THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline /ThePaisano @paisanomedia
A degree for influencers
By Laynie Clark News Editor
Is influencing the new journalism? With the new Digital Media Influencing bachelor’s degree program UTSA offers, a difference in opinion has sparked among the community. The new degree program is an undergraduate major housed in the communications department of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
According to the UTSA website, the “Bachelor’s in Digital Media Influence is designed for aspiring content creators seeking to refine their digital production skills and improve audience targeting through persuasive messaging.” Charles “Chad” Mahood, an Associate Professor in the communications department, designed the degree program.
“Influencing is a movement
right now and we hope to capture that, but the tools and techniques of media influence have been studied really closely for over 50 years,” Mahood said in regards to starting the program. “The Digital Media Influence Degree takes decades of knowledge and applies it to teach today’s content creators how to be more effective with what they create.”
Based on a mix of administration observation and student advocacy, the degree program was born with the hope of appealing to the interests of the 21st century.
By Matthew Moses Staff Writer
Andrea Rodriguez Avila, a junior pre-law student at Rice University majoring in political science, came to Texas with “big dreams of helping others and changing the world.” She was shot and killed in her campus dorm room.
Avila grew up in Nottingham, Maryland, starting her academic journey by earning an associate’s degree at the Community College of Baltimore County. After accepting a prestigious summer internship at Johns Hopkins University, Avila applied to Rice University as a transfer student and enrolled this past January as a political science major.
While attending college in Baltimore, Avila was active in a variety of organizations including the college-wide student programming board, Multicultural Student Association, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society and the First Year Experience Mentor program, according to the university.
According to Rice officials, Avila was deputy parliamentarian of the Rice Student Association, a
“We’ve been teaching Digital Communication at UTSA for over a decade, and we offer really great classes on multimedia production using Adobe Creative Cloud, which is free to all students,” Dr. Mahood said. “We know from the students that these classes are very popular, so we decided to expand them into a full degree. In order to make it relevant to 21st century students, an emphasis on audience analysis, data analytics, and media psychology become central to the major. How do you create effective digital content that will influence your audience in meaningful ways? How do you become a really good influencer? That became the focus of the degree.”
Social media marketing, much like influencing, is a field that has become increasingly desirable. Social Media Marketing Professor Wendy Gratereaux has been expressive about the new degree program on social media and felt it necessary to educate “trolls” on the importance of digital media.
“I saw the hate and the misunderstanding from a lot of the community around this,” Gratereaux said. “They’re thinking it’s a money grab, and I get it, you don’t want degrees to be cool sounding but no jobs to back it up, and I really want people to understand I would not be doing this if there wasn’t such a huge demand.”
“Every single thing has to be on social [media]. It’s like what TV or the newspaper used to be. Social media is just another platform for storytelling, but that’s also where people hang out, and we spend a ridiculous amount of time on social media than on TV.”
Micro-influencer Mia Rivera is a UTSA alum who majored in communications and is experiencing postgraduate life. Rivera has been passionate about content creation since high school and has steadily gained followers during her college career.
“I got started with social media in high school, I used to have a YouTube channel,” Rivera said. I loved watching YouTube and content creators, creating content like that was something that I wanted to try in high school. When it came to college, I knew I wanted to do something creative, so being a communication major allowed me to do that.”
peer academic advisor at Jones College and an at-large representative of the university’s honor council.
All classes and activities were canceled on Monday Aug. 26 and Tuesday Aug. 27, when Avila, 21, and a 22-year-old male identified as Habeneyom Belai, were found dead in her room at Jones College on the first day of the fall semester.
Continue reading at paisano-online.com
“In my second year of college, I applied for an internship in New York Fashion Week. I got hired. It was a lot of fun, because I got to meet a lot of people and network as much as I could because I was working with all the VIP guests.” Rivera has also secured a part-time position as a Digital Marketer for the San Antonio Rodeo which has given her a well-rounded perspective on the new degree program. “A lot of the time when you’re applying for jobs they don’t look at your major; they look at your experience,” Rivera said. “I don’t think anyone would have cared if I was in business, marketing or communications. I don’t think like the field that I went into cared as much. I think it’s really about the experience that you have on your resume.”
Free STI services for students
By Alessandra Avila Assistant News Editor
As the new academic year begins, UTSA Wellbeing Services is advocating for student health. One of the ways they have done this is by hosting free testing for sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
STIs are primarily caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites and typically spread via sexual contact. Protection such as condoms and routine testing typically limit transmission. By being cautious, you can maintain good sexual health and protect against a sexually transmitted infection.
Many STIs can be silent, or someone may have no outward symptoms but still carry an infection. The rates of STIs in San Antonio have been soaring over the past several years, a trend that appears to mirror similar increases nationwide. According to the San Antonio Current “San Antonio has the 19th-highest rates for sexually transmitted disease (STD) of any large metro.” have access to the university’s Wellness 360 healthcare service. The well-being services are located at Recreation Wellness Center, on the Main Campus, which is open from Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 pm. You can set up by walk-in or by phone at (210) 458-4140 The Well-Being Services Center provides free STI
Rice s tudent Andrea Avila killed in dorm
NEWS
UTSA expands with $22M property
By Jasmine Williams
Copyediting Coordinator
On Aug. 9, UTSA announced their signing of a letter of intent to purchase the office building One Riverwalk Place and the next-door parking garage; the UT System Board of Regents approved the plans during their Aug. 21-22 meeting.
The 260,000-square-foot office building was built in 1981 at 700 N St. Mary’s St along downtown San Antonio’s River Walk. It was sold to USAA in 2013 for an undisclosed amount; however, its assessed value at the time was $19.6 million. The location was retrofitted from 2014 to 2019 and has now been appraised at $22.25 million. UTSA has not disclosed how much it intends to pay for One Riverwalk Place as per the requirements of Texas Education Code Section 51.951. It can be assured that the price UTSA will pay for the building is not permitted to exceed its market value.
This purchase is yet another part of UTSA’s 10-year plan to expand its downtown campus. In 2022, they acquired the Southwest School of Art, and in the following year, they opened San Pedro I and broke ground on San Pedro II. This year, UTSA also announced a merger with UT Health San Antonio.
With the Southwest merger, UTSA created a new school under the College of Liberal and Fine Arts. With San Pedro I, they housed their School of Data Science and National Security Collaboration Center. San Pedro II will be a new college entirely with a focus on “innovation, entrepreneurship, and careers.” The UT Health merger serves to give the university a leg up in its competition with leading research universities. The most recent venture seeks to house thousands of students, hold academic departments, and provide rentable retail spaces and 550 parking spots. The Board of Regents has also given the university approval to hire whomever they see fit to “market, lease, and build out the space.”
The San Pedro facilities alone cost UTSA a combined total of $215.8 million dollars, the price being a reflection of President Taylor Eighmy’s “commitment to expansion, collaboration, and community engagement.”
Eighmy envisions the university becoming a sprawling network of campuses across San Antonio that enrolls 45,000 students in a wide array of disciplines to ultimately advance the prosperity of the community and the students who call it home.
To read more about the university’s expansion plans, head over to utsa.edu/masterplan/.
Registering to vote: a comprehensive guide
By Noah Hernandez Staff Writer
As Nov. 5 is less than two months away, voter registration can leave some scratching their heads. However, registering to vote does not have to be confusing. Here are the most needto-know facts about voter registration this fall.
