of creativity in Hollywood can be seen through the manufacturing of biopics as an easy way to success. This trend has been evident since the release of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a biopic that created a breakthrough that preceded the avalanche of movies from this genre in the following years.
The biopic genre in film, which is a dramatized, and in some cases an exaggerated story of someone’s life, has been present in Hollywood for a long time. Recently, it has been more evident that the industry has been overworking this genre due to the success of films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street,” “American Sniper,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” among other high-grossing movies that had a big break worldwide in the box office.
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Although the success of said genre is undeniable, it has become monotonous and tedious to see the trend incessantly reappear with no space between releases. It leaves the audience wondering if filmmakers are motivated by the actual art of retelling someone’s life, or if it is just for the easy access to success that biopics give filmmakers with a story that was already written.
In the upcoming years, filmmakers are set to release at least 10 known biopics,
which shows the growth of this genre in Hollywood. The success of “Bohemian Rhapsody” in a way has influenced filmmakers into the production of more films like these,
especially those telling the story of popular and historical musical figures like Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, decline of originality in Hollywood has led to the speculation that filmmakers do not want to risk making films that may not make as much money as directing an already existing story of a person’s life. Biopics have a set target audience, which are mostly fans of said person, hence making them an easy way to market a film with minimal effort.
Filmmakers are afraid of failure; therefore, making movies about people who marked history in some way seems like the easiest, and most effective way of making their film a money-making success. Hollywood needs to support new ideas and believe in the creative freedom of screenwriters, to create films that will break the trend overall.
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arts & life
Doo-wop to hip hop, this Antique mall’s got it all
Poised on the corner of East Travis Street and Broadway in historic downtown San Antonio, a building frozen in time transports visitors to a bygone era the minute they lay eyes upon it.
Alamo Antique Mall is home to many unique things that can only belong in a time before ours. They sell a variety of artifacts from genuine fine china sets to real Victorian furniture. From antique Coke signs to just about every vinyl album, Alamo Antique Mall has it all.
”[Alamo Antique Mall] was inherited,” owner Linda Brantley said. “It was my mother’s childhood passion to own and run a business, she always loved antiques because she came from Europe.”
The story of this iconic shop starts in the 1800s. Two brothers immigrated to Galveston from Ireland to start their piano business. One brother moved out to San Antonio and bought the soon-tobe antique store. Following his exit in the 1920s, the building would be bought by Paul Anderson Office Supplies. There, the
people of San Antonio could furnish their offices, get stationery prints and stock up on general office supplies until 1992 — when Alamo Antique Mall moved in.
Since its opening, the store has become a staple of San Antonio’s rich downtown culture. It has over 20 dealers that keep its inventory fresh and full of new treasures, with one in particular standing out from the rest.
“I have over 20 dealers, dealers meaning they rent space and feed it by bringing their merchandise. They come every two weeks to update their stock and so I have great dealers that definitely supply the store with great merchandise,” Brantley said.
Nestled on the third floor of Alamo Antique Mall rests one of the most vast record stores in San Antonio. Alamo Antique Records, operated by dealer Will Day, is home to one of the most diverse record collections you will ever see. From 50s doo-wop classics like Johnny Ace and Elvis Presley to 90’s anthems such as Mariah Carey, Alamo Antique Records
I have a theory that you’d like this coffee
By Octavio Flores-Chasnoff Contributor
On the busy corner of Nacogdoches and Loop 410, stand four small food trailers on the lot of a former Texaco gas station, which is now dubbed the “Flavor Corner.” Small signs point drivers to a burger stand, a churro stand or a Mexican food truck. However, the true standout of the Flavor Corner is Theory Coffee.
Ever since its opening in February 2015, Theory Coffee has become a community favorite in the Oak Park and Northwood neighborhoods of Alamo city. Every morning, a line of eager customers quickly develops — ready to choose from a succinct menu consisting of locally-roasted, specialty espresso drinks and a selection of pastries.
The community-oriented aspect of Theory Coffee truly stands out. People do not just stop on their morning commutes; they stay, and the location turns into a community hub. Every morning the shop is the intersection between dog walkers, families and friends who meet up and slow down, spending time talking and truly enjoying their cup of joe.
would haul [the truck] out, set up, serve, tear down and haul it away,” Vollmer said.
