The Paisano Volume 47 Issue 20 by The Paisano

Soccer earns tie with Idaho: Page 8

Getting inked up: Page 5

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

October 2, 2012

Volume 47

Issue 20

UTSA grad student recovering after being mauled by chimps in South Africa Katy Schmeder Editor-in-Chief

Almost three months after being attacked by two chimpanzees in South Africa, UTSA graduate student Andrew Oberle posted to his Facebook on Sept. 17, “Hi everyone!i want to say say thanks to all of you for the prayers and wishes. im getting better every day thanks to all of you and my family. Hopefully I’ll be online more often so I can talk to you all. Recovery is tough but i thank God I have all you awesome people to help me through. Thanks and much love to all of you.” The long road to recovery began this summer, during Oberle’s graduate research at the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden, a sanctuary that houses abused and orphaned chimpanzees. On July 28, Oberle crossed the fence into a restricted area while leading a tour of the property. Visitors watched in horror as two chimpanzees pulled Oberle under an electric fence and dragged him for half a mile across the sanctuary. Oberle is finally healing from the extensive injuries and began rehabilitation in St. Louis, Mo. Dr. Bruce Kraemer, St. Louis University chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery and Oberle’s attending physician, stated in an interview with St Louis CBS, “He has all of his arms and legs. He’s had parts of injuries all over his body…to his head, to his trunk…but at the family’s request they don’t want to go in to what’s miss-

Photo courtesy of Anthony Reimherr

news@paisano-online.com

Anthony Reimherr

ing where.” Oberle’s love for animals is deeply rooted. Oberle’s mother Mary Flint stated in an article published by the Associated Press that his passion for chimpanzees began in the seventh grade after he saw a film about Jane Goodall. Goodall’s efforts inspired Oberle to volunteer at the St. Louis Zoo throughout high school, before he moved to San Antonio. As a full-time student at St. Mary’s University, he pursued his passion by volunteering at the San Antonio Zoo. Distance never hindered his dedication. Even while Oberle studied abroad, he took pride in his volunteer work with the Honolulu Zoo. Oberle embarked

Evidence of Oberle’s recovery comes in strides. Reimherr strives to maintain a positive attitude when the two friends speak on the telephone. Neither mentions the accident. Reimherr even noted that his friend still sounds as he did before. Today, Oberle spends much of his time watching his favorite baseball team, the St. Louis Cardinals, and catching up on recordings of the summer Olympics. “His attitude is phenomenal,” Kraemer said. “He’s dealt with horrific pain, but he is just a sweet, loving guy.” For more information, or to support Andrew Oberle’s recovery, visit https:// www.wepay.com/donations/169244

on his second trip to the Jane Goodall Institute Chimpanzee Eden, in Nelspruit, South Africa, this summer. “Andy is just an awesome guy, and an awesome friend,” Oberle’s roommate Anthony Reimherr said in an interview with The Paisano. Reimherr described Oberle was a very healthy, active guy who often ran the seven-mile trek to UTSA from his home on Bandera Rd., worked out at the Recreation Center, and then ran home again. “Andy is the type of guy that never quits,” Reimherr said. Oberle often celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas at the Reimherr home when he could not travel to his own home in St. Louis. Upon hearing

news@paisano-online.com San Antonio Café College aids high school students in their path to higher education by offering services such as college admission assistance, financial aid guidance, career exploration, advising and SAT or ACT preparation. However, the name of the center will soon be changed to the Manuel Berriozabal Café College to honor an outstanding member of the San Antonio community. Manuel Phillip Berriozabal, former UTSA mathematics professor, was born in San Antonio, Texas in 1931. He studied mathematics at Rockhurst College, University of Notre Dame and University of California Los Angeles, earning his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. He taught at UCLA, Loyola University of Los Angeles and, since 1976, the University of Texas at San Antonio. Berriozabal has received prestigious awards and was inducted into the Texas Science Hall of Fame. But, perhaps his most important achievement was the founding of the San Antonio Prefreshman Engineering Program (PREP) in 1979. The PREP program operates in 15 Texas cities every summer. It focuses on providing middle and early high school students with the support system to encourage their pursuit to higher educa-

the devastating news of their friend, Reimherr and his wife Marissa set up a website to benefit the Oberle family and his recovery. As of Aug. 17, friends and family have raised over $120,000 through the “We Pay” website and other various fundraisers and donations. The growing support, however, is not limited to family and friends. Oberle’s story is spreading. Over 1,500 people have showed their support by “liking” the Help Andrew Oberle page on Facebook. Friends and family, alongside many who have never met Oberle, continue to send encouragement and receive updates on Oberle’s condition. Many visitors comment on Oberle’s inspiring strength and de-

Natalie Frels Staff Writer

tion in science, technology, engineering and math. “I noticed that in my math classes, the Hispanic enrollment was too low, and those Hispanics who were enrolled were doing poorly in these classes because they did not have the problemsolving skills,” said Berriozabal. Over the years, the PREP program has received 40 million dollars from national, state, local and private sources. The program has served over 32 thousand students with alarming success. 90

percent of PREP students have graduated from college, 70 percent of which are members of a minority group. Because of the program’s positive impact in community, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro recognized Berriozabal’s dedicated efforts and changed the name of the Café College in his honor. “I never expected to have an honor like this,” Berriozabal expressed. “It was a very pleasant surprise! You do not expect to have a building named after you.”

Cafe College has helped thousands of San Antonio students with college admissions and financial aid paperwork

Andrew Oberle’s roommate

Supreme Court to review UT Austin’s admissions standards

Facebook/Cafe College

Contributing Writer

“Andy is just an awesome guy, and an awesome friend....the type of guy that never quits.”