To register to vote in the state of Texas, the voter must be at least 18 years of age and a citizen of both the United States and the county they are voting in. In addition, the voter cannot be a convicted felon, unless they have served their time or been pardoned. If these requirements are met, then the voter is eligible to vote and can fill out the registration form in a few ways.
call their office and request an application to be mailed to their homes. In addition, voter registration forms can be found at libraries, government offices and high schools.
Themost straightforward process can be done by going to the Texas Secretary of State website, filling out the application, printing and signing it, then mailing it to the respective county elections department. If printing the form is an issue, voters can also
Prospective voters can even receive registration help from UTSA, which offers several resources to get students to the polls. Organizations, like Move Texas, regularly table outside the M.H. building and can answer further questions regarding this process. With this, UTSA is also holding a National Voter Registration Day event hosted by Texas Rising and IGNITE, being held on Sept. 17 in the H-E-B Student Union breezeway. Tacos, ice cream and voter registration forms will be passed out as UTSA joins in the nation’s largest single-day voter registration drive.
The deadline to register is Oct. 7 and
is the last day to submit an address or name change, which can be done online. If unsure about registration status, it can be checked at Vote.org. For more information, visit Texas.gov or the voter registration resources page.
Graffiti, theft, assault
By Maria Wence Staff Writer
In compliance with the Clergy Act, UTSA keeps a public daily crime log that houses all oncampus 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 that premiered during the second week of the fall 2024 semester.
Striking unattended vehicle
On Sept. 3, two unattended vehicles were struck. The incidents took place at Brackenridge Ave. Lot 2, the first being at 8:10 a.m. and the second at 10:30 a.m. The case was closed by exceptional means.
Credit Card/Debit Card Abuse
On Sept. 3, two cases of credit card/debit card abuse took place. The offenses transpired at the Campus Edge Apartments on Tuesday at 3 p.m. and Thursday at 6 p.m. The cases are still active. Graffiti
A graffiti case was reported at Lot D-3. The first occurrence was on Sept. 4 at 1 p.m. and again on Sept. 5 at 7:11 a.m. and was reported immediately. The case is still active.
Obscured License Plate
On Aug. 30, a person was caught with an obscured license plate. The offense took place at the Prado Student Living apartments at 10:25 p.m. The case was closed by exceptional means.
Outstanding Warrant
On Sept. 6, a person was discovered to have an outstanding warrant. The incident occurred at the Bus Stop Oval at 12:14 a.m. The case was closed by arrest.
Assault by Intimidation
On Sept. 3, a case was reported for assault by intimidation. The incident took place on Aug. 30 at midnight at the Graduate School and Research Building. The case was closed.
Theft
On Aug. 31, a case of mail theft occurred at the University Oaks Apartment Phase 3 at 2 a.m. and again at 4:26 p.m. The case is still active.
SA
man sentenced to
eight years for beastiality
By Khoi Nguyen Contributor
Jonathan David Casanova Garcia, 20, was sentenced to eight years in prison last Monday on two counts of cruelty-non-livestockfight, a third-degree felony under section 42.092 of the Texas Penal Code.
Garcia was previously charged with bestiality in Jan. 2023, a crime under section 21.09 of the Texas Penal Code involving sexual conduct with animals or similar abusive behavior. A joint investigation from Animal Care Services and the San Antonio Police Department led to his arrest, with his bail being set at $40,000.
The investigation began after a man reported concerning activity on Garcia’s social media accounts, citing a post where he threatened to open fire on Happy Place Bar on Rittiman Road.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Garcia was discovered to have posted a video of himself touching a dog’s genitals, a photo of a cat with safety pins poked through its ears and a video of him burying a dead cat on his Instagram. Among these, there was a post of his booking form including his personal information. Although police deemed his shooting threat not credible, there was enough evidence to implicate him in animal abuse.
The canine victim featured on his social media, a young male Boxer, has since been rescued
by Animal Care Services. After receiving care and rehabilitation, he was adopted into a new home. Garcia has had prior charges, including assaulting a peace officer, assault bodily injury, evading arrest and graffiti. Before hearing his sentence, Garcia faced two separate cruelty charges and one count of assaulting a family member by choking. Eight years is the maximum under the plea bargain for each charge, though the sentences will be served concurrently.
During sentencing, Judge Ron Rangel of the 379th District Court expressed the court’s commitment to addressing animal cruelty. Imposing the maximum penalty of eight years imprisonment aims to send a strong message that abusive behavior such as this will not be tolerated.
“There are a lot of statistics that indicate that to be cruel, to exert that type of cruelty towards animals […] there would be a tendency for that exacerbate in the future towards people. [It] doesn’t necessarily mean that every single person that comes before you is going in that place. So, you know, the tricky part of the justice system is to always try to isolate who that person is. You have to look within an individual’s heart. You got to look at their history […] So it’s incumbent on judges and prosecutors, probably more so than judges, to recognize those signs and try to act accordingly,” Rangel said.
State of the City Week of
9/10
By Trinity Hewtty 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. This week’s topics range from the arrest of a suspect in connection to the Leon Valley H-E-B shooting to a driver potentially facing charges of child endangerment after six children were ejected from a vehicle. Man arrested in connection with Leon Valley H-E-B shooting
A man identified as Jose Alberto Salas-Gonzalez, 43, was arrested in connection with a shooting that occurred around 1:00 p.m. at a Leon Valley H-E-B on the 5600 block of Bandera Road off Loop 410 on Tuesday.
Salas-Gonzalez allegedly opened gunfire at the front of the store near the entrance. The Leon Valley Police Department surrounded the subject after he was caught fleeing the scene, walking through the lanes of Loop 410 near the Bandera intersection.
The Leon Valley Police Department has charged SalasGonzalez with deadly conduct, discharge of a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, according to the San Antonio Express-News. There have been no reports of injuries or fatalities occurring to any bystanders.
Six children hospitalized after being ejected from a vehicle in I-35 crash
Six children were ejected from an SUV after the vehicle’s tire blew out, causing it to crash into a tree. The accident happened around 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 1. The driver was reportedly heading northbound on IH-35 before losing control of the vehicle.
Two adults and seven children, aged between two to 11 years old, were all transported to the hospital. A few of them had life-threatening injuries. Only one child was wearing a seatbelt. SAPD is currently investigating the incident, and the driver may be facing child endangerment charges.
Road closures are scheduled in San Antonio for the filming of Paramount+ TV series, “1923”
The second season of “Yellowstone’s” prequel, “1923,” will be filmed in San Antonio this September. The studio behind the hit series has already used the Texas Hill Country and Austin as their backdrops.
The majority of downtown San Antonio will be closed or rerouted to accommodate the Paramount+ show. According to MYSA, a release by the San Antonio Film Commission announced, “The week of Sept. 16, 2024, there will be varying closures along Broadway between E. Pecan St. and E. Houston St., including E. Travis St. & Peacock Alley from Jefferson St. to N. Alamo St.” Expect to find an alternative route if you are planning on traveling to any of these areas this upcoming week.