Theory Coffee has only been a permanent fixture of the Flavor Corner since May of 2022, which required a complete revamping of the gas station property.
“There wasn’t water in this intersection. We ran sanitation, so no sewage. We did all that, which is a big thing, but also was a project that needed to happen to avoid burnout from hauling the trailer like every day,” he later commented.
Despite these challenges, Vollmer exclaimed that running Theory Coffee out of a trailer has actually been “overwhelmingly positive” for the business overall. This was especially evident during the COVID-19 Pandemic, where many small businesses had trouble staying afloat.
“Being open-air… was a positive thing. During that time, people felt safer just being outside and not going into a shop,” said Vollmer.
has everything one’s ears will crave.
“I like to learn about different artists, and discover new songs,” Day said. “In ‘03, I had a problem with the people I was with, and the woman who owned that store knew the woman who owns this place so I started moving out. It took two weeks, two guys and three to $4,000 to move all those records down just one block.”
During the move, Day would start his battle with leukemia. He would go on to undergo four rounds of chemotherapy while moving over 100,000 records to his new suite.
“In the middle of the move, I started getting short of breath and I knew something was wrong,” he said. “So I went down to Methodist and I had leukemia. I had to take four chemos, I lost all my hair and had weird dreams, but finally, I got out after the fourth chemo and thankfully it didn’t relapse. But that was a rough thing, moving and coming down with leukemia in the middle of a move of this magnitude.”
Fortunately, Day would survive his
battle with cancer and successfully complete his move onto the third floor of the mall. Talk to Day himself and listen to all of his incredible stories right there on the third floor, or talk to Brantley and the rest of her staff and hear the amazing antique stories they have to tell.
“I have to give it to the customers; they’re the ones that keep this store alive,” she said. “It’s a great building. It’s a great store. We have three floors so there’s lots to look at. It’s a big mall so you’re never bored, and there’s always something for a child, man, woman, everything.”
Alamo Antique Mall is located at 125 Broadway St. They are open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From Victorian bed sets to World War II memorabilia, and from vintage Time Magazines to toys from the 1930s, take a step back in time at Alamo Antique Mall. It is definitely the place to see it all.
Marigold and Mariposas at Muertos Fest
By Christopher Delgado Staff Writer
Día de los Muertos commemorates the culture existing between the living and the dead. Traditionally, the celebration occurs over two days: Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. This past weekend, Hemisfair Park hosted the 12th annual Muertos Fest.
The owner, Mark Vollmer, is often seen roaming around the outdoor seating area, talking with regulars and wiping down tables. Mark described many of the pros and cons of running a “micro-business” out of a trailer.
“For about seven and a half years, I
Overall, the future is bright for Theory Coffee. Construction is ongoing at the Flavor Corner, where they are looking to increase the number of permanent food trucks, and Theory Coffee plans to be a permanent fixture. “I feel like, at this point, it’s a feel-good thing for us to know that we’re embedded in the community,” said Mark when asked about future plans. With delicious coffee and a great community atmosphere, it is no wonder Theory Coffee continues to be so successful.
The festival offered a space for vendors to sell food, knick-knacks, art prints and apparel. Drink stands sprinkled throughout the festival grounds ensured patrons could hydrate in the hot weather. Some popular foods served at the festival included chicken on a stick, elote and flautas in a cup.
As festival-goers enjoyed their food, they could peruse the altars dedicated to loved ones, victims of violence and celebrities. In one of the music venues stood an altar memorializing the Queen of Tejano, Selena Quintanilla.
An altar created by los luceros de Janitzio stood out amongst the crowds. The
altar honored loved ones who had passed. Built to mimic an Aztec pyramid with a cathedral on the top, the altar paid homage to two aspects of culture: heritage and religion. The cathedral featured stained glass images of la Virgen de Guadalupe. A serpent entangled the pyramid and emitted fog every so often. The extravagance of the piece made it worthy of first place in the festival’s altar.
In service of a parade, police erected barricades and stopped the flow of foot traffic. Certain festival goers walked with banners and music in tow. The signs noted who the parade participants walked in remembrance of. The first group performed a Conchero dance in honor of those lost to genocide. Another party celebrated the lives of their family with giant dancing calaveras.
