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New organization offers printmaking to all students page 5
UTSA loses 58-29 after Saturday game with the UH Cougars page 7
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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
{SINCE 1981}
UTSA Starting this week, the UTSA Employee Occupational Health and Wellness Center will be relocated under the Bauerle Garage Suite 1.10
Volume 49
Issue 21
October 1, 2013
{WWW.PAISANO-ONLINE.COM}
Is Facebook making you depressed? Streetcar system on track for city
Rafael Gutierrez & Lindsay Smith/ The Paisano
San Antonio San Antonio’s Legacy Farmers Market and Hill Country Farmers Market Association will enter into a merger on Oct. 5, doubling in size.
For new couples entering into a relationship, Facebook can have negative effects, such as expediting the level of committment and jealousy over viewing an ex-partner’s profile.
Texas During an interview on Saturday Sept. 28, First Lady of Texas Anita Perry described the decision to have an abortion as a woman’s right saying, “...you can believe what you want to believe.”
U.S. Beginning Oct. 1, the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, will be implemented nationally, regardless of a government shutdown.
World President Nicolas Madura of Venezuela expelled the top American diplomat and two embassy officials under suspicions of economic sabotage.
UTSA Emma O’Connell Intern
news@paisano-online.com Since the launch of Facebook in 2004 and Twitter in 2006, social media has permeated online society. Forums such as Facebook have increased human connectivity and the spread of information in unprecedented ways, but they could be having negative effects on their users. In early September, St. Mary’s University graduate student Jessie Smith concluded research on Facebook use and how it could negatively affect relationships. The study followed 205 Facebook users, ages 18 to 82, using a 16-question online survey. Relationship length was used as an indication of success. In an interview with KSAT News, Smith stated, “Constantly looking at other people’s profiles, and ex-partner’s profiles is going to strike up any jealousy that was there to begin with.
The more likely you are to use Facebook, the more likely you are going to run into conflict because of that Facebook use, and that conflict itself is what leads to that negative relationship outcome.” To help prevent this result, Smith suggests that couples “set boundaries and limits on their social media usage and stick to them.” Smith’s findings can be found in her contributing publication, “Cheating, Breakups, and Divorce: Is Facebook Use to Blame?” Social media has become an outlet for couples to announce big life events such as the “in a relationship,” “engaged,” and “married” status updates. The idea that a couple’s relationship is not really “official” until it becomes “Facebook official” (FBO) is a 21st century trend. Earlier this year, the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships published the article, “The role of Facebook in romantic relationship development: An exploration of Knapp’s relational stage model.” In the study, researchers “sought to discern the interpersonal and social implications
“Facebook is very deceptive, people only share things that make themselves look better.”
and Student Government Association (SGA) President Zack Dunn introduced the address. “Last year we graduated more than 5,800 students, the largest class ever,” claimed Romo as one of the most prominent achievements of UTSA. Romo also said that, in the year to come, the university will be saving more than a million dollars by consolidating cyber security functions in an on-campus building. “We’ll be bringing all these functions into one building.” San Saba Hall has also been a major stride made at UTSA, adding more than 6,000 bed spaces and facilitating a more active college environment. In the past, San Antonio has been written off as a city subjected to ‘brain drain’ in which a talented and educated work-
force leaves to pursue opportunity in other cities and states. Romo presented a challenge to this assumption by claiming that, in a study sponsored by
Mary McNaughton-Cassill
UTSA Psychology professor er levels. Social media and Internet use may also affect children’s development of social skills and their ability to interact with other people. According to The Daily Mail, Oxford University neuroscientist Susan Greenfields was interviewed about the effects of social networking and child development. She feared that Internet use is changing not only the development of brain functions but also “rewiring them.” Greenfields also makes a See FACEBOOK, Page 2
Rohit Chandon
Contributing Writer news@paisano-online.com Expansive highways and automobiles have historically been the only efficient way to travel throughout the San Antonio. An above-ground rail system is the newest method through which San Antonio is hoping to modernize transportation. As the nation’s largest city with a bus-only transit system, San Antonio’s municipal government has been working to alleviate the need for automobiles. San Antonio is the seventh most populous city in the United States. Since 1990, the population has grown from 1 million to more than 1.36 million. However, San Antonio’s public transportation system is struggling to keep up. Initiatives such as the ‘B-Cycle’ program, which allows people to use bicycles downtown more frequently, have been implemented in the hopes of alleviating congestion. This desire to create more comprehensive municipal transportation has spurred the move to construct a streetcar system in downtown San Antonio. In January of 2010, the VIA Board of Trustees unanimously approved preliminary routes for the rail system under the project name Smart Way SA.
See STREETCARS, Page 2
Dr. Romo delivers university address
UTSA Courtesy photo
Sports The San Antonio Rampage will begin the 2013 season on Friday Oct. 4 in the AT&T Center at 7:30 p.m. against the Chicago Wolves.
of publicly declaring oneself as ‘In a Relationship’ with another person on Facebook and ‘becoming FBO.’ College students consider ‘FBO’ to be indicative of an increased level of commitment in relationships. Typically, relationship exclusivity precedes a discussion on becoming ‘FBO,’ which occurs when the relationship is considered “stable.” A further change in how people establish the beginning and end of their relationships is that now couples break up through Facebook rather than through a discussion face-to-face as evidenced by the many “how to” breakup etiquette blogs online. More and more, social media is defining how we form relationships with others; electronic communication is quickly replacing one-on-one contact. Humans have the ability to communicate both verbally and nonverbally. Psychology Today estimates that 93 percent of communication is perceived through body language. However, with the advent of social media, personal connections get lost in cyberspace, hindering the ability to bond on deep-
LOCAL
President Ricardo Romo delivers his annual address to discuss the state and future of UTSA.