Dustin Vickers/ The Paisano
Caroline Puckett/ The Paisano
OpiNION
Pioneering gone chronically online
As a growing institution, UTSA takes pride in its ever-growing catalog of studies and areas of interest offered to students. With an assortment of undergraduate degrees, graduate programs and certifications, the university strives to remain an accessible and diverse option for students of all ages and backgrounds to pursue an education.
Nevertheless, the administration cannot be hasty in its pursuit of academic innovation and risk dropping the ball on other majors. That is precisely what the new Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media Influence will do.
Offered to both in-person and online students, this degree seeks to benefit from society’s far-reaching trend of influencers; people with online platforms that promote products, lifestyles and trends to their viewers. Although being an influencer is often regarded as an occupation that requires no formal education, many jobs can theoretically be performed without a degree that colleges provide schooling for. In creating a degree for it, UTSA is potentially drawing youths to college that perhaps would not have been interested in attending before.
Precisely because it is important to encourage atypical degree programs, it is indefensible that UTSA would choose to fund a degree plan for this influencer career instead of building a Master’s degree for its underdeveloped film program or a Bachelor’s degree for journalism. Rather than strengthening a discipline that already draws students to attend the university, UTSA is introducing a new program that does not manage to justify its existence.
Influencers often get their start by casually posting to their social media accounts, which requires no education or experience. Only once they go viral and gain a large following can they earn ad revenue and sponsorships to earn
Hijacking Humor
By Mogbekeleoluwa Shebioba
It is that time of year again when America remembers the tragedy that took place 23 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. This can be a time of turbulence for many to cope with, especially if they lost a loved one at the time. Naturally, everybody has different coping mechanisms, one of the most notable being telling jokes and making others laugh. Laughter is the best medicine, after all. However, jokes about 9/11 and other devastating events can end up crashing and burning, falling short with the audience. Even so, people should not police what might be someone else’s coping mechanism.
Since the event occurred, countless comedians have tried to capitalize on it. One example is Pete Davidson, whose father died during the 9/11 attacks. He joked about this during one of his comedy sets, and people found it hilarious. Jimmy Carr also joked about Davidson’s father, which set the crowd ablaze with laughter and shock. Davidson was only seven years old when his father perished, and he made this joke years after the event, which displays an important factor: time.
As time passes, we move on. While we will “Never Forget” 9/11, the turbulence has become a lot easier to bear. Dark humor is intentionally offensive, and it is important to know the right time and place. This is why Gilbert Gottfried was met with “boos and jeers” when he made a 9/11 joke merely 18 days after the event. It was simply too soon; Americans were still devastated by the events that took place. But 23 years have passed now. It should be relatively okay and acceptable to make light of the situation, at least without one’s reputation taking a nose-dive. People are trying to make the best out of a bumpy situation!
Of course, humor is subjective. What one person might find funny, another might find
money. Upon seeing that money can be made from social media, influencers often drop out of school or quit their day jobs to pursue social media full-time. They tend to flaunt their wealth and luxurious lifestyles, revealing they earn more money from social media than regular people who work a nine-to-five. Famous influencer, Addison Rae dropped out of Louisiana State University to move to Los Angeles to pursue her career and has been very successful, with absolutely no need for a degree.
Going viral, the ultimate goal of an influencer, is a rare occurrence. Many people have posted on their platforms religiously for years and have had no luck. It is not something you can teach, much less have a degree in. And even if it was, there is no reason for people to pursue this degree
wildly offensive. Some people may be more sensitive to these jokes, especially millennials and Gen X, given they were quite young when experiencing 9/11 and its aftermath. The truth is, sometimes dark jokes fall flat. They can be predictable and unoriginal, especially around this time of year. People grow tired of hearing the same jokes getting recycled every year.
At the end of the day, dark jokes about 9/11 should not be gatekept, even if they fail to stick to the landing. And if 9/11 jokes do not fly with you, that is perfectly acceptable, too. Sometimes, it is important to stay grounded in reality. Tragedies are tough subjects for very valid reasons. Either way, 9/11 jokes are indeed cleared for takeoff, so, may your plane puns land well and pay off.
when successful influencers have ended up selling lectures, seminars or guides on how they became successful at a much lower price point than college tuition. Rather than mimicking this fraudulent scheme, UTSA ought to be concerned with teaching its students how to avoid them– not replicate them.
To market this so-called “innovative’ degree, UTSA is revamping previously offered courses and shoving them into the degree plan in an attempt to hide how little value they add to students. UTSA already offers well-developed degrees in communication and marketing, both of which can be applied to fields beyond the realm of social media. Digital media used to be a concentration students could have as part of their communication degrees, which is way more recognized and versatile as a major. If the administration found this insufficient and wanted to provide the value of digital knowledge to a broader batch of students — which is commendable in this day and age — they could have made it a minor available to students of all disciplines.
Additionally, the degree description opening with the question “Are you chronically online?” as an enticement completely overlooks the negative implications that come with actually being chronically online. People who are chronically online are often like that because they struggle with socialization, social media addiction, anxiety, depression and many other mental health issues. Their perception of the world becomes warped to encompass the narrow scope that social media algorithms push to them, and they may become radicalized because of it. It reflects poorly on UTSA to promote this new degree in that manner when they use far more professional language to promote their other degrees.
The new Digital Media Influence degree is ill-conceived, unnecessary, and useless in comparison to already offered BAs. Truly, a wrong turn in UTSA’s quest for new frontiers in higher education.
As 9/11 gets older, so do the jokes
Point-Counterpoint
By Khoi Nguyen Contributor
As the calendar flips and we approach 9/11, students prepare themselves for the “Talk”. The “Talk” tends to happen in classrooms, and for those who are lucky enough, also at home. The “Talk” is prompted by teachers, parents—faces who we normally look up to as we sit, stare and listen in dumb silence. The “Talk” often involves pained recountings of how the day transpired or questions along the lines of “How did we get to this point? How has it brought us to where we are now?”
It makes sense that, almost 23 years after the attacks on the World Trade Center, waves of discourse still follow in the wake of each anniversary. Nearly 3,000 deaths
Fashionably Successful
Engler
Every morning, people are confronted with the choice of either rolling out of bed or walking onto the runway. Many fail to recognize the importance of this seemingly insignificant decision. It holds the power to affect one’s personality, productivity, perception and professionalism for better or worse.
Fashionista, businesswoman and writer, Rachel Zoe, once said “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” Fashion is subjective to each person, which is the beauty of it. It allows people to express themselves and embrace their individuality. The differences in someone’s demeanor when they have constructed an elaborate outfit compared to having thrown on the nearest clothes can be glaringly obvious. The laborious outfit is far more rewarding by radiating feelings of empowerment and high self-esteem, which propels one’s attitude to be positive, lively, and genuine. In contrast, the effortless outfit can stir feelings of shame, discomfort, and embarrassment, creating insecurities that can have a negative effect on one’s mood.