The 12th annual Muertos Fest served as a coming together of the community. It provided an opportunity for reflection, remembrance and celebration.
By Daniel Botello Staff Writer
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Arts & Life
Punk
is back … and it’s in Melbourne
By Sarah Quintanilla Graphic Artist
The renaissance of punk in its full essence has been long awaited, so Amy Taylor had to take matters into her own hands. Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Amyl and the Sniffers released “Cartoon Darkness,” an album full of rage that voices the frustrations of living in modern times.
The album starts with the lead single, “Jerkin.” The track has a copious amount of swear words, but it is such a powerful start to the album with rampageous guitars and potent drumming.
Bikini Kill comes to mind when listening to “Chewing Gum,” the next song on the album. It sticks in one’s mind after the first listen, inspiring one to join a band and belt the anger out in messy rock arrangements.
The guitar in “Tiny Bikini” confirms the album is front-loaded, with hit after hit playing. A mixture of Debbie Harry and Kathleen Hanna is thought of with the satirical vocals and the parodying lyrics of Taylor that speak on the right to wear whatever she wants without being criticized by men.
“Big Dreams” sounds like a Hole anthem, with Courtney Love-esque vocals in a somewhat slow song about the frustration that comes with following dreams. “It’s Mine” contrasts the previous track with strident guitars and wrathful vocals. It is a fast-paced song that inspires headbanging and moshpits, going into an abrupt ending and picking up with an equally fast song, titled “Motorbike Song.” A punk song in its purest form; the kick drum smashes through the kit, and the echoing
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vocals work perfectly with the rage-filled guitar playing. A 1980s rock influence is heard through the riff of “Doing In Me Head.” Taylor potently sings in the
strumming of the heartbreak song, followed by “U Should Not Be Doing That,” released previously as a single of the band.
guitar slides through the strings in a perplexing solo, going into a sudden stop followed by “Bailing on Me.” Taylor’s vocals blast through the
Amalia Mesa-Bains’ ‘Archaeology of Memory’
By Cora White Staff Writer
“Archaeology of Memory” is an exhibit that is sure to not only entice and excite the viewer’s mind but also their other senses. It is an aromatic, botanical experience showcasing the journeys, hardships and beauty of Chicana women through ghostly imagery, de-constructed ofrendas and so much more. Amalia Mesa-Bains is a Chicana artist with over 50 years of experience creating moving pieces that lift up and revitalize Chicano culture. She takes her inspiration from her grandmother, sister, mother and other Chicana artists like her early art teacher, Yolanda Garfias Woo.
Immediately when walking into the exhibit, one notices the air is infused with an aroma akin to lavender and sage, which later is explained by the floors filled with herbs, lining frames, models and sculptures. The plants and herbs are used to represent and draw attention to her Mexican heritage paying homage to their healing properties and uses throughout Mexican history. This sensory experience engages viewers on more and different levels than typical artwork, entertaining not one but two senses and strengthening the artist’s overall message.
A big theme throughout all of her works featured in this exhibit is the theme of womanhood through the eyes of religion and the patriarchy. Pieces such as a glass case filled with communion and baptism dresses surrounded by skeletons and dead petals indicate the idea of purity culture and the oppression women face and are forced to uphold in religious settings. Pieces in this exhibit surrounding communion — including mixed media such as clothing, objects, mirrors and petals — are part of “Venus Envy Chapter 1: First Holy Communion, Moments Before the End” which ranged from 1993 to 2022. Themes in this section include the historical context surrounding the Catholic Church and its effect on Mexican culture
as well as how these traditions specifically limit Catholic Mexican girls. The pieces in this section delve into the archetypes of the nun, the bride and the virgin, exploring what they mean to women and their effect on their roles in society.
Something seen in almost all pieces in this exhibit is the use of mirrors; it is particularly fascinating to think about if these mirrors are meant for the viewer to see themselves in the pieces or if the mirrors are more of a reflection and look into the bigger message. Perhaps it is both, as the mirrors include almost ghostly images of the artist, her mother and her grandmother. Women like Frida Kahlo and other historical figures are also included, indicating that women, prominent or not, are often overlooked or looked past, their recognition denied.