UTSA Sarah Gibbens News Editor
news@paisano-online.com “Everything we do must be about our students,” began
Ricardo Romo in his address. On Sept. 24 at 3:00 p.m. President Romo delivered his annual State of the University Address. The speech was meant to highlight what UTSA has achieved in the past year and to introduce plans for the future. Provost John Frederick
“I believe we become a top tier university when we act it, when we believe it and when we live it.” Ricardo Romo
UTSA President Rackspace Hosting, “San Antonio is a destination for college educated young people seeking jobs,” even rivaling Austin in the number of young professionals it attracts. Romo went on to recognize that UTSA’s Capitol Campaign
Fund has reached its goal of raising $120 million before 2015 and will continue to seek $55 million more in the next two years. Other changes that students can look forward to include a restructuring of the advising system. Rather than being grouped by college, students will be clustered with advisors by major. With this overhaul, Romo and UTSA estimates that 80 percent of students will stay with the same advisor throughout their college career, even accounting for change of major. President Romo concluded his speech by saying that UTSA’s efforts to become a Tier One university are being recognized. “Our students deserve the best because, in my opinion, they are the best.”
NEWS
2 October 1, 2013
FACEBOOK: the effect on relationships From Page 1
correlation between autism and Internet use. She hypothesizes that either widespread Internet use among children could cause the development of autism, or the spread of information has made the disorder more well known. Either way, she believes it is something that should be studied. Conversely, according to an article in The Atlantic, “Is Facebook Making us Lonely?” by Stephen March, “Social media use can be linked to Pathological Internet Use (caused or exacerbated by social networking), which is associated with feelings of loneliness, depression, anxiety and general distress.” There is a general consensus among researchers that people feel worse about themselves after an hour of “Facebooking,” which then can lead to feelings of inadequacy, and possibly depression. Mary McNaughton-Cassill, a professor of psychology at UTSA, has looked at some of the psychological effects of Facebook. “Facebook is very deceptive; people only share things that make themselves look better. Picture yourself at home on a Saturday night studying, and you see a ton of posts on Facebook about how much fun people are having tonight. “These posts are just a way
to get attention from others, which in turn will make you feel bad about staying in,” says Cassill. For students balancing work, school and social life, Facebook can be overwhelming. “The problem with social media is that people don’t limit their use; it’s like they are on-call 24/7, and I find that a lot of students become stressed, which is probably due to too many texts and too much stimulation.” Facebook is good and bad for different reasons: it is bad because it interferes with relationships but good because it helps people stay connected with friends they would otherwise lose due to distance. “When I was in college, it was harder to maintain friendships,” said Cassill. “We didn’t have a phone with us all of the time. All we had was a landline in the dorm room, and even then you had to wait till the evening to call; otherwise, it was very expensive to phone during the day. But now it is easier to keep in contact.” As a still-new phenomenon, more research is being conducted to ascertain the full effects of social media on mental health and overall well-being. “I don’t think social media is going anywhere. People like the convenience and the connection, but they need to set boundaries,” said Cassill.
The UTSAPD recently released its crime statistics for the past three calendar years. The highest offenses were relating to drugs and alcohol and most incidents occurred on UTSA’s Main Campus. The Annual Security Report is prepared by the UTSAPD in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Crime Statistics Act. In a statement from UTSAPD, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety, Steve Barrera stated that UTSAPD is “committed to ensuring the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors at the UTSA campuses.
STREETCARS: transportation changes From Page 1
Smart Way SA has become the outlet with which VIA, along with the Downtown Alliance of San Antonio, has sought to expand innovation initiatives. The Lone Range Comprehensive Transportation Plan was established by Smart Way SA to study the feasibility of an inner-city rail streetcar system. While the VIA board of trustees has not yet approved a final route, it is likely that the streetcar will run along Broadway, St. Mary’s and Navarro streets going north to south;
and on Martin and Pecan and César E. Chávez Boulevard going east and west, along with connecting routes. Not to be confused with a rail system, the streetcar system works by laying tracks on the ground that will carry around trolley cars. It is unclear how fast the streetcar will travel, but it will match metro speed limits. The streetcar project would cost approximately $280 million, and will have roughly six miles of track. The high cost has sparked debate because VIA is one of the most underfunded public tran-
sit systems in Texas– a result of a .5 percent transit tax rate as opposed to a one percent tax rate seen in other cities. The VIA board of trustees believes federal and state grants can ensure that the San Antonio local government will not be paying the full amount. As San Antonio continues to gain a higher population, the city faces congestion and a necessity to improve infrastructure. Various ways of improving the transportation dilemma (more VIA buses, expanding highways and streets, building
a light rail system) have also been proposed with mixed public support. Even though the route plan can still be changed, some San Antonio residents feel uneasy about the proposed routes. “The amount it would cost for the streetcar is not efficient, and it could take a long time for the cost to be offset by tourism. It would be better to use that money to improve the current transportation infrastructure,” stated Haley Garcia, a senior UTSA computer and electrical engineering student.
NEWS
3 October 1, 2013
Senate on Cruz Control Sarah Gibbens News Editor
Associated Press
news@paisano-online.com
Wendy Davis gained political fame after filibustering for 11 hours a bill that would restrict access to abortion.