Since being mauled by chimpanzees in South Africa over the summer, UTSA graduate student Andrew Oberle has shown great strength in overcoming his injuries

Cafe College renamed for UTSA professor Lictor Leal

termination. “I was overwhelmed by the fact that his closest friends were trying to raise money for him,” Red McCombs explained to Express-News. McCombs donated $10,000 to the cause. “We realize that this probably, in the scope of things, will be a drop in the bucket of what will ultimately be required,” he continued. “We don’t want the family to be concerned about what they do day to day while he’s fighting for his life. We’ll take that pressure off of them.”

news@paisano-online.com This month, the Supreme Court will consider whether affirmative action can be used as justification for university admissions to achieve diversity. Abigail Fisher filed a lawsuit against the University of Texas at Austin under the belief that she was denied acceptance to the university because of her Caucasian race. The decision could influence the future of affirmative action in university admissions across the nation. According to the legal briefs presented to the Supreme Court, the University of Texas at Austin receives applications from approximately four times more students each year than it can enroll in its freshman class. On Oct. 10, plaintiffs of Fisher v. University of Texas will challenge the lower court affirmation that “student body diversity is a compelling state interest that can justify the use of race in university admissions.” In her brief to the court, Fisher stated, “If any state action should respect racial equality, it is university admission.” Therefore, the University of Texas considers two criteria before admitting applicants. One of which reviews the student’s academic achievements. The other bases its criteria on a “Personal Achievement Index,” which considers the applicant’s demonstrated leadership qualities, extracurricular activities, awards and honors, work experience

and service to the school. However, race is only “a factor of a factor of a factor of a factor” in the “holistic” review of each applicant, stated Fisher v. University of Texas, 2011. Despite a student’s standing on the AI/PAI scale, Texas State Legislature granted automatic admission to any public state university, including UT, for all public high school seniors in the top 10 percent of their class, following the 1996 ruling of Hopwood v. Texas. Between 70 and 80 percent of qualifying applicants are admitted under the Texas “Top 10% Law.” Of the 6,322 students who were admitted in 2008, 5,144 were accepted under the “Top 10% Law.” Fisher, a white female, graduated outside the top 10 percent at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas in 2008. She claimed that less qualified minorities were admitted into UT, while she was only offered admission to the university’s Coordinated Admissions Program (CAP), with the guarantee to transfer to Austin the following year. The only goal of the Top Ten law, University of Texas President William Powers asserted in Fisher v. University of Texas, 2011, is to create a university environment where students are “learning and drawing from and sharing their experiences with people from different backgrounds, and that’s diversity writ large — geographic diversity, intellectual diversity, ethnic diversity, religious diversity,” See Affirmative Action, Page 3

News

The Paisano

students graduate on time and help their families cope with the cost of higher education, Powers said. “This is the thrust of Gov. Perry’s ideas of locking tuition rates on a rolling four-year basis. It can also encourage students to earn their degrees quickly,’’ Powers said. State lawmakers could help by providing universities with predictable budgets, Powers said. The Republicandominated Legislature cut nearly $1 billion from higher education in 2011, with nearly $92 million taken from the University of Texas. “Predictability and planning are also important for our campus, so the state should also show its commitment by providing predictable revenue streams for the same four years,’’ Powers said. “Predictability aids planning, and planning promotes efficiency.’’

The 2013 Legislature convenes in January. Perry has already said he will not sign a budget that increases state spending and ordered agencies to look for ways to cut costs by 10 percent. Graduating on time will help students keep costs down, Powers said. The university graduates about 52 percent of its students in four years, and Powers has set a goal of 70 percent by 2017. “To lower the cost of a UT degree for students and their families, nothing will do more than graduating in four years,’’ Powers said. Perry has pushed universities to rein in costs, calling on them to develop $10,000 bachelor’s degree programs and demanding greater efficiency on state campuses, moves that have caused friction with some administrators and faculty who worry about quality. Texas college students have faced sig-

strong debate performance. Obama, on the other hand, will be debating for the first time since 2008 against an opponent who has sparred in over a dozen debates in the past calendar year alone. While Democrats will boast that Obama currently leads Romney in both national polls, and in swing states, Republicans are quick to point out that no president has been reelected with such high unemployment rates since the Great Depression, and that millions of Americans remain out of work. Numbers aside, this, however, is still anyone’s race—which is why the debates will be so important come Election Day. Candidates customarily downplay their expectations heading into debates, according to Politico. Politico reported that Obama believes his debate skills are “just okay,” while on CNN’s State of the Union Republican John McCain commented, “sometimes we expect a major breakthrough, but that doesn’t happen very often.” However, I’m going to take sides with New Jersey’s Republican governor, Chris Christie, who told CBS’s Face the Nation that “this race is go-

ing to be turned upside down come Thursday morning.” Now, I’ll be the first to admit that Christie is known to make bold statements, and his comments were certainly meant to boost expectations for Mitt Romney, but unlike other politicians, Christie said what no one else will say: these debates will play a huge role in determining who will be sworn into office as President in January. According to Real Clear Politics, a website that aggregates polling data, since Mitt Romney secured the GOP nomination on May 29, the number of undecided voters has shrunk from 10.8 percent to a meager 5.3 percent today, meaning that those in the middle have already begun to take sides ahead of November. Although most Americans have already settled on a candidate, there is still room for each nominee to snag the remaining undecided voters, and these upcoming debates will be the biggest factor in the swing votes. A sharp one-liner or eloquently stated plan could easily tip the scales toward either candidate. While both campaigns may be downplaying their prospects, all signs are pointing toward an exciting Presidential debate.

October 2, 2012

UT President: state can help control student costs AP Story

news@paisano-online.com With rising tuition rates squeezing college students statewide, University of Texas President Bill Powers said Thursday that the state could help schools ease their burden with more consistent funding for higher education. Delivering his annual state of the university speech for the nearly-50,000 student campus, Powers briefly mentioned Gov. Rick Perry’s recent proposal to allow freshmen to lock in a tuition rate for four years. Powers said he is “heartened’’ by the conversation sparked by Perry’s idea and the goal of graduating students in four years, but he stopped short of endorsing the Republican governor’s proposal that so far offers no specifics. Texas should explore ways to help

Presidential Showdown Debates could be differencemaker in election Matthew Duarte News Editor news@paqisano-online.com

Ignore all of the ads on TV and headlines in the news from the past year: the presidential race won’t start until 8 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 3 when President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney meet for their first debate. Now that the primaries are over and the field has narrowed to two candidates (I’m sure Jill Stein and Gary Johnson will disagree), most Americans are finally starting to weigh their options and take sides with one candidate or the other. As it stands, Obama leads Mitt Romney in the polls, and unlike the Republican primaries from earlier this year, Romney is widely considered to be the underdog. While he proved to be a strong debater as the frontrunner earlier this year, Romney must now go on the offensive for a

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nificant tuition spikes in recent years. A Dallas Morning News analysis found the average student at a state university pays 55 percent more than a decade ago. The state set tuition caps until 2003, which helped make college more affordable. But faced with a significant budget gap that year, lawmakers cut state money to universities and allowed campuses to set their own tuition rates. In May, University of Texas System regents approved a two-year tuition hike at most of the system’s nine schools, but ordered the flagship Austin campus to freeze tuition for most students. Undergraduate resident students at the Austin campus pay $4,896 per semester. Powers publicly criticized the freeze at the time, saying it hampered the school’s ability to plan for the future.