The mirror also plays another role in larger pieces like “The Vanity Table,” which is a large vanity with a mirror facing out; the mirror includes another ghostly image, this time showcasing an Aztec sculpture of the feminine deity Coaticule. Mesa-Bains hoped to celebrate her culture while also drawing attention to pro-feminist foremothers and powerful female, gender-defying goddesses and deities. The table includes many religious items like a small sculpture of a nun and the Virgin Mary. It is also decorated with dazzling beads, flowers, lace, pearls and many more feminine elements.
Throughout this exhibit, Mesa-Bains’ work combines elements and ideas including religion, family, tradition, immigration, femininity and so much more. These ideas are used to deconstruct and explore the effect this society and its norms have on women, particularly Catholic Chicana women. “Archaeology of Memory” is on exhibition at the San Antonio Museum of Arts from Sept. 20 until Jan. 12, 2025. General admission for adults is $22, with no additional charge to enter this exhibit, and UTSA students get in for free.
The transition is insane. Angular vocals snap back at the criticism Taylor faced when using unconventional routes to bring the band to success. She does not care about the unwritten and methodical rules of being a woman in the industry, and that is the most punk thing someone can ever do.
The next song “Do It Do It,” is a lyrical continuation to the last song that sounds like the theme of a show. The echoing vocals of “Going Somewhere” are enjoyable. It is slower than the other songs, yet still very energetic, although it has to be the weakest link on the album.
The final song, “Me and The Girls,” has robotic vocals and Aussie accents blaring through the song. The lyrics have a Riot Grrrl essence, commenting on women’s rights and men’s wrongs. Although the message is commanding by itself, it is a weak ending for such a musically furious album, which concludes in a sudden halt that leaves the listener wanting another song.
Overall, Amyl and the Sniffers are breaking through an industry of indie and pop sounds, bringing back the raw power of 80s punk rock and Riot Grrrl sounds into mainstream media. The album has raging vocals and powerful lyrics, encompassing the anger of not knowing what the future will bring with the collective fear of criticism and the illusion of having a voice in online media.
Not so terrifying
By Malaki Lingg Arts & Life Editor
Amalia Mesa - Bains: Guadalupe Twins in Venus Envy, Chapter III: Cihuatlampa, 1997; Giclee print; 14 x 36 in.; courtesy of the artist and Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco.
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Roadrunners outrun the bulls
UTSA volleyball breaks school record with 23 in single game
By Bailey Hall Staff Writer
UTSA volleyball defeated University of South Florida 3-2 on Sunday at the Convocation Center. Roadrunners’ (8-15, 2-8 AAC) strong defense drove them to a hard-fought five-set victory.
UTSA narrowly won the first set with a two-point victory. After losing the second set, the ‘Runners came back and stole the third set. The Bulls (12-9, 8-2 AAC) pushed the game into a fifth set; UTSA held them at a 6-0 lead in set five and won the game 25-23, 25-10, 25-19, 25-21, 15-7.
“We can’t control who shows up and who doesn’t; we can’t control what refs we get,” coach Carol Price-Torok said. “We just have to make sure we are doing what we need to do. Today, after that second set, we very easily could have been like, ‘Oh well, they are better than us,’ but we made some adjustments, people stepped up and they continued to grind. We have been preaching that all year; just stay the course, trust each other and believe. We got one against a really good team today.”
UTSA trailed behind South Florida in the middle of the first set. The Bulls took a six point lead but the ‘Runners made a comeback.
Sophomore libero Peyton Turner served for the second time. South Florida received the ball and set middle blocker Imani Hartfield up for the kill, but senior middle blocker Alicia Coppedge read the play and blocked the kill. Bulls took the ball back, but were out of formation. A back-and-forth at the net between Hartfield and Coppedge gave the ball to the
UTSA surrenders 28-point lead in loss to Tulsa
Golden Hurricane spoil McCown’s career day
By Rylan Renteria Assistant Sports Editor
Despite a record breaking performance from sophomore quarterback Owen McCown, The University of Tulsa defeated UTSA 46-45 on Saturday at H.A. Chapman Stadium.
After scoring a season-high 35 points in the first half, the Roadrunners (3-5, 1-3 AAC) were out scored 39-10 in the second half as the Golden Hurricane (3-5, 1-3 AAC) took advantage of a banged up UTSA defense. McCown and the offense ran out of steam as the game progressed and could not produce the game winning score on their final possession.