Run for Governor?
Sarah Gibbens
News Editor
news@paisano-online.com On Sunday, Sept. 29, The Texas Tribune concluded its three-day political festival with an interview with Democratic State Senator Wendy Davis, D-Ft. Worth. Davis gained notoriety after her infamous 11-hour filibuster on a bill that restricted women’s access to abortion. Since her speech, there have
been rumors that the senator will run for governor in 2014 against Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott. While she isn’t scheduled to announce her decision until Oct. 3, her political behavior has been indicative of a run for governor. Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune Evan Smith interviewed Davis on what she would change in the Texas legislature, whether in another run for senate or statewide.
Among her political agenda is a plan to invest in public education: “If we don’t start investing in our children, it is going to hurt our economy.” When asked about the current trend of rising tuition, Davis said that grant-in-aid is not keeping up with rising costs, saying, “We’re pricing people out of the opportunity to access higher education.”
On Sept. 27, 2013 The Texas Tribune Festival hosted a talk between Senator Ted Cruz and CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the Texas Tribune Evan Smith. Cruz, who gained notoriety last week after a 21-hour speech in the Senate to delay the Affordable Care Act (ACA), was present for the interview via telecast. Delay over passing a federal budget kept Cruz in Washington where he continued the fight against the soonto-be implemented universal healthcare law. Raised in Houston, Cruz received an undergraduate degree from Princeton and a law degree from Harvard. As a prominent figure in the Republican Party, Cruz has been instrumental in the fight against the ACA. “It had been my hope that Senate Republicans would unite,” stated Cruz about the movement to defund the ACA. “They were able to fund President Obama, and I think that’s unfortunate. The House is going to stand strong and pass a resolution that will make real progress.” Preceding Cruz’s infamous pseudo-filibuster, rumors circulated in Congress that Cruz was counseling members of the Senate to disregard House Speaker John Boehner. Cruz responded to the rumors by saying, “A lot of silly things have been written in this process.”
When Smith asked Cruz explicitly if his answer was no, Cruz responded saying, “You did not hear a yes. At the end of the day, every member of the House is going to have to make a decision. The biggest thing I have been urging people to do is to listen to their constituents.”
“After Obamacare is repealed, I think we need serious reform, such as expanding competition and encouraging patient empowerment.” Ted Cruz
U.S. (R) Senator
The debate over funding the ACA comes at a critical time, as congress must vote on a working budget for the fiscal year, scheduled to begin on Oct. 1. Without this critical vote, the government will shut down, halting all nonessential government services. “There is plenty of time to avert a shutdown,” claimed Cruz. “(We) will only have one if Harry Reid and President Obama insist on a shutdown.” Focusing on the debate over universal health care, Smith localized the ACA by discussing health care in Texas. Over
a quarter of Texans are uninsured, incurring large debts for emergency care centers. Rather than supplying universal health care, Cruz believes in personal insurance plans that are separate from employment. “The best way for them (uninsured) to get health insurance is for them to get a good paying job,” said Cruz. “After Obamacare is repealed, I think we need serious reform, such as expanding competition and encouraging patient empowerment. We should encourage the development of personal health plans. It’s all about encouraging you.” Cruz has also been active on congressional issues of immigration. Claiming to be the strongest supporter of immigration in the senate, Cruz discussed a recent bill he authored to increase caps on immigration, which was voted down. “I think that was a real mistake,” said Cruz of the bill’s failure. However, concerning illegal immigrants currently living in the U.S., Cruz stated, “There is no chance the House is going to pass a path to amnesty for those who are here illegally.” Cruz’s recent fame in the Senate has not gone unnoticed. CNN polls show that Cruz is the leading choice among Republicans for the 2016 presidential race. When asked if he plans to run for president, Cruz turned focus back to current issues, he said, “I’m trying to focus on just getting the job done, not the politics.”
Turning Texas Blue Sarah Gibbens News Editor
news@paisano-online.com Since 1994, no Democrat in Texas has been elected in a statewide election. In the years following, Texas has become notoriously conservative, cutting taxes and attracting capital enterprise, but often at the expense of social welfare programs. On Sept. 29, The Texas Tribune hosted a panel of Democratically aligned political experts to answer the question: “Will Texas turn blue?”
“We need to break down barriers to voting and personally reach out to non-voting citizens.” Jeremy Bird
Senior Advisor for Battleground Texas The panel consisted of Jeremy Bird, senior advisor for Battleground Texas, a Democratic voter mobilization group; Leticia Van de Putte, Democratic state Senator from San Antonio District 26; and Bill White, 2010 Democratic nominee for Texas Governor. Senator Pete
Gallego D-San Antonio, who beat Republican nominee Francisco Canseco in 2012, was not in attendance due to budget issues in Washington. Editorin-Chief of The Texas Tribune Evan Smith served as the moderator. The panel began by discussing methods with which Democrats plan to turn the state. “We need to break down barriers to voting and personally reach out to non-voting citizens,” said Bird. Texas has the lowest voter turnout nationally, ranking 51st when including Washington D.C. Bird believes that with “voter registration, turnout and persuasion,” the Texas Democratic Party can capitalize on an untapped voter base. White also supported a grassroots approach to motivating a Democratic voter base. “I started out in politics going door-to-door and registering voters,” claimed the former Houston mayor. Van de Putte cited conflict within the Republican Party as instrumental to instituting a strong Democratic candidate, saying, “I think the Republicans are helping us a great deal.” While Wendy Davis has become the likely Democratic nominee for governor, there has also been buzz for Van de Putte to run opposite David Dewhurst in the race for Lieutenant Governor. In an interview the previous
day, Dewhurst received backlash for a comment he gave in which he said, “We have universal healthcare– it’s called the emergency room.” When asked directly if she plans to run for Lieutenant Governor, Van de Putte revealed, “It’s a very personal decision that I’m not taking lightly. I’m looking at the analytics.” The senator did make it known that she plans on making a change in Texas politics. “I want different leadership for this state so badly. When Dewhurst thinks universal healthcare is walking into an ER, that’s a problem. There’s a disconnect between the people and their elected officials.”