Much of the nearly $26 million the university hoped to raise was to be used for improving academic advising and adding courses to help more students graduate in four years. In his speech, Powers also reaffirmed his commitment to diversity in the student body. A lawsuit challenging the university’s use of race as one element of its admissions policy is set to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court next month. “Our campus needs to be a more inclusive community that welcomes all people regardless of their race, religion, family status, and sexual orientation,’’ Powers said. “UT is a place where everyone should feel welcome.’’

After protests, Chick-fil-A decides to avoid politics in future

Daniel Crotty Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com Over the summer, Chick-fil-A entered the debate on same-sex marriage after CEO Dan Cathy stated his company was “guilty as charged,” in an interview with the Biblical Recorder. “We are very much supportive of the family—the biblical definition of the family unit.… We are a family owned business, a family led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that,” Cathy stated. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex and Allies community was outraged. On Sept. 20, Chick-fil-A released that the company will “treat every person with honor, dignity and respect—regardless of their beliefs, race, creed, sexual orientation and gender.” Much of the outrage surrounding Cathy’s statement stemmed from investigations into Chick-Fil-A’s charitable arm, the WinShape Foundation.

Between 2003 and 2009, the foundation donated about $3 million to groups that oppose homosexuality (not strictly same-sex marriage). In 2010 alone, the foundation donated about $2 million. Before the company issued its statement supporting dignity for all individuals, marriage-equality activists and the LGBTQIA community voiced their opinions in a variety of ways. They refused to eat at the restaurant, protested outside its doors and lobbied for some kind of recourse. Supporters of Chick-fil-A’s position took action as well; the National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes marriage-equality, planned “Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day” to show support for the company’s statement about marriage. The controversy has sparked a debate about the issue of free speech. However, the company’s donations and statements are protected under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. See Chick-fil-A, Page 3

The Paisano

October 2, 2012

Embassy riots prompt political rhetoric David Smith Intern

news@paisano-online.com The embassy riots that occurred on the 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks quickly spilled over into American politics, spurring more controversy on the campaign trail. Riots were staged in many Middle Eastern countries in response to a video released online called “Innocence of Muslims,” which depicted the prophet Muhammed as a murderer and fornicator. According to the New York Times, The US embassy in Cairo released a statement in response to rising tensions from the video, which “condemns the continuing efforts by misguided individuals to hurt the religious feelings of Muslims.” The embassy also called for “respect for religious beliefs...a cornerstone of American democracy.” The embassy claimed that they “firmly reject the actions by those who abuse the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others.” Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney expressed that the Cairo statement “clearly sent mixed messages” and was “akin to an apology.” He also called it “disgraceful” that the Obama administration’s first response was to “sympathize with those who waged the attacks,” according to a CNN blog. Romney’s statement was released after the Libyan embassy attacks led to the death of four American officials. The Obama administration criticized Romney for turning the riots into a campaign issue. “We are shocked that, at a time when the United States of America is confronting the tragic death of one of our diplomatic officers in Libya, Gov. Romney would choose to launch a political attack,” said Obama

campaign press secretary Ben LaBolt. According to CNN, the President responded to the issue of free speech stating, “we’re always going to uphold the rights of individuals to speak their minds.” “On the other hand, this film is not representative of who we are, and our values, and I think it is important for us to communicate that.” Obama expressed, however, that the First Amendment right does not warrant violence against American citizens. Regarding free speech, Romney released a statement criticizing the Obama administration’s initial response. “I think it is a terrible course for America to stand in apology for our values,” Romney said. “That instead when our grounds are being attacked and being breached that the first response of the United States must be outrage at the breach of the sovereignty of our nation. And apology for America’s values is never the right course.” “Gov. Romney seems to have a tendency to shoot first and aim later, and as president, one of the things I’ve learned is you can’t do that,” Obama contended in an interview with CBS, according to CNN. “It’s important for you to make sure that the statements that you make are backed up by the facts and that you’ve thought through the ramifications before you make them.” The Obama administration asked Google to “review the video to see if it is in compliance with their terms of use,” The company concluded that the video was not in violation of its policies, and would remain on YouTube. “However,” Google said, “we’ve restricted access to it in countries where it is illegal, such as India and Indonesia, as well as in Libya and Egypt, given the very sensitive situations in these two countries.”

Chick-fil-A: company acknowledges free speech From Page 2

Members of the UTSA community are also joining the debate. “I do feel as though the boycotting of Chick-Fil-A accomplished its purpose,” junior political science major Crystal Poenisch expressed. “The fact that Chick-Fil-A responded to the boycotts shows how

much power we have as consumers.” The WinShape Foundation released a statement on Sept. 20 regarding the controversy. “We are now taking a much closer look at the organizations we consider helping, and in that process, we will remain true to our stated philosophy of not supporting organizations with political agendas.”

News

Affirmative Action: is race still an acceptable admissions tool? From Page 2

“We’re trying to prepare them educationally for the world they’re going to live in.” University lawyers claimed in a 2009 court brief that this racial diversity is a product of highly segregated Texas high schools. Thus, the university’s policy, the Top Ten law serves to break down racial stereotypes. A Supreme Court ruling in 1950 forced the university to accept its first African American student. The dormitories were desegregated in the 1960s. In Hopwood v. Texas, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that UT admissions criteria violated the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The Court concluded that diversity was not sufficiently important to justify racial preferences. In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court ruled affirmative action in admissions was unconstitutional. However, because of the compelling interest to enroll “a critical mass” of minority students, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor held that universities may consider race a “plus” in the evaluation of an applicant, only if the racial preferences met specific restrictions. The ruling stipulated that “race, alone, must never be the “defining feature” of an application, no racial group could be “insulated” from competition with other applicants, schools must carefully consider race-neutral alternatives in pursuing diversity and must phase out the use of race as quickly as possible.” In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Court determined that the University of Michigan’s undergraduate admissions violated precedent by awarding extra points to minority applicants. Their program was deemed “narrowly tailored”- a race-conscious admissions quota system that “insulat[e] each category of applicants with certain desired qualifications from competition with all other applicants,” expressed Justice Lewis Powell in Regents of the University of California v. Bakke.