“We lost momentum and never could get it back,” coach Jeff Traylor said. “They kept making play after play and we couldn’t respond. That’s about as good as we can play in one half and we didn’t play very well in the second half.”
The UTSA offense found the endzone on its first possession. Senior running back Robert Henry Jr. accounted for 31 total yards on the scoring drive, which ended with McCown finding senior tight end Oscar Cardenas for a 9-yard screen pass touchdown.
Following six consecutive punts from both teams, UTSA found the endzone once again, this time a 69-yard bomb from McCown to senior wide receiver Chris Carpenter. This is the longest touchdown pass McCown has thrown since arriving at UTSA.
At the top of the second quarter, McCown found junior tight end Dan Dishman over the middle of the field for a 23-yard touchdown, giving UTSA a 21-0 lead.
Tulsa scored its first and only points of the half on its next possession; backup quarterback Cooper Legas found running back Bill Jackson for a 31-yard score.
UTSA responded immediately after, with Henry Jr. scoring his second touchdown of the season with a 9-yard scamper to the right edge of the end zone. Before the half ended, UTSA senior
linebacker Jamal Ligon stripped Legas and the ball bounced into the hands of freshman defensive lineman Daemian Wimberly. Wimberly walked into the endzone for the score. With the momentum on their side, the Roadrunners took their foot off the gas, and paid the price in the second half.
On UTSA’s second possession of the half, McCown was stripped by Tulsa defensive lineman Vontroy Malone. The ball was scooped up and taken 35 yards into the endzone.
The Golden Hurricane cut deeper into their deficit a few minutes later with a 37-yard field goal from kicker Seth Morgan.
Trying to fend off the comeback, the UTSA offense marched down the field in under three minutes and scored. McCown, evading the Tulsa pass rush, escaped the pocket and found senior wide receiver Willie McCoy Jr. for a 5-yard passing touchdown.
Tulsa responded by scoring on its next two possessions. Legas found receiver Kamdyn Benjamin for a 74-yard touchdown and then connected with running back Viron Ellison Jr. for a 4-yard score.
UTSA, after allowing back-to-back scoring drives, watched its 28-point lead shrink to 10 with 14 minutes remaining in the game.
Legas led back-to-back touchdown drives and found Benjamin twice for 20-yard and 4-yard touchdown passes, respectively.
McCown notched a career high four touchdown passes and broke former quarterback Frank Harris’ single game passing yardage record with 434 in the loss. UTSA tied the school record for sacks and tackles for loss with seven and 14, respectively. Sophomore tight end Houston Thomas also enjoyed a career day, leading all UTSA receivers in yards with 132. Carpenter recorded his first 100-yard game of his career against Tulsa and UTSA remains winless on the road in 2024.
UTSA will next face University of Memphis at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.
Freshman outside hitter Martina Franco saved the ball and junior outside hitter Caroline Krueger went for the kill. The ball was dug up by South Florida. The Bulls went for another attack, outside hitter Ally Cavanaugh tapped the ball over UTSA’s block. Junior opposite hitter Mia Soerensen dug the ball and sent it to freshman setter Morgen Durgens. Durgens set the ball for Krueger; she found a hole in South Florida’s defense and took advantage of it. Krueger took a shot for the middle of the court, she got the point for the Roadrunners and tied the score 21-21.
The second set, the Bulls rammed through the UTSA defense and went on an eight point run. The ‘Runners could not stop South Florida and lost the set.
UTSA did not let the second set discourage them, the Roadrunners blocked many of South Florida’s attacks and stopped them from going on long runs. The Bulls took a quick lead in the third set, but the ‘Runners closed the gap and took the lead to win the set.
UTSA went on a 6-0 run at the beginning of the fifth set. South Florida setter Tatiana Johnson served; Krueger received the ball and sent it to Durgens. Durgens found sophomore middle blocker Kai Bailey and set for her. The Bulls went to block Bailey but she attacked through their block and got the kill.
Coppedge broke the school record for individual blocks in a game with 13. The previous record was held by current sophomore middle hitter Miranda Putnicki who had 12 against The University of Memphis last season. UTSA also broke the record for team blocks in a game with 23.