The iconic British fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood, stated that “Fashion is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.” An outfit that represents who someone truly is can fortify their headspace and allow
them to withstand daily obstacles with ease. People naturally feel
appearance,
is a catastrophic loss, not to mention the nationwide turmoil that came in the years after. Yet, for a changing America, 9/11 is something that is increasingly heard of, not experienced. This generational divide in understanding then becomes fodder for younger generations who, while not bound together by the disaster of the attacks, are bound by the difficult discussions they have spawned. Thus, we arrive at the shadow of 9/11 discourse — dark humor. Dark humor has existed for as long as human suffering has existed. Humor itself is a commonly cited tool to explore and cope with serious and often controversial topics; the ethos is that if we can laugh at our troubles, then maybe all hope is not lost, after all. With 9/11’s unprecedented level of disaster, dark humor was a natural, albeit sometimes awkward, part of the healing process. Across America, comedians, news outlets and ordinary citizens struggled to determine when it was okay to finally joke about the attacks. Today, jokes about the attacks are not only more accepted but also as expected as discussions on the topic. In the same way a wound scabs when it heals, to those who have experienced 9/11, humor offers a potential route to recovery. When younger generations who have not had the same exposure to the attacks spin humor out of them, however, the result comes across as more insensitive than ameliorating.
Lived experiences are at the core of dark humor. When trauma obtained from experience is observed in a humorous light, chuckles become cackles, wounds are closed and societies are rebuilt. Younger generations joking about a terrorist attack so close in proximity to their time yet far removed from their experience is akin to throwing punches in the dark. There is no basis for understanding, no first-hand account or shock that clashes with the punchline to light the fuse of laughter. Instead, most of the comedic value of 9/11 jokes is transferred onto shock value.
‘It Ends With Us’ failed abuse survivors
Commentary By Luna Infante Staff Writer
The infamous Colleen Hoover novel, “It Ends With Us,” received its film adaptation this summer on Aug. 9. The film stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, portraying leads Lily and Ryle. The storyline centers around Lily’s romance with Ryle, and how a picture-perfect relationship can warp in a matter of seconds.
The main plot is about domestic violence, specifically partner abuse. Because this topic is serious, sensitive and painful, it is crucial to treat this film’s subject matter with care, but its marketing failed miserably at this, especially in the hands of Lively. During the press tour for this movie, Lively’s behavior became a popular subject, as she was seen in various situations treating this movie as any other summer blockbuster.
During the press tour, Lively is seen being insensitive countless times in various scenarios. For instance, on her Instagram, she continuously flaunted her floral gowns in relation to the movie — since her character is a florist — with bubbly captions such as “The closest I’ll ever get to my sugar plum fairy dreams.”
Lively was also shamed when an interview clip for the movie went viral. In the clip, the interviewer asked her what she would recommend to those who want to approach her to share their
stories. Her response was insensitive and rude, as she sarcastically said they should ask for her address, phone number and location. Although she later shared that it is a blessing to be able to share a story that others connect to, her initial reaction was mishandled greatly.
We also see Lively promoting the movie as a seemingly fun, rom-com to watch with your friends. In an Instagram ad for the film, we see Hoover and Lively sitting side-by-side promoting the movie. Lively clumsily says, “‘It Ends With Us,’ is in theaters now. So grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see it.” Time and time again, Lively had opportunities to discuss the subject of domestic violence with more sensitivity and use the film as a tool for conveying awareness. With the influence Blake Lively has, she had the means necessary to give this heavy issue the profound attention it deserves. Although Hoover’s novel received similar backlash since it was not promoted transparently — but instead as a romance — many hoped that this would not continue in the movie’s marketing, yet it did. This story is one to be shared not in hopes of entertainment, but to make changes. The lead’s story is as important and serious as those we know from our parents, our loved ones and unfortunately, many of us. “It Ends With Us,” received a second chance to share its story sensitively, but it fell short.
Continue reading at paisano-online.com Continue reading at paisano-online.com
Kara Lee/The Paisano
Orion Tuck/The Paisano
Orion Tuck/The Paisano
OpiNION
Execute Order 46
By Dustin Vickers Managing Editor
An Executive Order No. GA-46 was passed Aug. 8 by Governor Greg Abbott, mandating that beginning on Nov. 1, all hospitals across the state of Texas must collect information and track the healthcare costs of undocumented immigrants. The question of how this information will be used was left unanswered.
In Executive Order 46, Abbott slams the Biden-Harris administration for their open-border policies and their inability to address the matter of immigration. He goes on to argue how Texas has shouldered the cost of undocumented citizens’ hospital expenses, defining hospitals as “ acute care hospitals enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program and
any providers identified by the Health and Human Services Commission.” Because of the significant financial burden that immigration has brought onto Texas, Abbott seeks to be reimbursed by the federal government as he believes they are responsible for the increased immigration.
The order is a clear Trojan horse presented to the citizens of Texas as a way to track how much money goes into hospital care for undocumented immigrants, whilst being so vague it can be used in whatever way Abbott pleases. If its purpose is to track down and deport immigrants, he has found his loophole. It is an intentional broad stroke to outwardly hide his ulterior motives.
With the implementation of this order and the shallowness of its content, it is safe
More than just a name
Commentary
By Izabella Hernandez Contributor
Beyonce, Adele, Madonna and Prince; all iconic names with no need for further introduction. These first names speak for themselves and Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign takes on that same approach.
After Republican candidate Donald Trump mispronounced Harris’ name at a rally in North Carolina, he was later corrected by Harris’ grandnieces who took the stage at the Democratic National Convention this past August. The young girls taught the audience members in attendance and watching at home the correct way of pronouncing “Kamala” in a moment that went viral, cementing her campaign as being marketed through a firstname basis. This approach rings unfamiliar to Americans who are used to referring to presidents and candidates alike by their last names. This minor detail seems to be a reflection of a major shift happening in our country. Harris has been the first to do many things, she is the first woman, the first African American and the
first South Asian American to become vice president. If anything, she has proven she is no stranger to trying something new.
Some have argued that the use of a first name is disrespectful in a professional setting and may negatively impact her campaign. While this is a reasonable argument, one cannot help but wonder if her having an ethnic name is the real cause behind the criticism.
After all, it is not unheard of for people with more ethnic names to be negatively profiled or discriminated against in the American workplace.
Harris is not the first candidate to run with her first name. Bernie Sanders, the candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in the 2016 and 2020 elections, ran primarily under his first name with no major backlash. This makes it seem as though white, male candidates are the only ones who are allowed to take on this approach without criticism, making the argument that it is unprofessional more of a double standard.
Not to mention the lack of professionalism seen from
Elon Musk green washes his gateway to Mars
Commentary By Haley Aguayo Sports Editor
Located about 22 miles East of Brownsville, Texas, SpaceX’s launch site, also known as “Gateway to Mars,” has taken over the Boca Chica shoreline in more ways than one. Between initial claims that Teslas cause less environmental damage and that Boca Chica would be left untouched, the surrounding public of the shoreline have grown tired of the SpaceX CEO’s greenwashing lies. The Gateway to Mars is ultimately damaging the environment one rocket at a time.
Humans have been damaging the environment and contributing to air pollution since the first caveperson lit a fire. The development of gas liquefaction in the 19th century only sped up the process and increased air pollution. Living in areas with high pollution rates can lead to severe consequences to both the health of humans and the health of the environment. Rockets, in particular, bring an array of problems involving pollution. Industrial gases are essential when it comes to engine tests and rocket launches. Launch vehicles rely on cryogenic propellants which are liquified gases kept at very low temperatures that act as both fuel and oxidizers.
Each rocket that SpaceX launches emits approximately 200-300 tons of CO2, exceeding the amount emitted from airplanes. According to the NOAA, rockets release 1,000 tons of black carbon into the atmosphere annually as of 2022.