“Texas will turn blue over my cold, dead body.” David Dewhurst
Lt. Gov. of Texas While Democratic Party leadership remains hopeful in its commitment to changing the politics of Texas, conservatives remain confident of their Republican majority. When asked if he thought Texas would ever become a Democratic majority state, Dewhurst responded by saying, “Texas will turn blue over my cold dead body.”
The Paisano
4
August 26, 2008
October 1, 2013
{The Paisano} Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Duarte
Managing Editor: J. Corey Franco
News Editor: Sarah Gibbens
Arts Editor: Janae Rice
Sports Editor: Mario Nava
Web Editor: Jennifer Alejos
Special Issues Editor: Erin Boren
Business Manager: Jenelle Duff
Senior Copy Editor: Beth Marshall
Interim Photo Editor: Rafael Gutierrez
Opinion 5 OPINION
A manufactured crisis Anyone taking a basic American politics class can tell you that we have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. Our elected officials are sent to the Capitol to represent the best interests of the constituents they serve. It is in this regard that our government is currently failing us. When the House and Senate could not vote on a budget with bipartisan approval before the fiscal year (Oct. 1 to Sept. 30), the government immediately shut down. Many Americans now have to question the security of their jobs or government-funded services. All nonessential government services effectively came to a halt as early as 12:01 Tuesday
morning. To prepare for the potential shutdown, bills had already been passed in the House to fund military spending and continue payroll for those enlisted in active military service — but what about the rest of us? The immediate halt of nonessential government services will have effects both varied and far-reaching. Services such as small business loans, passport requests, national parks, trash collection, federal employee payment, scientific research and the processing of government applications of any kind will be put on hold. According to CNN, more than 783,000 government employees will be forced to sit at home, waiting
for the government to reach an agreement. Why would the federal government jeopardize the livelihood of so many of its people? The inability to reach an agreement can be linked to the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare as it is colloquially known. Senate Democrats are insisting that the budget include funding for Obamacare while House Republicans are just as insistent that it not. A group of Republicans led by Texas’ own Senator Ted Cruz, recently famous for his 21hour speech last week against Obamacare, are pushing to defund Obamacare even at the expense of government day-today operations. Paychecks for
members of Congress are considered mandatory, however, and will not be disrupted. In an interview on Sept. 27 with Evan Smith, Editor-in-Chief of The Texas Tribune, Senator Cruz was asked if he would give up his paycheck in the event of a government shutdown. Cruz responded by saying, “I don’t think we should shut down the government. I will confess it is not a question that I will give thought to.” The possibility of a government shutdown is a manufactured crisis born out of Washington politics. Whether or not citizens agree with the passage of Obamacare, a government shutdown should at no point be an option. We the people elect
representatives to aid in government efficiency. No one expects the government to agree on everything — or anything for that matter — but the ability to compromise and manage a working government is a basic job requirement for elected officials. Threatening a shutdown is not only inefficient, but also extremely irresponsible. In a speech that took place minutes before the shut down Monday night, President Obama iterated the services that would end and made it clear that Obamacare would continue unaffected. “One faction of one party of one branch does not get to shut down the government.”
Senior Photographers: Vicente Cardenas Lindsay Smith
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Comic I’ll Just Sit Here. by: Christopher Breakell
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Editor@paisano-online.com
Steven Kellman, Mansour El-Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias 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. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:
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Commentary State lawmakers use discretion to park funds elsewhere The San Antonio Parks and Recreation D e p ar tment operates the city’s recreational and cultural programs and maintains, according to its website, 244 city-owned parks, including swimming pools, gymnasiums, cemeteries, sports facilities, recreation centers and the Botanical Garden and Conservatory. The department is responsible for the maintenance of 14,524.83 acres of park land, including more than 118 miles of walking, hiking and biking trails. A 2013 statewide poll conducted by Hill Research Consultants shows that 84 percent of Texans see state parks as essential to healthy, active lifestyles, and 85 percent of Texans acknowledge a need to protect our natural areas. Despite this large showing of
public support, the State Legislature has left the park system struggling to gather funds to adequately maintain and operate these integral facilities. Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) requested an additional $11.2 million for the operation of state parks in the 2014-2015 budget. Senate and House budgets ultimately allocated only an additional $6.9 million in funding. Staff at the Legislative Budget Board interpreted these figures to mean seven state parks could close. In 1993, state lawmakers passed a measure that devoted a portion of sporting goods sales tax to the parks system. This measure seemed to be a move in a positive direction for TPWD, but, in 1995, lawmakers put a cap of $32 million per year on parks spending while revenue from the sporting goods tax rocketed past $100 million. This funding also fell short as state appropriators maintained ultimate discretion in the allocation of the sporting goods tax.