Considering the grounds on which Fisher v. University of Texas may be considered unconstitutional, the ruling would contradict the precedent. The Texas solicitor general summarized this case best when he stated, “If the Plaintiffs are right, Grutter is wrong.” The plaintiffs argued that the Top Ten Percent Rule is not “narrowly tailored” in that the program “produces only minimal gains in the enrollment of under-represented minorities, UT failed to consider race-neutral alternatives that would achieve UT’s diversity goals, UT’s consideration of race is over-inclusive because it benefits Hispanic students, who are not underrepresented and that UT’s consideration of race has no logical end point, according to Fisher v. University of Texas, 2009. The 2008 Top Ten Report regarding the “Top 10% Law” stated that 75 percent of all admitted African-American students and 76 percent of all admitted Hispanic students in 2004 qualified under the program, compared to 56 percent of all admitted Caucasian students. The University of Texas stated in a 2009 court brief that Fisher’s GPA of 3.56 and SAT score of 1180 would not have gained her acceptance in the competitive 2008 freshman class, even with a perfect academic index score. The mean SAT score for non-top 10 percent was 1285. Due to the high volume of applications, the university cannot automatically accept all applicants who qualify under the Top Ten law. The admissions program weighs applicants by class rank. UT caps the number of accepted applicants until all the available spaces are filled. In 2008, Top Ten Percent applicants accounted for 81 percent of the entering class overall, compared to 41 percent in 1998, and filled 92 percent of the seats allotted to Texas residents, leaving only 841 places university-wide in the Fall 2008 class for non-Top Ten Percent Texas residents, according to the 2008 Top Ten Report. Under cap restrictions, next year’s freshmen who wish to enroll at UT will

likely have to rank in the top eight percent of their graduating class to qualify. “For those who think we ought to just fill our class with automatic admission, there is not a university in the country that does that, there is not a business in the country that would select people that way,” Powers stated in 2011 briefs. “I think if there were, you would have people saying they are not being treated as individuals.” Lower courts sided with the University, whose defense further argued that because Fisher graduated from Louisiana State University, there is little reason to continue the litigation. The plaintiff is seeking damages for the expected difference between the income of a UT graduate and that projected for alumni of LSU. More importantly, the plaintiff argued that the suit is evidence that school districts had failed to “consider methods other than explicit racial classifications to achieve their stated goals.” The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the University’s race-conscious admissions program (the Top Ten Percent Law) had already fostered increased diversity on the campus. They also asserted that the Plaintiff’s call for an alternative admissions program appeared to be an unachievable and unrealistic goal of racial diversity to support the University’s race-conscious policy. The ruling, in effect, permitted all public higher education institutions to administer racially conscious admissions programs without following the “narrow tailoring” that Grutter v. Bollinger required. Only eight justices will vote in the ruling after Justice Elena Kagan recused herself from the case. In the case of a tie vote, UT’s admission program, including the Top Ten Percent Law would remain in place. However, the decision would not serve as a precedent. If the votes favor Fisher, the decision would overturn Grutter v. Bollinger and prohibit the University to consider race in future admission. A decision in Fisher v. University of Texas is expected by July 2013.

Opinion

4 The Paisano Editor-in-Chief: Katy Schmader

Managing Editor: Stephen Whitaker

Interim News Editor: Matthew Duarte

Paseo Editor: Sarah Gibbens

Arts Editor:

Erica Cavazos

Sports Editor: Rex Castillo

Photo Editor:

Alyssa Gonzales

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The Paisano

October 2, 2012

Editorial

Phase out the CAP Program The University of Texas’s Coordinated Admission Program (CAP) makes it possible for many freshman applicants to begin their studies at another UT System university. After successfully meeting the requirements, CAP students may transfer to UT Austin to complete their undergraduate studies. One of many CAP hubs in the UT system, UTSA is the university that welcomes the largest number of prospective UT students every year. Even though 30 percent of CAP students

ultimately stay at UTSA, the CAP program is detrimental to the growth of the university. UTSA should continue its plan to phase out the CAP program within the next nine years. According to the Four-Year Graduation Rate Improvement Plan of December 2011, CAP students currently represent roughly 20 percent of all freshmen at UTSA. When they transfer to UT, the UTSA graduation rate drops by approximately 8 to 10 percent. Due to these lowered statistics,

UTSA loses funding needed to support its own students. The CAP program also carries an emotional toll on the university: UTSA, a university that started as a commuter campus, has been moving away from this as students are creating a strong campus identy. However, CAP students, who perpetuate a come-and-transfer mindset, make it difficult for the university to cultivate pride in its campus. But what about the 30 percent who

stay at UTSA? By accepting CAP students, UTSA has had the opportunity to showcase what the university has to offer to students who otherwise wouldn’t have considered becoming Roadrunners. UTSA has matured, and no longer needs to use the CAP program as a way to entice students to the campus. Phasing out the CAP program is the right move for UTSA. We want students who choose to attend UTSA, not students who use the campus as a weigh station.

Kevyn Kirven

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Commentary Syrian Civil War could lead to larger conflict in Middle East The civil war raging in Syria had its deadliest day yet on Wednesday Sept. 26 with 300 people killed. This brought the death toll to over 30,000 since the rebellion against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad began back in March of 2011. Of the people killed on Sept. 26, proAssad forces in the town of al-Dhiyabia massacred 107, southeast of Syria’s capital of Damascus. A majority of the victims were men ranging from young adult to elderly. On the same day in Damascus, a rebel bomb attack on a military command center killed 14 people. One day later, on Sept. 27, Syrian

rebel forces made up of army defectors, Islamists and civilians against Assad launched a major attack to push Assads’ forces out of the country’s largest city of Aleppo. This attack was in response to a text sent out by Assad’s regime to the rebels Wednesday that said “Game over.” It was the latest outbreak of fighting in a siege of Aleppo between the rebel forces and the Syrian Army that began in July. Ten times as many Syrians have fled the country with 300,000 seeking refuge in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq since the rebellion against Assad began over a year and a half ago. With the conflict getting more militarized, that number could reach one million as estimates project another 700,000 refugees will flee Syria before the end of the year.