Determined to expand outside of this planet, Musk’s ambitions have proved to be detrimental to surrounding areas of nature. With frequent launches, the beach is losing its natural beauty and appeal to visitors in the process. There have also been reports concerning mercury being found in the water.
at paisano-online.com
to assume that not only undocumented, but documented immigrants alike will lose trust in hospitals. While it was openly stated that the treatment of undocumented immigrants will not be affected, it is unclear what will happen after they are discharged. Will they be able to go home to their families or upon their discharge, or will they be escorted out in a police vehicle?
former presidents, referring to a candidate by their first name may not be the most unprofessional thing a national election has seen. Trump himself contributed to the attention by initially mocking Harris’ name. He even went on to say in a rally in Montana that “nobody really knows her last name,” and that could not have had a more adverse effect than what he intended. Harris running with her first name is a smart marketing move on her part, as she now connects with the
American people on a more personal level. Welcoming the nation to be on a first-name basis with her feels like an invitation to approach her as a peer rather than just another politician.
The Kamala campaign reflects the ways in which America is moving forward, providing a newfound sense of hope. It reminds the American people of a nation they have the power to change, with the guarantee that no one should have trouble pronouncing Kamala from this point on.
Presidential Debates: Do they even matter?
Commentary By Noah Hernandez Staff Writer
Rife with insipid infighting, geriatric antics and an increasingly childish inability to answer simple questions, political debates have become a fixture of the fabric that is America. Yet with election season just around the bend, its efficacy is once again being brought into question. Each year, Americans ask themselves whether or not they should all sit and watch the oldest members of our society verbally spar for hours — without saying anything meaningful — and wonder if this ridiculous little ritual of ours is truly necessary. Interestingly enough, the 2016 electoral debate seemed to prove them to be nearunnecessary, with only 10% of voters definitively making up their minds due to the televised discourse. This begs the question, is there a point to having political debates anymore?
The answer is certifiably yes, and further, they are paramount. It can be quite facile to discard these sordid affairs as merely an impotent tradition, and in truth, most would be inclined to agree with this sentiment. That is of course if the nation had not just lived through the single most painful-to-watch political debate of the century. The 2024 Biden vs. Trump debate had all the hallmarks of immaturity, as both candidates talked over each other, skirted around rather than answered questions and flung flagrant offensive remarks with all the tact of a five-year-old. Yet this time around, it was not the blatant lack of composure nor the disregard for civility that stood out, but rather the incredibly poor performance of President Joe Biden.
After suffering a surfeit of falls and mental gaffes which notably marred his presidency, there had been several
The Paisano
Editorial Board
Jake Mireles | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com
Dustin Vickers | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com
Laynie Clark | News Editor News@paisano-online.com
Marcela Montufar Soria | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com
Malaki Lingg | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com
Haley Aguayo | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com
Raul Martinez | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com
Armin Suljovic | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com
The passage of this order is a blatant violation of The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects a person’s medical history from anyone other than authorized persons. Even though this is the case, it should not be. It is predatory and furthers Abbott’s bigoted agenda to close the Texas border and cast out immigrants. The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization.The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods.The
questions, particularly from the right, that Biden was quickly becoming mentally and physically unfit to run for president. While this initially may have been a political gambit, it soon became a real concern for many Americans. With these fears seeping into Biden’s left flank, it soon became clear that his performance in the thenupcoming political debate had to quell the increasing distress spreading across the democratic party. Yet his execution in mitigating these fears proved entirely antithetical to this cause.
In the days following Biden’s bombshell debate showing, nearly 62% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents polled agreed that Biden should step aside. Even amongst Biden supporters, 54% argued the same, a sharp contrast from Trump’s own support base, whose opinions had been largely unchanged. In a few hours, the Biden campaign had been completely undone, ultimately underscoring the inherent usefulness of putting up with these arduous political matches.
The debate system allows for the court of public opinion to weed out those they do not deem physically or mentally fit to run the country. This is done by giving a holistic account of each candidate through live audio and visual feeds. In an age where it can be easy to hide the truth from the public eye through various means, having an unfiltered showcase forces candidates to display their true political acumen and mental acuity.
Instagram: paisanomedia
Twitter: ThePaisano
Linkedin: The Paisano
Pinterest: paisanomedia
Threads: paisanomedia
TikTok: thepaisanoUTSA
Youtube: ThePaisano
and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210) 690-9301 © 2024 The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at
Ibiene West/The Paisano
Vincent Agquiz/The Paisano
Kara Lee/The Paisano
arts & life
an underground staple ,
By Christopher Delgado Contributor SA Gems
The sound of wheels screeching approaches the door and in comes Chap — he hobbles in on a wide deck board, one of the many shapes and sizes he likes to experiment with. The crew consists of Chappal Carr, Sergio Garza, a recent addition to the team and owner Ehren Mohammadi — who Carr insists upon referring to as Mr. Krabb’s.
Carr has been working here for a couple of years and first discovered Mohammadi and company at their original location in Brook Hollow, established in 2012. The brick and mortar shop currently resides at 6565 Babcock Rd. Miraculously, their current location is the one Ehren pined for back in 2012.
As a local skate shop in San Antonio, the crew has run into quite a few issues revolving around the accessibility of skate spots. However, the community and its people continue to be a shining light throughout, which is exemplified by the strong kinship formed between Mohammadi, Carr and Garza.
Carr commented on San Antonio’s skate community as “a bit more underground than some of the scene in Austin,” he went on to say, “a lot of it’s a lot tighter, I think.” The skating community in San Antonio truly has each other’s back.
Mohammadi exemplifies this through the emphasis on local brands being sold at the shop — some brands
Please, please, please keep playing ‘Short n Sweet’
By Luna Infante Staff Writer
Pop’s new ‘it girl’ Sabrina Carpenter has officially released her latest album, “Short n’ Sweet.” Debuting on Aug. 23, this album was the final splash mainstream pop needed as summer came to an end. After releasing her hit single, “Espresso,” Carpenter has climbed her way to the A-list. A new album was what new fans were craving and old fans were longing for.
“Short n’ Sweet” opens with “Taste,” an assertive beginning to her 12-song album. We first hear Carpenter’s voice, boasting the confident yet comical words “Oh, I leave quite an impression / Five feet to be exact.” The bass and a light drum backing her soft vocals, adding an edgier, pop-rock sound to her hit.
This song sets the tone for the album, alluding to themes of a love triangle, yet keeping the music and vocals playful. The chorus is catchy and fun, even if listeners disagree with its bitter premise, “I heard you’re back together and if that’s true / You’ll just have to taste me, while he’s kissin’ you.” “Short n’ Sweet” follows this, as it deals with serious themes in unserious ways, which Carpenter’s fans value.
After “Taste,” we dive into “Please, Please, Please,” her synth-heavy, countrylike summer hit about begging a partner not to embarrass her while they are in the public eye. Fans of her album opener are sure to like this one, “Coincidence” and “Espresso” as they remain cheerful, witty and catchy.
“Good Graces,” follows the new pop
Reviews
sound, but falls victim to repetitiveness, as she sings the phrase, “I won’t give a f—k about you,” fourteen times, which makes the song stale after a while.