In a Texas Tribune Festival panel on Sept. 28 Carter Smith, executive director of TPWD, noted that, “In 2007, the legislation called for
“2 billion dollars has been raised by the sporting goods tax since it began and only 600 million has been used for parks.” George Bristol
State Parks Advisory Commitee Chairman Texas Parks and Wildlife to receive 94 percent of sporting goods sales tax, (but) the legislature reserved that authority for themselves, and we receive typically 30-60 percent.” State Rep. Lyle Larson, R-San Antonio, has fought in the legisla-
ture to stop this funding diversion and allow the parks to receive the funding that they need to operate. “We’re getting closer to utilizing the full amount of money allocated for parks.” Rep. Larson stated in the Sept. 28 Texas Tribune panel. “We are trying to eliminate the diversion.” Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Susan Combs projects this sporting goods tax fund will generate $265 million over the coming 2014-2015 biennium, more than enough money to adequately fund our state park system. TPWD only received approximately one-quarter of the sporting goods sales tax revenues for the 2012-2013 biennium. Also at the panel, George Bristol, Chairman of the State Parks Advisory Committee, stated, “2 billion dollars has been raised by the sporting goods tax since it began and only 600 million has been used for parks.” The 2013 Hill Research poll also shows strong support for using the sporting goods sales tax to fund
state parks. Seventy-six percent of respondents support using revenue from the tax for “Acquiring, maintaining & operating state & local parks.” As Texas lawmakers wade through budgetary issues that have much more divisive implications, it seems unfortunate that they have failed to follow through with such a widely supported allocation that would only improve Texans’ standard of living. The State Legislature should be embarrassed that Texas ranks last nationally per capita in both state park land and funding for state parks, and TPWD officials are many times left to search for private funding in order to keep state parks open. J. Corey Franco Managing Editor
ARTS&LIFE
5
October 1, 2013
{Local Events}
Tuesday, October 1 6 p.m. UTSA National Night Out The UTSA Police Department will host an event at the University Center Paseo on UTSA’s main campus as a part of National Night Out. From 6 to 9 p.m. the free event is open to the public and includes snacks, drinks and activities. A live band and kid’s corner will also be available. For more information, call (210) 877-4006.
Jennifer Alejos / The Paisano
Wednesday, October 2 7 p.m. Contest: The Gong Shorts Film Contest
B.A.T Printmaking Club historian, Madison Cowles works on a project for class.
Printmaking club is first edition on campus Jennifer Alejos
Web Editor web@paisano-online.com On Friday afternoons, in the Arts Building on the Main Campus, a close-knit group of students discuss their favorite hobby – printmaking. The Bon A Tirer, or B.A.T. Printmaking Club, is a new organization on campus dedicated to the art of printmaking — a specialized craft where an image is replicated onto a different medium with ink using techniques such as silkscreen or woodcut prints. Printmaking has been a popular art form in modern culture
and has been traced to prehistoric times. Today, the art form is still widely practiced in major cities. Some contemporary artists — such as U.K. street artist Banksy — have gained worldwide fame. The popular street artist was the subject of the 2010 documentary “Exit Through The Gift Shop.” Bon A Tirer, coming from the French phrase “Fit to print,” gives students of all majors the opportunity to explore this art form and participate in activities on and off campus. This semester, the club plans to have construction projects, charity events, participate in Best Fest and enter local and national art shows. Members
will also be able to sell their artwork while enriching the art community. Senior fine arts major Madison Cowles says, “We wanted to spread our love of printmaking. A lot of people, even if they’re art majors, don’t know what printmaking is until they get into the basic printmaking class.” For others, the organization is seen as a good introduction for anyone interested in printmaking but may not be an art major. Junior kinesiology major Bryan Gonzalez says, “It seemed like a great opportunity since it’s a different art form. I wanted to see what it’s
all about.” The B.A.T. Club was inspired by an idea Professor Juan de Dios Mora had when talking to senior Alan Serna about the types of organizations offered on campus. Serna, who is the president of the club, says, “Juan kind of had this idea for it; there’s always a lot of controversy about printmaking being a dead art form.” Members felt that UTSA was lacking a club that specializes in one art technique while other organizations, such as the Fine Arts Association (FAA), are generally broad. Serna says, “Our goal is to bring printmakers together and
people who want to know how to print make together and have a community, but at the same time it’s open for other artists.” Meetings are held in the Printmaking Studio (2.01.12) in the Arts Building at the main campus. Times and dates are posted on the B.A.T. Facebook page. The club is open to everyone, and membership dues are $5. For more information on the B.A.T Printmaking Club visit their Facebook page or find them on Instagram and Twitter at @batprintclub.