As the conflict in Syria intensifies, it is straining the already tense region of the Middle East. The world response has been to denounce the tactics of Assad but few nations have given direct military support to the rebels. On the other hand, Iran has lent its resources to the regime of Assad. They have shipped oil, military supplies and even men to help Assad. Back in February they sent two warships to sit off the coast of Syria as a show of support. The United States and the other western countries have not given direct support to the rebels, they have called for the regime of Assad to step down and end the war. The Western powers do not want to get involved directly with the Syrian Civil War, but they must be wary of the growth of Iranian intervention in the conflict. Iran could be the cause of

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Public education—pre-K to Ph.D—is under siege. Many clamor to privatize everything, and “snob” is the incongruous slur that former Senator Rick Santorum hurled at the president for establishing universal access to higher education as his goal. States use the stagnant economy as an excuse to slash funding, while increasing tuition dramatically. Before it began charging tuition in 1976, the City College of New York operated under the premise that providing a free college education to qualified residents is an excellent investment of taxpayer money. The

Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman

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fact that Jonas Salk, a child of uneducated immigrants, went on to develop the first polio vaccine after graduating from CCNY suggests the wisdom of the premise. Every state in the United States has enough faith in higher education to operate at least one public college system. State universities in California, Michigan, North Carolina, Virginia and Texas lead the world. As recently as 30 years ago, state schools could rely on state funding for at least 75 percent of their budgets. But that support has shrunk in many instances to less than 10 percent. With only 4.5 percent of its budget supplied by the legislature in Lansing, it is a misnomer to call the University of Michigan a “state university,” rather than a university with state support supplemented by gener-

Photo of the Week President Romo to speak Oct. 3

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The Paisano has meetings every Wednesday at 6 p.m. near The Cantina.

UTSA President Ricardo Romo speaks with the local TV media before the groundbreaking of the Park West Athletic Complex in this file photo from April 10, 2012. Romo will give his annual State of the University Address on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in the University Center Ballroom at 3 p.m. Romo will speak on the importance of an education from UTSA and the university’s goals for the year ahead. The Address is open to faculty, staff and students. The Paisano will be covering the event. Read about it in next week’s issue.

ous alumni and other private sources. State support of UT Austin, 47 percent in 1984, is down to 13 percent. A growing institution, UTSA has fared better; last year the legislature supplied 28 percent of its budget, but that has been cut 12 percent this year. While public universities have been forced to rely on private sources, private universities have long depended on public funding. Without grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Departments of Defense, Energy, and Education, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Endowment for the Arts and other government agencies, private universities such as Harvard, Stanford, and Duke could not function. Without great universities, public and private, the United States would

a war with the west. There is the possibility that within the next year or so Iran will develop a nuclear bomb, even while it denies that fact to the Western powers. This could lead to a conflict between Iran and the nation of Israel. The two countries have always been at odds and that was only made worse with the Iranian Revolution in the late 1970s. Israel is an important ally of the United States in the Middle East. What would we do if it were suddenly attacked by Iran. The possibility is hard to fathom but it is all too real. We must pay close attention to the Middle East because it might draw us into a conflict with Iran. A conflict the world doesn’t want. Stephen Whitaker Managing Editor

be a Sahara with shopping malls. Especially in an uncertain economy, education is not the same as training. Long before search engines were invented, Jonathan Swift coined the term “yahoo” to refer to crude humanlike creatures who are not only supremely ignorant, but also unaware of their ignorance. A society that aspires to be more than a herd of yahoos cannot afford not to spend as much on public access to higher education as it does on redundant weapons or tax cuts for the wealthy. A community of informed, independent thinkers is worth the investment. Steven G. Kellman is a professor of comparative literature at UTSA.

The Paisano

October 2, 2012

Tattoos in the Workplace

Paseo

UTSA Students show off their body art

How personal apperance may affect your ability to get a job.

For many years, tattoos have been present in many cultures across the globe. Often, they are symbolic of a person or event and have an emotional significance for those who proudly display them. Stemming from conservative, protestant values, America has traditionally viewed tattoos as taboo. Some employers even choose not to hire applicants whose tattoos are visible. During the cultural transition from the conservative 50’s to the liberal 60’s, when unconventional forms of selfexpression became more acceptable, tattoos also became more prevalent. No longer were tattoos the secrets hidden on lower backs; today, many have embraced tattoos as an art form, filling up their entire arms to create tattoo “sleeves.” According to the Food and Drug Administration, nearly 45 million Americans have tattoos, making up 14 percent of the population. In a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, it was found that this number is even higher for adults between the ages of 26-40, with an estimated 40 percent of them having at least one tattoo. While American culture may have become more accepting towards these body marks, whether or not employers have caught up with this liberal mindset is questionable. Making the decision to have a tattoo, while more widely accepted than it was in the past, still has the potential to hinder a person’s career. Audrey Magnuson, UTSA director of the career center, believes that when it comes to personal appearance, “it

by the First Amendment and claimed that tattooing raised issues of health and safety. White was ultimately sentenced to a year in prison and assessed

“We don’t pay too much attention to the exterior as long as you’re a good worker.” Media Representative

Rackspace Hosting Co.

a $2,500 fine. More recently established businesses, such as Rackspace, a successful Internet hosting company, and, according to Fortune Magazine, one of the 100 Best Places to Work, have very lenient policies concerning personal appearance. A media representative of Rackspace in San Antonio stated in an interview that the company values, “substance over flash.” The representative stated that Rackspace “doesn’t have much of a dress code.” When it comes to tattoos among their employees, “they are not uncommon. We don’t pay too much attention to the exterior as long as you’re a good worker. Tattoos don’t have an impact on work,” she says. This sort of laid-back policy is typical of twenty-first century businesses. Caution should still be exercised for those whose goal is to gain employment with longer standing conservative institutions. However, it is evident that, in American culture, tattoos are becoming more prevalent methods of self-expression.