In “Sharpest Tool,” the album slows with a lower tone and sadder verses. Although the song alludes to themes of heartbreak, it does not run deep. It remains simple with straightforward lyrics “All the silence is just your strategy / Cause it leaves you so top-of-mind for me.” Fans of this song are sure to enjoy “Dumb & Poetic,” and “... Lie to Girls.”
In “Bed Chem” and “Juno,” listeners get feel-good, upbeat love songs. Both songs capture her unapologetic sexuality as well as the feeling of new love perfectly.
Two songs on the album that stand out are “Slim Pickins,” and “Don’t Smile.”
“Slim Pickins,” has a Dolly Parton-like sound, with her whistly notes, soft twang and folky music accompanying her.
“Don’t Smile” stands out as a melancholic end to the album, different from the album’s other ballads. It leaves listeners with a reminiscent feeling, as she hums the chorus, “Don’t smile because it happened, baby / Cry because it’s over.”
Carpenter’s album and style are a breath of fresh air in pop. It seems as if deep lyricism is at the forefront for many pop artists. While that is valued in talented singer-songwriters such as Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish and Conan Gray, Sabrina presents pop with the opposite, which should be just as appreciated.
include 941 and Ugly.
“We like carrying brands of the people we skate with and that actively work in the community,” Carr emphasized.
Taking a walk through the boardshop, the walls are lined with boards of all shapes and sizes. If skating seems too daunting though, the shop also offers quite a few selections of vintage tees, pants, hats, stickers and board shaped air fresheners. Most of which have been locally sourced, especially the vintage tees and bins of second hand shoes.
The shop does not simply supply the community with gear. It also serves as a nexus for people to get involved in the skate world — whether that be through videography, photography or music. This was emphasized by Garza, who according to Carr has “done a lot of good work in terms of photos of local bands and the skate scene.”
Alongside this, Insanity has been a magnet for a lot of people within music looking for work. Whether looking for a new deck, some style tips or just connections into the local and underground art scene, Insanity Boardshop has it all. At the heart though, remains a brotherhood of employees simply wanting to hang out and skate a line.
The folks at Insanity have some secrets planned later this fall, to stay informed follow their Instagram @insanitybs.
Tim
Burton is back, and with him is Betelgeuse
By Ezequiel Pena Staff Writer
It has been 36 years since the release of the original Beetlejuice back in 1988. Since then, Tim Burton has made some hits here and there. More or less, for the past twenty years, it seems that Disney specifically has caused him to have an identity crisis within his own filmmaking. From them forcing him to make big budget remakes like 2010’s “Alice in Wonderland” or 2019’s “Dumbo,” it seems as if Disney has been giving work that is made just for a quick cash grab rather than using his talents to make something that would complement his famous style. It seems that all has come to a beautiful bit of buildup that then led to the creation of his new film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.”
Burton’s new film is not only a fair and entertaining follow up to its predecessor. It comes across, as previously stated, as though Burton is coming back to what made his work unique in the first place. With a sick sense of humor and a handful of impressive practical effects that ends up being much more memorable than any bit of CGI, while also making it easier for fans to believe that the film is indeed a followup to the original in both story and look alike. More than that, Burton adjusts for the modern audience by changing things by providing more violence and
Reviews
gore that is done in an overall whacky fashion that allows audiences to have a similar reaction to what they had when watching the original. Whether that reaction be disgust, laughter, horror or sympathy, all of it does work beautifully in this film. However, it does bring with it some of Burton’s more modern issues with creating convoluted stories.
Despite Burton committing to a wonderful return to form with what made him popular among audiences in the first place, it seems he can not help himself by introducing too many characters. At times it ends up being easy to forget that actors such as Willem Dafoe and Monica Bellucci are involved in the film at all. There are also times when the film can be a little lazy by giving little to no explanation as to why actors from the original like Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis end up being absent from the film entirely. Granted, the reasons for not including actors such as Jeffrey Jones, or Alec Baldwin as previously stated, are reasonable considering their criminal charges that would end up making audiences uncomfortable if they would be featured on the screen.
Daria Tanase/The Paisano
Caroline Puckett/The Paisano
Phillip Murphy/The Paisano
Arts & Life
A Musical Narrative: Marc Guillen’s ‘Of Cloaks and Daggers’
By Christopher Delgado Contributor
Movie soundtracks have become a staple of popular culture. A single note from the iconic “Indiana Jones” theme elicits adventure, while a piano key from Justin Hurwitz’s “Epilogue” forms tears in the eyes of its listener. Music tells a story; a tuba writes that story.
On Friday Sept. 6, Marc Guillen, donning a tuba, performed his senior recital, “Of Cloaks and Daggers.” The set list included works from Anna Baadsvik, James Meador, Brian Sadler, Benjamin McMillan and Satoshi Yagisawa. The performance was played alongside the tragic story of Samuel, a man whose home was destroyed. Guillen exemplified the humor and might of the tuba.
“Of Cloaks and Daggers” begins with the return of Samuel to his destroyed village. Left with nothing, he begins a journey back to the city. This scene culminates in the playing of Baadsvik’s “New Kid,” with Guillen on tuba and Jeong-Eun Lee on the piano. The piece begins melancholically — akin to a saddened warrior. This is accentuated by the emphasis of the piano in the beginning. However, the tuba quickly takes over, squabbling the gloominess and infusing the performance with a sense of triumph. As Guillen plays, the tuba hinders the audience’s view of his face; if Guillen is playing Samuel, one cannot but feel the identity crisis of the main character in “Of Cloaks and Daggers.” The man has disappeared, all that is left is the music of his world and the hope it creates.
As he prowls the night, Samuel decides to wash away his pains through intoxication. This scene blurs the line between story and recital, as Guillen embarks on Meador’s “Six-Pack,” a piece meant to be played with an accompanying beer between each set.
For the sake of the recital, Guillen downs six bottles of water, embodying the different emotions of intoxication felt by Samuel. At one point, Guillen struggled to open a bottle of water, demonstrating his commitment to
performance and music. The set offers much humor as Guillen toys with the tuba to create a variety of sounds not typically associated with the tuba, specifically the emitting of a siren-like shrill.
At this point, the story built by Guillen has truly taken off — continuously reminding the audience of music as a display of emotion and a way of storytelling. Samuel partners up with two strangers to commit a heist. This scene guided by the notes of Sadler’s “Journey for Tuba,” dramatizes the upcoming events.
The lights dim, espionage ensues. When Guillen enters stage left, the audience no longer watches a tuba recital but instead a Mission Impossible-esque scene revolving around the capturing of a tuba. Once the heist is completed, Guillen breaks into McMillan’s “Tubas of the Apocalypse,” a piece invoking the feel of a musical score. A constant throughline underscored by the bellowing of tuba notes, reminiscent of John Williams’ “Imperial March” helps convey the much more dramatic side of the tuba. The audience no longer watches the tragic fall of Samuel but an adventure of self-discovery and deception.
After being betrayed by one of the strangers, Samuel is locked in a cell. With the help of Kassador, he escapes. Guillen infuses the prison scene with Yagisawa’s “Salome at the Prison.” Similar to the first song in Guillen’s setlist, Yagisawa’s music creates a sense of hopelessness, this time with the tuba instead of the piano. However, it quickly transitions into a tune filled with gusto and urgency.