“Communication between me and the pins was amazing,” Coppedge said. “I really think the pins came in and they stepped up and helped me. The whole time I didn’t think there was going to be a time where I was going to be up alone. It really helped with my confidence.”
Hartfield and Bailey were fifth and sixth in the AAC for hitting percentage. With the win, Bailey has moved up to fifth with .337 and Hartfield has dropped to sixth with .330.
UTSA will play Tulane University at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse.
Brandon Brown - Athlete of the week
By Izabella Hernandez Staff Writer
UTSA football will now be coming up on week nine of the 2024 football season with an overall record of 3-5. Leading member of the defense, with 15 total season tackles is defensive lineman, Brandon Brown. Brown is currently a senior at UTSA majoring in multidisciplinary studies. Although he graduated from Morton Ranch High School in Katy, Texas, Brown is originally from New Orleans and spent the majority of his youth growing up there. Around eighth grade Brown and his family moved to Texas following Hurricane Katrina.
The first organized sport Brown ever played was basketball. He began playing football at a young age for fun in the school yard and soon, through encouragement from the community, began taking the sport more seriously.
“I never played organized football until fourth grade, when the coach that recruited me got me on my little league team,” Brown said. “Ever since he got me right that year when I was in fourth grade, I never wanted to play anything else. It was just football ever since then.”
“My coach, he had brought me up. His son found me during recess. We were playing touch football outside and his son told him about me. He was like ‘We gotta get this guy on our team.’ Then they pulled up to my house, cause I stayed maybe less than half a
mile away from the school, and he was like ‘I don’t care what you saying, we gotta get him in football.’ My dad had never really seen me play. I was just out there having fun, that’s how it is when you’re a kid. So with a little physical training over the summer, he had got me right as far as being able to hit and take hits and be tough. He got me right in the rear aspect of football and then yeah just made me a ball player. It had a major impact on my life. I’m pretty much built off of football.”
Exiting high school, Brown became a big recruit in the area. While most people who dream of playing collegiate sports hope to catch the eye of major schools and programs, most people do not experience the true chaos that is the recruitment process.
“I pretty much had about 27 offers or scholarships,” Brown said. “I had every big school coming to my high school to check me out. It was just kind of hectic, having all those schools and coaches wanting to talk to you every day, and then you’re getting pulled out of class. I got pulled out of class every day to go talk to a coach, no matter what period, if it’s the first, second or third period or later in the day. Whenever the coach gets there they would call me down to the office. I liked it because I knew they were tryna recruit me but it was just hectic. Hectic getting pulled out of class every day that was really it.”
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Ice Birds build a fanbase from scratch and rally the rink
By Jake Mireles Editor-in-Chief
Some say that a team is only as strong as its fanbase. Home field advantage wouldn’t be the formidable factor in sports that it is without the passion of fans. For the club hockey team, cultivating a fanbase has been a historic struggle — one that contributed to the club going defunct in 2013. However, the club hockey team is back and better than ever. Their newfound popularity wouldn’t be possible without dedication behind the scenes from a lesser-known organization: The Ice Birds.
Similar to the majority of the UTSA student body, the founding members of the Ice Birds didn’t know that UTSA had a club hockey team. Social Media and Standards Officer Nariah Bustos, Vice President Paulina Gonzales and President Leah Caldaron stumbled across the team while working as resident assistants for UTSA Housing.
The trio started attending games to support the Vice President of the UTSA hockey club, Joshua LeComte, who was also an RA at the time. They would often be the only fans in the stands, cheering on a team with a relatively non-existent fanbase.
“We started noticing that the team itself was so new that obviously they didn’t have any fans yet,”
Gonzales said. “So we were their fans, even if it was two or three of us.” Soon, the trio, along with Director of Hockey Operations Camila Rhode, started assisting the team with behind-thescenes work essential to the hockey club’s existence. Then, the founding members decided to officially form the Ice Birds in
[operating] under the hockey team.”