Taboo

Sarah Gibbens/ The Paisano

Paseo Editor paseo@paisano-online.com

depends on the work center. The employer has the right to determine what they feel is professional in the public presentation they give to their customers and clients,” she says. “Often times they will have a dress code or requirements on how hair may be worn.” When it comes to tattoos, “It varies… it’s not something fully accepted by the general population,” says Magnuson. “If it can be covered, it should be covered, but it’s a personal choice that needs to be taken into consideration by the individual.” What is deemed acceptable varies widely among different types of companies. Traditionally, institutions such as law firms and public schools have made it mandatory that tattoos not be visible. An article in Forbes written by Larissa Faw looked at companies that are strict on personal appearance. Companies that won’t hire potential employees based on the visibility of their tattoos include, Geico Insurance, U.S. Postal Service, Starwood Hotels and Denny’s. The large financial bank USB has a very strict policy on tattoos and personal appearance, even mandating that women are not allowed to wear more than seven jewels and that scarves must be tied only in authorized knots. Selectively hiring based on whether or not a person has tattoos is viewed by some as discrimination. The state of South Carolina has gone so far as to outlaw tattooing unless for reconstructive purposes. In the case of The State of South Carolina v. Ronald P. White, Ron White was arrested after he protested the ban by tattooing a person on the local evening news. White claimed tattooing was a freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment. The court’s rebuttal disagreed that tattooing was protected

Crystal Poenisch, a junior political science major, says she chose a tattoo that is a, “physical representation of a culture that has had a huge impact on shaping who I am... Although I will leave it one day, my heart will always be in Texas.”

Sarah Gibbens / The Paisano

Sarah Gibbens

Travis Jourdan, an alumnus of UTSA, has a tattoo of a Buddhist Om. The Om, “represents the synergy between the physical, mental and unconscious states of the individual.” Jourdan says of his tattoo that it personally “represents maintaining awareness and progression in all aspects of my life.”

Staff Writer paseo@paisano-online.com Since the dawn of the tattoo and piercing industry, people have explored the possibilities of what the human body can withstand. Creators of this age-old art grew unsatisfied with the same body modification products. Pushing the limits of the human body has never yielded the innovation it does today. Modern body modification has well exceeded the ancestral normalcy of traditional needle and ink. Typically, body modification is defined as any act to alter or change a persons’ physical appearance for personal and often emotional benefit. Modification can range from tattoos and piercings to cross-dressing, plastic surgery, permanent makeup, and dental implants. Some unconventional methods of body modification may come as a shock. However, many people see it as an up-and-coming art form. The 2005 documentary “Modify” directed by Jason Gary and Greg Jacobson explores unconventional methods to alter personal appearance. For people who are afraid of needles but crave the permanent art form, the process of “Scarification” is a thrilling alternative. There are two types of Scarification and both leave behind similar marks. The first type is known as cutting and uses a sharp blade to cut out the skin in the chosen image or design. The second type, branding, uses a cauterizer to burn the skin tissue rather than to remove it with a surgical blade. Both types of this body-altering procedure leave the skin to heal as a scar in the shape of the desired im-

age. The process of cutting is intended to leave a wound which will heal as a series of dark scars in the skin to form the image whereas branding can produce a raised effect, often resulting in a puffy image. In comparison to tattooing, it is said to be extremely spiritual and cleansing to the body. The act of scarification symbolizes physical or emotional suffering, while the scar stands as a symbol of healing and overcoming of obstacles. Another popular procedure in the body modification industry is known as 3-D body art. The process is accredited to Steve Haworth, an artist working out of Phoenix, AZ. Haworth designed and created subdermal and transdermal implants. The subdermal implant is a 3-D object, commonly made of silicone, which is placed under the skin. This type of body modification requires making an incision to place the implant, stretching the skin to make way for the object, and then stitching up the incision to sew the opening closed. Implants come in a variety of different shapes and sizes (ranging from horns to ribs to beads) and can be custom made to fit the client’s personal needs. These implants are used primarily for physical-satisfaction and sexual purposes. The transdermal implants, are subdermals with one key difference: they rise out of the skin and jet forth from the body. Often these transdermals are in the shape of small cylindrical tunnels or spikes, allowing the “Metal Mohawk” to become possible. Unlike scarification and tattooing, the effects are not permanent and can be removed. However, slight scarring

is often a result. One of the most extreme cases in which these 3-D modifications were implemented was in the transformation of Dennis Avner to “Stalking Cat.” Avner underwent several procedures to transform his facial structure to that of a large, predatory cat using tattooing, subdermal implants, bifurcating of the upper lip, pointing of the ears, dental filing and transdermal implants for whiskers. The act of Suspending, piercing the skin with hooks and hanging from them, has also become a cultural phenomenon. In Texas alone, approximately five professional groups of Suspenders meet monthly to “hang-out,” including ThirdEyePerception out of San Antonio. The different types of suspension are based upon the displacement and location of the hooks, which are implemented by piercing professionals. Suspension types, such as the suicide suspension, are set up with two to four hooks through the back and get more extreme as the level of difficulty progresses. Other popular suspension types include the superman, the scarecrow/crucifix, coma, and the tandem suspension. Although these body modifications aren’t for everyone, they have become a series of modern life-choices rather than cries for help or attention. These choices shape and satisfy the unique tastes of the body modification subculture and help broaden American cultural horizons. With the numerous advances made in the field, human bodies have become capable of limitless transformation.

Katy Glass, a senior English major with a creative writing concentration was influenced by Kurt Vonnegut’s novel “Slaughterhouse- Five” when choosing her tattoo. She was inspired to believe, “no one really dies because they are very much alive in memories; all moments always exist, and with the flower, I extended that ideology to all of nature.”

Sarah Gibbens / The Paisano

Christina Coyne

Katy Schmader / The Paisano

Body Modification

Andrew Mayer, a junior political science major, has a tattoos covering an entire arm and leg that were obtained and inspired by his experience in the military.

Arts&Life

The Paisano

Just a sweet transvestite... The Woodlawn Theatre presents a cult favorite

October 2, 2012

Local Events: Tuesday, Oct. 2 12 p.m. Museum Exhibit: “Texas Performer Under the Big Top” The Witte Museum (3801 Broadway) presents a series of drawings from the Hertburg Circus Collection that features circus performances and behind-the-scenes material. Some memorable acts include appearances by San Antonio legends, The Esquivel Brothers and Buffalo Bill. The exhibit is open through Jan. 13. Tickets range from $7 - $11.50.

6 p.m. Art Instruction: “Sketching in SAMA’s Galleries” The San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W. Jones St.) will provide free course instruction every Tuesday, inspired by actual works featured in the museum. Guests are advised to meet at the front desk with a first-come-first-serve basis. For more information please visit <www.samuseum. org>.

Wednesday, Oct. 3 8 p.m. Film Screening: “Dr. Strangelove” The Friendly Spot (943 S. Alamo) will hold a free screening of this 1964 classic on their outdoor projection screen. Get friendly with peers as this signature Stanley Kubrick unfolds on screen. This dark comedy, starring Peter Seller and George C. Scott, loosely satirizes the nuclear scare that took place in the 50s.