“Of Cloaks and Daggers” climaxes with a duel between Samuel and his betrayer, Venivren. This is Samuel’s big moment and this was Guillen’s final hurrah of the night. As the duel ensued, Guillen entered the stage, alone. He sat and immediately started playing. Confident and sure of himself, Guillen plays Sadler’s “Concerto for
Behind 9PinPunk, The Alley
The DIY-music venue you should keep an ear out for
In San Antonio, there is never a shortage of concerts, local shows or spots to frequent, but this self-made, DIY music venue nestled in southwest San Antonio demands your attention and recognition.
The Alley, as painfully noted by owners Brandon Blake and Peyton Beushausen, is entirely a passion project. The idea first came about when Blake helped put on a local show, “A Ballroom on Mars,” for New Year’s 2023. After months of struggling to find fun and interesting spaces, The Alley’s humble origins began when Blake found the building listed on Craigslist in Feb. 2024. Using sledgehammers and chainsaws, the old tile and remnants of the tattoo parlor slowly came down as The Alley established itself.
“Everything that’s in there is stuff that he’s found or we’ve been able to make ourselves,” Beushausen said.
Since its official opening, The Alley has hosted more than 30 shows featuring over 50 unique artists, placing an emphasis on safety and community.
“We want to continue to be a place that bands can play their music and play it safely,” Blake exclaimed.
Be fair warned — the front door can be hefty. Upon stepping inside, concertgoers are greeted with a decorative wall featuring candid photos, copies of their magazine 9PinPunk, a framed picture of Spongebob and other random trinkets. The venue also features an entire wall made of glass; making a perfect spot for taking
a picture. If friendly staff and inexpensive drinks are not tempting enough, behind the double-velvet curtains lies the main attractions.
Not only does The Alley provide a comfortable couch with pillows and scattered seating to watch performances, it also provides classic video games arranged in a semi-circle along the left wall for your entertainment.
Before the venue was erected, Blake was most known for his magazine, 9PinPunk. The magazine is a DIY, local music magazine inspired by the music fanzines from the early days of punk. Since Nov. 12, 2022 Blake and his staff have been putting out the scene-zines, with each volume being numbered up until issue nine. Of course this is meant to represent the nine pins in bowling, perfectly matching the aesthetic they have established.
Small venues are important, and pivotal to the survival of local music culture and community. Stay on the lookout for shows posted on their Instagram @TheAlley_satx, and new issues @9PinPunk.
Contrabass Trombone” a piece with constant themes throughout alluding to melodies of a film score. Up close, Guillen is focused and the backdrop of drums fades, leaving Guillen with his tuba, the sound of clacking keys and the rapid inhaling and exhaling of his breath in preparation for the piece’s final arc. As the song closes, Guillen rises to the occasion as the tuba bellows notes paralleling his own immense triumph within his senior recital.
Guillen’s recital shines a light on his musical ability and his role as a storyteller. A stellar performance that pushes the boundaries of what music can be and what it should be.
“Growing up I’ve done a lot of those ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ kind of things and I also do some of those foam fighting sports that are medieval ones,” Guillen said. “I’m very prevalent around the culture of that kind of theme. I really wanted to showcase that here tonight on stage.”
Guillen’s experience in foam fighting sports was center stage throughout his entire performance. He held the tuba poised like a warrior, shrinking back whenever in danger and then quickly commanding the stage and adding to the character development on stage. The characterization as well as the choreographed narrative added to the audience’s engagement.
“Typically a lot of music that does not have a lot [of] narrative in between pieces,” Guillen said. “I really wanted people to follow that narrative and emotion that is happening within each piece and the narrator, as well, throughout the entire recital.”
Guillen’s senior recital exemplified the bonding of the liberal arts at UTSA. Within the music is a story to be told, one must simply listen carefully. For Guillen, that story involved tragedy, triumph and the tuba.
SA Gems
By Kira George Contributor
Armin Suljovic/The Paisano
Kira George/The Paisano
Miles Jones/The Paisano
Miles Jones/The Paisano
By Alejandra Garza Contributor
After Saturday’s nail biting five sets against opponent University of Incarnate Word, one player stood out leagues above the rest as the team’s saving grace. The roar of the bleeding orange and blue continued as every effortless kill and block carried out by number three was met with unparalleled approval from the audience.
Mia Soerensen, junior on the UTSA volleyball team, has already shown some impeccable stats this early in the season. The fans seem to have taken a liking to her impressive skills on the court, but there is a lot more to know about this 6-foot-4,
techno-music-loving, opposite hitter and her accomplishments.
Soerensen didn’t originally attend the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her first stop was Kent State University, only 100 miles from her hometown of Meadville, Pennsylvania, where she started her studies in neuroscience and her volleyball career. When attending a visit to UTSA in December of 2022, she quickly became attached to the initial players and coaching staff.
“Definitely playing Texas, it was a lot of fun and I think the crowd was amazing and it is something I will always remember because I have felt the love of San Antonio so much,” Soerensen said about the bond she had with the team and her favorite
By Bailey Hall Contributor
memories she shares with them.
A summer trip to Europe proved to be a great bonding opportunity for the team.
Although the players had a couple of matches set when they arrived, they were able to connect over tourist activities.
Soerensen described her favorite part of the trip being the time spent with incoming freshmen and transfer students. She felt like the trip was essential and provided a good foundation to the strong team friendship they have developed.
Soerensen is pursuing a degree in neuroscience at UTSA all the while maintaining a full time volleyball career.
“I would really love to be a neurologist, but I am definitely keeping my options open because if surgery interests me more
“There’s this saying, rugby is a savage game played by gentlemen,” inside center Reese Frenchman said. The legend of rugby is that two guys who were sitting on the bench during soccer practice got bored and decided to steal the ball. They were throwing the ball back and forth to keep it away from their teammates. There is no hard evidence of this legend, but the rugby community agrees this is the origin.
The Rugby club practices every Tuesday and Thursday on the fields behind the Recreation Wellness Center. Club sports are not a part of the NCAA, so their practices are open to anybody who would like to join. The club plays fifteens rugby; this version is played with 15 players on each team. A team is split between forwards and backs.
Forwards consist of a hooker, a loose-head prop, a tight-head prop, two locks, a blind-side flanker,
an open-side flanker and an eight man.
Meanwhile, backs consist of a scrum half, a fly half, a left wing, inside center, an outside center, a right wing and a full back.
During practice, players break into forwards and backs and run drills, switches, loops and plays. The seasoned players teach the rookies all about the various positions and how to play them. Their practices are built to make the team bond and get the players talking to each other during drills. The game is all about communication with your teammates.
I would definitely do it,” Soerensen said when asked about what she would do with a neuroscience degree.
In regards to her personal life, Soerensen has loved San Antonio since she arrived. When asked what the perfect day or night in San Antonio would look like.
“Got to hit up the river walk; it’s like a classic everyone likes. I like it at night because the lights are really pretty, and I love Nonna Osteria for dinner. It’s so good.”
Soerensen also likes to stop at a coffee shop, but only for a matcha latte with oat milk.
All these things make up who Soerensen is and all contribute to her continued success on and off the court.
UTSA’s rugby club started around the same time the football team started. Over the last 14 years the team has made it to nationals five times in rugby sevens and one time in rugby fifteens. The toughest thing for the club is fundraising and getting new players. This year the club has about ten new players, but they are looking for more.