better part of existence is selfdisciplined, small joys can become much larger entities, even burdens, in our lives. Five-minute lunches between classes or an almostmeal at 4 p.m. does not a healthy human make. Therefore, when we are given opportunities to treat ourselves, the possibility of going overboard is looming. When my day is over and I’ve settled down with some good television (depending how busy the night is), far be it from anyone to tell me a snack is out of the question. Yet when it becomes a habit and then the highlight of the day, it can become a problem. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed my energy level decreasing as I pushed my diet further back in my mind with each passing day and decided an overhaul was in order. Dieting is by no means a matter of depriving yourself of things you love, but regulating food to adhere to your life and tastes. Forget all those commercials depicting women choosing a bowl of cereal over a cookie in a grocery store. Even if you’re not a “dessert person,” there is something you deserve to eat that various nutrition-
based outlets try to tell you to avoid. My philosophy is not to reject these things completely but learn to love them casually and continue to love them completely and totally. On that note, don’t let your relationship with food affect the way you see yourself. If you are anything like me — that might be a good mantra to keep in mind. When I noticed myself feeling sluggish I de-
Sara Flores
Staff Writer arts@paisano-online.com This summer, while giving myself a break from taking classes, I decided to reform my diet. I gave myself a very regular schedule. I stuck to specific eating habits that gave me energy (and didn’t leave me starving) and noticed an overall change in the way I felt. I felt a change in my energy level, my relationship with food and even my body image. It’s so easy to fall into bad eating habits during stressful times, but once I found my groove with a
diet that worked for me I kept up with it quite easily. And then school started. When I become frazzled, I try to remain poised on the outside and keep my anxieties deep within; but when it came to keeping up with my diet, I couldn’t pretend to have it together. While during the summer I was able to snack a little and make decent (not remarkable) choices, keeping up with a diet during school is an entirely different animal. In case you’re wondering, I do abide to practically all of the college clichés; I’m not a breakfast person, I hate packing my-
Have a question for Sara? Send your question to arts@paisano-online.com
self lunches and prefer to ascribe to a cupcake-based creed as often as possible. That being said, I do have a stronger sense of self-control than most fouryear-olds. The demanding nature of school, however, makes it easy to falter with anything that doesn’t come naturally. Though I am not a believer in depriving oneself of the wicked joys in life, I think once we become adults we learn to form our own healthy routines that shed the urge to give in to bad habits. Yet, attending a university with a rigorous curriculum can make self-discipline extremely difficult. When the
Thursday, October 3 4 p.m. Exhibit: Cut! Costume and Cinema The McNay Art Museum (6000 North New Braunfels) will present an exhibition displaying 40 intricate costumes from films such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Sense and Sensibility.” These costumes were worn by stars Keira Knightly, Johnny Depp, Uma Thurman and Daniel Craig. Admission is free on Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit mcnayart.org.
Friday, October 4 7:30 p.m. Film Screening: “Gigi”
San Antonio Botanical Gardens (555 Funston) will host an outdoor screening of the 1959 Academy Award-winning film “Gigi” presented by Slab Cinema. Admission is free and lawn chairs and blankets are encouraged. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. For more information, visit slabcinema.com.
Saturday, October 5 8 p.m. Theater: “The Haunted House” The Overtime Theater (1203 Camden) will present “The Haunted House” by Roman Playwright Titus Maccius Plautus. This ancient farce set in Athens centers around a slave, Tranio. Admission is $10$14. Visit theovertimetheater.org for more information.
COLUMN
John Flores / The Paisano
Alamo Drafthouse with Bunny Hat Productions will host The Gong Shorts Film contest at Alamo Drafthouse Westlakes (1255 SW Loop 410). Films will be played in the order they are received, and every film is guaranteed three minutes of play. Audience members can call the “gong” if a film is not approved. Once the gong is struck, the next film will play. The audience favorite will win $100; runners-up are given tickets to the LOL Comedy Club. Admission is $9.50. For more information, visit facebook.com/gongshorts.
cided not to take the easy, more immediate route and beat myself up but calmly acknowledge that I needed a change. I believe the key to personal change is to start from the top and first acknowledge your limitless self-worth. Once you have that on lockdown, everything else becomes secondary.
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ARTS&LIFE
6 October 1, 2013
Sex, Drugs and Poetry Patrick Martinez Contributing Writer
arts@paisano-online.com Sex, drugs and poetry are just some of the many topics performed at Puro Slam, the weekly poetry spot in Southtown. Every Tuesday at 10 p.m., the gloves come off and the rules go out the door as some of the rowdiest crowds — and some the best poets in San Antonio — battle it out in this “survival of the fittest” type of poetry competition to become the champion, at least until the following Tuesday. The poetry slam consists of three rounds. Anybody can sign up if they arrive at 10 p.m. for sign up. Audience members can volunteer to be one of five judges who critique the poems on a score from one to 10, one being the worst poem, and 10 being the best poem. The top six poets go on to the second round, and the top three authors battle it out in the third round. Each poet reads an original of his or her own with no props, no costumes and no animal acts. Each person on the stage has three minutes to recite a poem; every five seconds after, the lyricist gets deducted points. Puro Slam, in its seventh venue since 1999, is still not