9 p.m. Poetry Event: “BlahBlahBlah Poetry Spot: Open Mic” Red Square Bar (11851 Bandera) welcomes poets 18+ to their monthly poetry open mic night to unleash their latest creations. Guests 21+ are encouraged to come. Performers must sign up beforehand to participate. Free-time poets will be guaranteed a spot on the list.

File Photo/ The Paisano

Thursday, Oct. 4

At one of the Woodlawn Theatre’s earlier “Rocky Horror Show” performances, actors portray how Frank-N-Furter coaxes the lead characters to be more experimental with their sexuality.

Jessica Alejos Intern

arts@paisano-online.com The cult classic “Rocky Horror Picture Show” (RHPS) has been interpreted many times since its debut in 1975. Over time, the film proved that fishnet stockings and bejeweled costumes can never really go out of style. Beginning next week, fans of the film can rejoice as the musical performance of RHPS starts at the Woodlawn Theatre. The production features Sharon Needles, winner of the fourth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in the lead role of Frank-N-Furter. Needles, a popular contestant on “Drag Race,” will be put on the signature red lipstick and put her moves to the test. This will be the third time Woodlawn Theatre has featured “Rocky Horror” on their playbill. Now with the newest revival of the Broadway musical set to premiere in San Antonio on Oct. 4, it’s time to look back on how this phenomenon has danced its way into fans’ hearts. “I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey,” the narrator begins. It’s a strange journey as the story ventures into a world of flamboyant characters and memorable dance sequences. The plot of the film follows newlywed couple, Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) on their adventure through Dr. Frank-N-Furter’s (Tim Curry) bizarre

world of transvestites and show tunes. The electric cast and song choice have made this film a fan favorite. The version that Woodlawn has chosen is expected to be similar to the hit film. After they are stranded with a flat tire on a stormy night, the couple takes refuge in the castle of Frank-N-Furter, a proclaimed transvestite from Transsexual Transylvania. Throughout the bizarre night, the newlyweds are forced to witness the birth of Frank-N-Furter’s human creation Rocky Horror and deal with Frank-N-Furter’s celebration of the Annual Transylvanian Convention. As Brad and Janet struggle to survive this wild night, they are challenged to uphold their morals when Frank-NFurter pushes their limits of sexuality. This risqué film did not have a massive following until its midnight screening in New York in 1976. Following its release in 1975, midnight screenings grew in popularity around the country. Viewers would show up in drag based on RHPS’s main character Frank-N-Furter. The fans morphed the film into the phenomenon that it is today. In the 70s, parents ridiculed the film for its provocative nature, themes of free love, drug use and highly sexualized characters. However, fans of the flick argued that this experimentation defined the counter culture at the time. Today, the film celebrates its 37th anniversary and still plays at some the-

atres. Locally, the Alamo Drafthouse screens the film on the third Thursday of each month at its Park North location. Those who are planning to attend the theatrical adaptation can expect to be awed by the special effects featured in the performance. According to Woodlawn spokesperson Robby Vance, “the audience can look forward to amazing on-stage lighting, a live motorcycle, call-backs, prop bags (available for $5) and special merchandize for sale. Sharon Needles will also be flown in one scene.” The latest version of the play is directed by Woodlawn’s artistic director Greg Hinojosa and will be shown exclusively at the Woodlawn Theatre. Tickets can be purchased for $35, and VIP packages are available for $50. VIP packages are a special treat for die-hard fans of the show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” After the show, guests will have the opportunity to meet with Ms. Needles. Due to the language and adult situations, children under the age of 15 will not admitted without an adult present. The Rocky Horror Show is scheduled to run from Oct. 4 to Oct. 27 at the Woodlawn Theatre (located at 1920 Fredericksburg Rd., 78201). For show times or more information, visit <www.woodlawntheatre.com>.

8 pm. Theater: “The Rocky Horror Show” The Woodlawn Theatre (1920 Fredericksburg Rd.) presents “The Rocky Horror Show” starring Sharon Needles, from the reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The story recounts the adventure of a newly wed couple and their encounter with a transvestite named Dr. Frank-N-Furter. This show runs through to Oct. 27. Tickets are $25 - $50.

8 p.m. Theater: “Open Sesame! A Bollywood Pantomime” The Overtime Theater (1203 Camden) presents “Open Sesame! A Bollywood Pantomime,” an original musical by Rick Stemm. The musical follows the story of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves through the eyes of Ollie, a newcomer who discovers a stash of treasure and uses his fortune toward his own pleasure. Tickets are $10-14. For more information visit <www.theovertimetheater.org>.

Friday, Oct. 5 8 p.m. Theater: “A Bright Room Called Day” Trinity University (1 Trinity Pl) presents “A Bright Room Called Day,” a dark comedy written by Pulitzer-winner Tony Kushner. In the play, a group of idealistic actors, writers and filmmakers in Germany are determined to stop Hitler through art and politics. Performances run through Oct. 6. Tickets are $6 - $10.

8 p.m. Theater: “Greater Tuna” San Pedro Playhouse (800 W. Ashby Pl.) presents “Greater Tuna,” a satirical comedy about a rural Texas town and its citizens. In this unique play, two actors portray all characters—men, women, children and animals. Tickets are $15 - $25.

Saturday, Oct. 6 8 p.m. Theater: “The Odd Couple” The Circa Arts Theater (124 Elizabeth) presents “The Odd Couple,” a play about how two opposite-minded friends move in together during a divorce. The play runs through Oct. 7. Tickets are $16 - $18.

Fo r t h e we e k’s f u l l c a l e n da r, v i s i t : www.paisano-online.com

Correction: In the Sept. 25 issue, The Paisano reported in the article “UTSA Coffeehouse” that the University Center Program Council’s special programs, like the Coffeehouse, are funded by the Student Activity fee. That is incorrect. The programs are actually funded by the University Center fee.