UTSA rugby is all about brotherhood and building a bond within the team.
“Rugby was really great to have like a family, a team experience. I think that’s what I appreciated more from high school football, just having a really tight knit group of friends,” eight man James Ethridge. said. “If you’re out there playing a contact sport with each other and you all kinda know what the sacrifice you need to be making to be on the field you have a lot closer relationship.”
By Morgan Brown Contributor
The I-35 rivalry, named after the interstate highway that runs through San Marcos and San Antonio, first began in 2012. At the inaugural game, located at the Alamodome, the Roadrunners held their own and beat the Bobcats 38-31.
After five years without a scheduled matchup, the rivalry was brought back to life in 2017 with the roadrunners dominating 4414. While the rivalry may seem one-sided, the third and fourth matchups in 2018 and 2020 brought high tensions with close ending
scores of 25-21 and 51-48. Most recently, in 2023, UTSA beat Texas State once again to bring their rivalry record to 5-0.
Although the Roadrunners have had a great history of defeating the Bobcats, the fears and nerves of the 2024 matchup seemed to be justified as at halftime in the UFCU stadium, the Roadrunners were down 32 points, and ultimately took the loss, 49-10.
The rivalry will continue to grow with set dates every year until 2031. The location alternates in between the cities and the amount of fans in attendance increases each year as well. The game in 2023 brought in over 49,000 fans, which was the Alamodome’s second largest crowd to date.
By Hannah Velasquez Contributor
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Morgan Brown/The Paisano
Ranking Roadrunner rivals
By Rylan Renteria Assistant Sports Editor
What is college football without rivalries?
Regardless of program size, age or success, each school has a rival that triggers feelings of hatred within the souls of its fanbase. Though UTSA football was established a short 13 years ago, they have made some bitter enemies as they have ascended in the ranks of Group of Five programs.
5. The University of Incarnate Word
Anytime you share a city with another collegiate football program, you will automatically become rivals. The Cardinals and the ‘Runners have only played once, with Incarnate Word visiting the Alamodome in 2019 where they were handed a 35-7 pounding. Round two of this matchup will take place in 2025 as the Cardinals return to the Alamodome, likely aiming to cover the spread this time around.
4. The University of Houston
This rivalry has been reignited in recent years, as the Roadrunners and the Cougars met in back-to-back week one matchups in 2022 and 2023. Both games ended in heartbreak for UTSA, with the ‘Runners losing both games by a combined five points. It’s a rivalry that fans of both teams seem to enjoy and that both programs have expressed interest in renewing. Even if Houston has had the upper hand in recent years, UTSA fans will always have the road upset win in 2014 to hold near and dear to their hearts.
3. The University of Texas Times are changing in the world of Texas college football. The Roadrunners are slowly
growing out of the “little sister” label that UT fans love to place on them. Although they have only played once, fans will remember that UTSA was tied with UT at the end of the first half in 2022, just don’t ask about the second half.
2. The University of North Texas
Remember how earlier we mentioned the feeling of pure disgust that certain rivals conjure up out of fans? This is that rival. The vomit-green-wearing Eagles have been a thorn in the side of the Roadrunners since 2013, even though North Texas didn’t pick up their first win in the series until 2015. UTSA leads the series currently and has won four out of the last five matchups against the Mean Green; the lone loss being the infamous 4523 embarrassment to spoil the Roadrunners’ undefeated 2021 regular season.
1. Texas State University
You would think that after losing five straight times to the same team, the word rivalry would feel like a reach, yet here we are. To their credit, the Bobcats finally broke through in 2024, claiming their first victory in the series with a 49-10 blowout win over the Roadrunners. The reason this rivalry takes the number one spot on this list is because Texas State is the owner of the most obnoxious fan base of the teams listed. For better or for worse, the I-35 rivalry is here to stay. UTSA is scheduled to play Texas State every year for the next seven years.
Costly errors handicap UTSA in I-35 matchup
By Logan Martinez Staff Writer
In a disappointing start to the I-35 showdown, UTSA women’s volleyball suffered a 3-1 match defeat to Texas State on Wednesday at the Convocation Center. The loss served as the Roadrunners’ third of the season, and dropped them to a 15-61 record against Texas State.
“You know, I give credit to Texas State,” head coach Carol Price-Torok said. “It’s disappointing to lose but it was a fun one at home.”
While there was no shortage of stellar play in UTSA’s home opener against Texas State, countless errors and mistakes unfortunately hindered the Roadrunners in their 3-1 loss. The team’s inability to perform in clutch moments seemed to plague them throughout the night, as multiple leads were squandered throughout the course of each set.
“We were a little too error heavy at the end of some of those sets,” Price-Torok said when asked about the team’s late game blunders. Though UTSA managed to only give up one more error than the Bobcats, each of the 22 recorded errors seemed to come at an inopportune time. Such was the case in the match’s opening set, in which the home team found themselves surrendering a nine point lead due to subtle mistakes and questionable
blunders. The troubles continued for the ‘Runners, as they became increasingly unable to stop the snowballing momentum of Texas State.
Winning three out of the four sets, the opposing team continued to capitalize on small UTSA mistakes. Whether simple miscommunications or overshoots on serves, the minor errors soon snowballed as the ‘Runners went on to lose two consecutive sets to end the night.
“We have tools to finish those matches,” outside hitter Caroline Krueger said after the game. “I think we can learn how to finish out, we’ll have it soon.”
Despite the disappointing loss, UTSA proved to be a club capable of dominance and excellence. The team matched Texas State in virtually every statistical category, and managed to keep nearly every set within six points. Players such as Krueger, Mia Soerensen and Franco Martina contributed heavily to the match, combining for 34 out of the 50 total team kills. The high offensive output shined within the game’s second set, in which the Roadrunners held off the Bobcats for a 25-19 victory.
UTSA breaks winning streak in loss to Texas State
The Roadrunners struggled to find their footing with young offense on the field
By Haley Aguayo
Editor
Eddie Lee Marburger ran onto the field following halftime. Marburger fumbled the ball but tight end Patrick Overmyer recovered it and was
able to produce a first down. Marburger and the offensive line couldn’t score during their second or third down, but they went for a fourth down anyway. With two seconds left in the third quarter, Marburger was forced to run backwards to avoid Texas State rushers. After giving himself that space to search for an open receiver, Marburger found wide receiver Willie McCoy and the two connected for two yards to score UTSA’s first and only touchdown of the game. Coach Jeff Traylor and Texas State head coach GJ Kinne have a history with one another that dates back nearly 19 years. From head coach and student-athlete at Gilmer High School to working alongside each other on coaching staffs at both Southern Methodist University and University of Arkansas to becoming head coaches at opposing rivalry schools. Yet, this was the first time Kinne has beat his former coach and coworker.
“I’m very happy for GJ and his family,” Traylor said. “What he’s done here, he has resurrected the university and to have what they had tonight was really special. I’m extremely happy for him and his staff.”
“They were really good, they played very good,” Traylor said about his former studentathlete’s team. “I thought our defense would be able to hold for us a little bit, but our offense is a little young and inexperienced. We knew we struggled a little bit there. I think the most shocking part was how easily they scored on our defense. I thought we were good enough on defense to stay in the game but now
Jonathan Porter/The Paisano
David Ugboh/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Stephen Saenz/The Paisano