for the faint of heart. What makes Puro Slam unique is that it is one of the few places in Texas that actually encourages heckling. Heckling is a form of taunting that is (properly) done by yelling obnoxious, funny, encouraging or even offensive things at the poet who is performing. Some think it’s a form of art, while others disagree. With the exception of some new poets, most of the performers see the heckling as adversity to overcome as they rise above the audience and finish their poem. Anastacio Palomo, one of the premium poets at Puro says, “Some [poets] improve with heckling because they rise to the challenge. Others seem to crumble under the pressure. When done right (listen first, then respond) heckling is quite entertaining.” One of the signature types of heckling at the venue is the “carwash-clap.” This references is the clap done at the beginning of the 1976 song, “Carwash” by Rose Royce. When the carwash clap is done, Puro Slam meets every Tuesday at 10 p.m. in Southtown. it means the audience collectively thought the poem was ment of noise and finish the powerful statements on what not good. Typically, more ex- poem. However, others get too being a poet is all about. perienced poets — or the ones distracted, fumble their own The “Slam Master,” Shaggy, is who just don’t care — power words and give up and leave the host on most nights. Other through this powerful state- the stage. Both acts are seen as famous, colorful personalities
Vicente Cardenas / The Paisano
Puro Slam offers San Antonio poets a venue to present their diverse writings that grace the stage with their lyrics are known as Anastacio, Rooster, Travis S., Rayner Shyne, Diamond, J. Alejandro, Chris the Haiku Bike Guy and many more. Each writer brings something unique to their poems that everybody loves. Whether it be Travis’ “Poem about Poetry” or “Whataburger,” J. Alejandro’s “Rebel Poetry,” or Chris’ audience-participated haikus, patrons may never leave Puro Slam feeling disappointed. Palomo, who has been writing poetry for 27 years, says, “I keep going because it makes me nervous when I get on stage, and I like that feeling. The first time I went to Puro Slam, I saw a poet who, in my opinion, was horrible. He got low scores and it immediately drew me in.” When asked about his favorite aspect of Puro Slam, he responds, “I love that on any given night anyone could get up there. There is no telling who might read or what they might say. It’s never a given.” Any aspiring poets should know the dos and don’ts of slam. As recalled by Anastacio, “Read a poem of your own construction with confidence. Remember, you have the microphone and three minutes. Be entertaining. If the subject
matter of your piece can’t hold your attention, don’t expect it to hold the audience’s. Do not be boring or too nervous. You should not be showing that. Don’t read into your page, or muffle your words, don’t rush through and skip lines.” Also, don’t forget to finish the poem, no matter how bad or good it may be. Poets who finish their poem all the way through the heckles notice a level of appreciation among the other poets. Any aspiring poets who are curious or looking for a place to kick back, want to drink or even want to bring a date can come to Puro Slam. Puro Slam is located in Southtown, 101 Pereida St., 78210. Sign up opens at 10 p.m. and closes at 10:25 p.m. Other poetry venues are Sun Poets at Barnes and Noble on San Pedro Ave.; Second Verse, every second Friday at Continental Café on I-35 and Rittman (7-9pm). Jazz poets at Expresso Gallery 529 on San Pedro, Tuesday nights from 7-10 p.m.; Blah Blah Blah Poetry Spot at Deco Pizzeria on Zarzamora and Fredericksburg, every first and third Wednesday; and Poetic Seduction in Converse on FM 78.
SPORTS
7 October 1, 2013
UTSA FOOTBALL
This Week in Sports UTSA
Jakob Lopez
Friday, Oct. 4 @1:45 p.m.
Contributing Writer
sports@paisano-online.com The frustrations continued for the UTSA Roadrunners (23) this past Saturday as UTSA suffered their second blowout defeat at home this season, in front of 32,487 fans. After keeping pace with the Houston Cougars (4-0) for most of the game, UTSA went into the fourth quarter trailing, 31-28. Unfortunately, that’s when things began to take a turn for the worse, as the Roadrunners turned the ball over on five straight possessions, resulting in 28 unanswered points for the Cougars. “The fourth quarter was a disaster. When you turn the ball over five times, you are not going to win. I don’t care who you’re playing,” UTSA head coach Larry Coker said after the game. “Where we are, we do not have a lot of margin for error. We don’t have to play perfect, but we have to play better than we did today.” Before their costly turnovers, UTSA had an opportunity to take the lead in the third quarter. With Houston leading 2421, the Roadrunners put together a 7-play, 50-yard drive
to force their way into the Cougars’ red zone. Junior wide receiver Kam Jones threw a pass to senior quarterback Eric Soza in the end zone on a trick play, but the ball was inches short of Soza’s fingertips and perhaps inches away from changing the outcome of the game. “We ran that play in practice and it was perfect,” Jones said after the game. “But today I think I got a little anxious. When I let it go I knew it was short.” The Roadrunners elected to take a field goal from the 29yard line, but Houston blocked the kick and ran it back for a touchdown. The missed opportunity would be a notable momentum swing in the game, and although UTSA fought back with a touchdown late in the third quarter the Cougars would go on to blow out the Roadrunners. “I am very proud of the way the guys fought. Down by 10, we had the blocked field goal,” Coker said. “We came back and cut it to three, but we could not hang with them in the fourth quarter.” UTSA started the game against Houston with a strong opening drive on the efforts of Soza and Jones. Soza connected with Jones for a 28-yard catch
UTSA GOLF
Rafael Gutierrez / The Paisano
Cougars pounce Roadrunners in 58-29 loss in the Alamodome
The Roadrunners were outscored 28-0 in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s home loss.
Vicente Cardenas / The Paisano
Vicente Cardenas / The Paisano
UTSA had a total of five turnovers for the game.
Soza threw for a school-record 316 yards.
downfield, and subsequently found Jones again a few plays later on a 12-yard slant route for a UTSA touchdown.
Houston responded as their prolific hurry up offense started to find a rhythm with freshman quarterback John O’Korn at the
From Canada to Texas, a golf story worth telling Chaney Shadrock Contributing Writer
Jeff Huehn / UTSA Athletics
sports@paisano-online.com
Werre is planning to play golf profesionally once he graduates.