It was important to the executive board that the name for the organization was gender-ambiguous, as all fans of the hockey club are encouraged to participate. The Ice Birds got their name from newly-elected Spirit of the Roadrunner Alessandro Espinosa, who commented on the idea on an Instagram post. After months of searching, the name stuck. the organization grew to include 15 members, the Ice Birds have taken over a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to essential team operations. The Ice Birds took over a lot of the game-day operations of the hockey club, managing the ticket sales and ensuring that the players had everything they needed main goal is to promote them,” Rhode said. “As a group, we wanted them to be able to focus on the game rather than the operations on game day or setting up fundraisers, whatever it may be. We wanted to be a support system for them.”
The Ice Birds also manage the team’s social media, handle game promotion and organize fundraisers to support the hockey club.
“The other day, we had our ‘Pie a Player’ fundraiser.
UTSA baseball holds intrasquad Fall World Series
By Rylan Renteria
Assistant Sports Editor
The UTSA baseball orange team defeated the blue team 7-3 in a seven inning bout on Saturday at Roadrunner Field.
After sparring all throughout Fall camp, the climactic conclusion of the team’s hard work would come in the form of the Fall World Series. While winning is always encouraged, the point of the series is to see how the team has progressed up to this point. Coach Pat Hallmark returns to the diamond for the first time since spring as he tries to gauge his team’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We’re trying to play good defense,” Hallmark said. “Today was not perfect defense but it was acceptable defense, that’s been the theme this fall. We’ve pitched well, we’ve hit a little bit up-and-down but that’s just the
nature of hitting. We are trying to improve on defense.”
Both teams rolled out returning players on the mound. Team blue started senior pitcher
Conor Myles and team orange sent out senior pitcher Braylon Owens.
“Braylon Owens looks good,” Hallmark said of who stood out to him throughout the fall.
“We’re going to need him.”
Team orange drew first blood in the top of the first inning and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second with a solo home run from senior catcher Lorenzo Morresi.
Team blue responded in the bottom of the second with an RBI single from senior catcher Andrew Stucky, who was brought in a few plays later to tie the game up at 2-2.
Senior utility Broc Parmer blew the game open with a two-run home run. An RBI double from junior utility James Taussig added a few more runs and team orange exited the top of the
UTSA golf’s top performers
By Alejandra Garza Distribution Manager
As UTSA women’s and men’s golf fall season has come to an end, players from both teams have shown achievements in their academic and athletic performances. Here are the top four players in UTSA’s golf program.
Men’s Golf
Kaelen Dulany
A sophomore transfer from the University of Arkansas had a tremendous season with UTSA. Before joining the Roadrunners, Dulany was chosen as one of the top high school golfers in Texas by Golfweek. At the Valero Texas Collegiate, Dulany had the most birdies in the round, totaling at 10. During the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational in Biloxi, Mississippi he finished with a low total score of 218 and tied for 23rd place. Dulany’s finish helped UTSA climb two spots, making the ‘Runners seventh place overall.
Logan Zurn
The junior from Grapevine, Texas and transfer from Midland College slowly settled into playing for UTSA. Zurn started the season off competing as an individual in the Valero Texas Collegiate, placing 90th in two rounds. He progressed through the fall, earning his season best at the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational, where he tied for 27th with a total score of 219.
Women’s Golf
Daniela Abonce
The junior from Veracruz, Mexico started at UTSA and showed enormous potential for the ‘Runners. In the 202223 season, Abonce was only a freshman who tied for 15th in the Conference USA Championship. She was also the 2024 American Athletic Conference individual champion. For this season, Abonce played her best at the Badger Invitational which she tied for third with a total score of 217. The last tournament of the season UTSA competed in, Abonce recorded her season best score of 67 in the Jim West Challenge.
Morgan Ellison
The senior from Peachtree City, Georgia started at UTSA with her freshman year landing her Conference USA Commissioner‘s Academic Medal. During Ellison’s junior year, she tied for 13th place in the Sam Gold Invitational with a total score of 209. The first round of this invitational she fired a 2-under-par (67). In her senior year, Ellison tied for 27th place with a total score of 216 in the Jim West Challenge.
The UTSA men’s golf team will kick off their spring season on Feb. 2nd in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico at the Vaqueros Intercollegiate hosted by University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. The women’s team spring schedule is soon to be announced.
flared after the conclusion of the inning, but things calmed down quickly after Hallmark called for a team meeting.