Ryan Werre heads into his senior season with UTSA golf as a leader who has been far from home for some time now. Originally from Redcliff, Canada, Werre has fallen in love with the hot Texas sun and year-round golf facilities. “I found the summers to be super-hot, but I love it,” Werre said. “I can’t imagine a better place to play golf year round, really.” Werre made his move from chilly Canada to steamy Texas three years ago as a freshman. Dealing with harsh and long Canadian winters, Werre had to work twice as hard as any
student-athlete in order to land a spot on a Division I team in America. “There are no real golf schools in Canada. There are little golf programs and universities,” Werre said. “In my mind, to be a professional golfer you have to get somewhere where you can play all year round. I don’t think it’s very reliable to just kind of live five months out of the year and play golf and then expect to compete.” So just how did this Canadian golf-sensation find his way to UTSA? It was thanks to Louis Chon, a fellow Canadian and UTSA golf player who helped make it happen. “Basically, me and Louis (Chon) had the same swing coach back when I was a junior
Townend: a student-athlete on the rise Jade Cuevas
Contributing Writer
sports@paisano-online.com
thing is time management,” Townend said. Carrie Parnaby, UTSA women’s golf coach, understands the effort her players have to make in order to be a part of the team. “Golf is really time consuming,” Parnaby said. “Brogan doesn’t have a car, so she gets rides with other girls, and anytime she wants to do extra practice she has to work a little harder to get there.” Recently, Townend led the golf team with nine birdies and a seven-over par score of 223 (78-73-72), leading to a tie for 17th place. She also helped UTSA achieve an eighth place overall finish at the “Mo”Morial Tour-
nament on Sept. 11 held in College Station, Texas at the Traditions Golf Club. “Brogan definitely played really well,” Parnaby said. “She competed a lot over the summer and was mentally ready.” Originally from Blackburn, England, Townend’sthe adjustment to playing and living in Texas has been difficult, but with time it has become easier. “Where I’m from, it’s a typical English village. It was at first really hard, but it’s been good this year and last year,” Townend said.
Jeff Huehn / UTSA Athletics
The UTSA women’s golf team is a dedicated group who spends the majority of their time either on the greens practicing or in the classroom learning. It is no surprise that sophomore Brogan Townend is consumed with only two things — playing golf and graduating. The process for Brogan can be difficult at times, requiring her to put in the extra time needed to succeed. “We obviously have school to keep up with, and then we have workouts and practice. That’s probably the hardest
helm. UTSA didn’t help themselves when a 15-yard pass interference penalty by corner Andre Brown led to a 15-yard touchdown pass from O’Korn to running back Ryan Jackson three plays later to tie the game at 7-all. Both teams had successful scoring drives in the second quarter as each team matched the other with both a rushing and passing touchdown. At the half, the Roadrunners were tied with the Cougars 21-21, in good position to pull off the upset. “It was a 0-0 ball game and we were going to go win it in the second half,” said Soza after the game. “Our motto is to start fast and finish strong, and we didn’t finish strong today. We made mistakes and they made plays.” Perhaps the most telling thing of all was UTSA’s issues with turnovers. In the fourth quarter alone UTSA had five of their six total possessions result in an interception or fumble. Through five games this season, the Roadrunners have a 10-1 turnover ratio. UTSA travels to Huntington, West Virginia next Saturday to take on Marshall (2-2) in their second Conference USA game of the season.
Before becoming a Roadrunner, Townend was a member of the English National Team.
Whether it’s at the San Antonio or other United States golf courses, Townend has grown into a student-athlete who is loving her time here. “Yeah, I love it. San Antonio. Americans. It’s just great,” Townend said.
in high school. I told my swing coach, ‘I’m looking at playing golf down in the states and I want to go to a university,’ and he just let the director of golf know about me. When I contacted Coach (John Knauer), he had already heard about me and had been watching me. So I came down for a visit and that’s how it started.” Now, four years later, Werre has his sights set on a successful senior season as a Roadrunner. “Every year we have been here, we’ve gotten a lot better. I’m really looking forward to this year,” Werre said. “I wish I had a couple more years to spend with the guys.” {For more UTSA golf coverage please visit paisano-online. com/sports}
Cross Country (Men and Women) Notre Dame Golf Course—South Bend, Ind. Notre Dame Invitational Football Saturday, Oct. 5 @1 p.m. Joan C. Edwards Stadium— Huntington, W. Va. @Marshall Thundering Herd Golf (Men) Monday, Oct. 7-8 @Old Overton Golf Course — Birmingham, Ala. Jerry Pate National Invitational Soccer Friday, Oct. 4 @6 p.m. TransAmerica Field Complex— Charlotte, N.C. @Charlotte 49ers Sunday, Oct. 6 @1 p.m. Soccer Complex—Norfolk, Va. @Old Dominion Lady Monarchs Volleyball Friday, Oct. 4 @7 p.m. Convocation Center—San Antonio, TX vs. FIU Panthers Sunday, Oct. 6 @12 p.m. Convocation Center—San Antonio, TX vs. Florida Atlantic Owls San Antonio Sports Rampage (AHL) Friday, Oct. 4 @7:30 p.m. AT&T Center—San Antonio, TX vs. Chicago Wolves Saturday, Oct. 5 @7 p.m. AT&T Center—San Antonio, TX vs. Rockford IceHogs Scorpions (NASL) Saturday, Oct. 5 @7:30 p.m. Toyota Field —San Antonio, TX vs. Atlanta Silverbacks
HU, Most Beautiful Prayer
Free HU chant and discussion
Thursday, October 3, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
University Center 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room) Info: Omid Ghasemi (e-mail) - qys128@my.utsa.edu
or Call Justin: 832-244-6502 www.HearHU.org Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Organization - visit the bulletin board in MH2-5C for info on ongoing activities.
8 October 1, 2013
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