“Some of the players take this pretty seriously,” Hallmark said of his team’s intensity. “They don’t like losing and it gets a little chirpy sometimes. We’re all a little competitive. There’s a certain line you don’t want to cross and I don’t think they crossed it. We’re competitive people and if you’re going to over-achieve you’re going to need competitive people.” UTSA baseball will next face Navarro College at 2 p.m. Friday at Roadrunner Field.
Three AAC stars vie for a Becky Hammon semifinal
By Aramis Santiago Staff Writer
Three of the American Athletic Conference’s most promising players — DeeDee Hagemann from Memphis, Delanie Crawford from Tulsa and UTSA’s Jordyn Jenkins — have been named to the Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List. This recognition places them in the spotlight not only within the AAC but across the national stage, as each player brings something distinctive to the competition.
Hagemann’s arrival at Memphis, after a successful career at Michigan State, has added a new level of depth and playmaking to the Tigers.
Last season, she averaged 12.3 points and 5.2 assists per game, leading the Big Ten with a 2.84 assist-to-turnover ratio while guiding the Spartans to their first NCAA Tournament since 2021. Now at Memphis, Hagemann’s composure and control on the court bring maturity and stability to the Tigers’ offense. Though new to the AAC, her years of Big Ten experience will allow her to transition seamlessly. If she maintains her scoring and playmaking efficiency, Hagemann is a formidable contender, though her first year in the AAC presents a challenge as she finds her footing with a new team.
Crawford’s impact on Tulsa’s program is equally impressive. Last season, the senior guard broke Tulsa’s single-season three-point record with 99 shots from beyond the arc and averaged 19.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Crawford established herself as one of the most versatile scorers, posting double digits in 33 of 35 games, with 15 games over 20 points and three games exceeding 30 points. Coach Angie Nelp’s offensive system, emphasizing floor spacing and open shots, has allowed Crawford to thrive as a sharpshooter while
spot
developing her driving and finishing abilities. With her consistency and a team designed to amplify her strengths, Crawford is positioned as another strong contender for the Becky Hammon award.
While Hagemann and Crawford are impressive in their own right, Jenkins’ blend of experience and two-way ability makes her the AAC’s best candidate to secure a spot on the semifinalist list. Although an injury limited her early last season, she quickly found her form, averaging 17.1 points and 6.8 rebounds over 12 games, with a sharp 47.9% field goal percentage. Jenkins’ precision shooting, particularly from mid-range and around the rim, consistently stretches defenses and provides the Roadrunners with a dependable scoring anchor. On the defensive end, Jenkins was a critical piece of a Roadrunners squad that posted 4.6 blocks per game and 6.5 steals per game, showcasing her ability to disrupt opponents while enhancing UTSA’s presence in the paint.
Ferrari overtakes Red Bull in championship fight
By Marcela Montufar Soria Opinion Editor
Round 20 of this year’s Formula One season took place on Sunday in Mexico City at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
After 71 laps that saw three
season, having previously won in Australia and having qualified on pole position on Saturday. Lando Norris from McLaren finished P2 after starting from P3. Sainz’ teammate, Charles Leclerc, rounded up the podium in P3 after starting P4. Leclerc also got the fastest lap of the race in lap 71 with a time of
This is the second consecutive win for Ferrari, with Leclerc having won last Sunday in Austin. Their collective point-scoring of 42 points allowed them to overtake Red Bull Racing, the defending world champions, for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren currently leads the championship with 566
Sainz briefly lost first place to Red Bull Racing’s
Max Verstappen in the first lap, but was able to overtake him in lap nine with little defense from Verstappen. Afterwards, he led every lap until the end. Leclerc and Norris battled for second position near the end of the race, with Leclerc in P2 from laps 10 to 63 until he ran off track and paved the way for Norris to take the position. From P3, he pitted for soft tires on lap 70 without losing position to Mercedes’ George Russell in P4, who was around 30 seconds behind, and took the fastest lap of the race, earning himself and his team an extra point.
Verstappen started the race from P2, but was penalized 20 seconds after two incidents with Norris as he defended his place behind Sainz after the Ferrari took the lead back.
Continue reading at paisano-online.com
By Vivian Echavarria Contributor
Jake Mireles & Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Broc Parmer two-run homer pushes team orange past team blue
Kara Lee/The
Courtesy of Ice Birds