Intern

arts@paisano-online.com This October, San Antonio will celebrate one of its most underappreciated furry little friends—the bat. From Oct. 6 to 14, San Antonio’s first annual BatFest will commemorate the fall migration of Texas’ bat population to Mexico for the winter. The event is sponsored by Bat Conservation International (BCI), the San Antonio Zoo, Trinity University, SeaWorld, Freetail Brewing Company and several other local organizations who wish to support the bat population by educating Texans about their nocturnal neighbors. In reference to BCI’s “Year of the Bat,” founder Dr. Merlin Tuttle states, “Bats are found nearly everywhere and

arts@paisano-online. com

Will Tallent/ The Paisano

San Antonio celebrates BatFest approximately 1,200 species account for almost a quarter of all mammals. Nevertheless, in recent decades their populations have declined alarmingly. Many are now endangered, though they provide invaluable services that we cannot afford to lose.” According to BCI, Texas has the widest variety of bats of any U.S. state, housing 34 different species. Although they are regarded as bloodsucking fiends in fiction, these creatures are actually beneficial to humans and our environment. Nyta Brown, the biologist at Old Tunnel State Park in Fredericksburg, says, “Most of the bat species in Texas are insectivores. They eat a variety of insect pests including flying ants, flying beetles, mosquitoes, grasshoppers, katydids, scorpions, centipedes, etc.” Bats, she explains, control the insect

for more information.

Going Batty

Jonathan Pillow

Write for Arts & Life!

population, which would otherwise threaten crops. “By eating these agricultural pests, bats are saving farmers money that they do not have to spend on pesticide,” Brown says. “If the farmers are saving money, those savings are passed along to consumers.” BCI and other BatFest sponsors hope that by bringing bat education to the community at several enjoyable and interesting venues, they can alleviate the negative stigmas often associated with bats. “Many people have misconceptions about bats and because of these misconceptions they are afraid of bats or do not understand the benefit of bats to the environment,” says Brown. “Educating people about the importance of … will hopefully eliminate some of these misconceptions and help people

to understand why we want to keep bats here in Texas.” Freetail Brewing Company will kick off BatFest on Saturday, Oct. 6 by releasing an all new brew: the BCI Bat Brew. Proceeds from the new brew will go to support BCI. That same day, SeaWorld will host some Batfest activities in conjunction with their annual “Run for the Fund,” a fundraiser which supports animal conservation efforts. The park will set up several bat-educational activities, including a nighttime bat-walk with bat-detectors. On Saturday, Oct. 13, the San Antonio Zoo will present “Bat Day,” which will include several informative batthemed activities. That night, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., BCI will host “Bats in the Park,” a night of fun and educational activities at the

Joske Pavillion at Brackenridge Park. Visitors will learn how to build and maintain a bat-house and go on an exclusive bat walk. BatFest will culminate in a symposium at Trinity University on Sunday, Oct. 16 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Several influential researchers, including Dr. Tuttle, will gather at Trinity University to present their most recent research on bat habitats, behaviors and impact. The symposium is free to the public, though it is recommended that those interested in attending register at <www.sanantoniobatfest.org>. The events listed above are only a few of the many BatFest celebrations planned for October. For a full event calendar, visit <http://www.sazoo-aq. org/events/bat_fest/>.

Sports Roadrunners capture first conference win The Paisano

Staff Writer sports@paisano-online.com The Roadrunners maintained their perfect record last week when they defeated the New Mexico State Aggies 35-14. The victory marked the first Western Athletic Conference (WAC) for UTSA and the second road win. Before the match, Head Coach Larry Coker noted the importance of these games as “the next step in building this program.” Quarterback Eric Soza’s offensive performance commanded the momentous defeat. Soza threw for three touchdowns and 269 total passing yards. Soza also charged 55 yards and claimed his own rushing touchdown, making this game the best offensive performance in this young season. The premiere WAC matchup tested the strength of the contenders. Neither team was able to score in the opening minutes of the first quarter. Both sides constantly battle for field position. The Aggies executed a fake punt that resulted in a 20 yard running play from New Mexico wide receiver Joseph Matthews. The Aggies commanded the lead after Andrew Manley completed an eight-yard touchdown pass to receiver Trevor Walls, with 4:34 left in the opening quarter. The Roadrunners quickly retaliated against the Aggies late-quarter strike. After a pass from Soza, running back E v a n s Okotcha sprinted 48 yards down the sideline and ushered the Roadrunner ball into the end zone, silencing Aggie efforts with 2:19 remaining on the clock. In the second quarter, the Road-

runner offense forged through the yards. The puzzled New Mexico defenders dove at Soza’s feet, but couldn’t catch his shoelace as he steamrolled through the pressure to a 33-yard Runner touchdown. Two minutes later, Soza subdued an overwhelmed Aggie defense when he completed the longest touchdown of the game, an 82-yard pass to receiver Kenny Bias. The second half maintained the aggressive momentum of the first. With 4:39 left in the third quarter Soza degraded the New Mexico State offense with another 15-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Cole Hicks and the Runners went ahead 28-7. In the final quarter the Aggies, mostly fighting for pride at this point, finally matriculated through the Roadrunners defense. Manley 41-yard pass to New Mexico State receiver Aus-

tin Franklin for the second Aggie touchdown of the game, 2814 with 11:27 left in the quarter. Once UTSA’s offense regained the possession, the Run-

ners finally ended the Aggies hope for a home victory. The Runners offense controlled the ball for 7:32, and the New Mexico defense caved a little more with each Runner first down. Running back Okotcha delivered the finishing touches on the UTSA victory, rumbling through the defense for a nine-yard Roadrunners touchdown and what would prove to be the final score, 35-14. A disheartened New Mexico State offense took the field one last time while hoping for one more offensive spark. UTSA’s defense squashed those dreams quickly with backto-back sacks of Manley, courtesy of defensive lineman Franky Anaya, linebacker Steven Kurfhes and defensive lineman Will Ritter. Safety Nic Johnston a n d cor-

nerback Erik Brown intercepted Manley’s backfield passes, and foiled the Aggie offense to frustration. Though punishing at times, the Roadrunners still gave up 276 passing yards. However, Coker did say that the Aggies receiving corps were “the best and most-talented team we have faced since I have been here.” UTSA comes back to San Antonio for a much deserved bye week before travelling on the road. The Runners next road test is against future Conference-USA opponent, the Rice Owls in Houston, October 13. The following week the Roadrunners will come back to the Alamodome for WAC action and this season’s Homecoming game against San Jose State, October 20 at 1 p.m.

WAC Football Standings (As of Oct. 2)

Overall

WAC

Team

W-L

UTSA

5-0

1-0

LaTech

4-0

0-0

San Jose St.

4-1

0-0

Utah St.

4-1

0-0

Texas State

2-2

0-0

Idaho

0-5

0-0

New Mexico St. 1-4

0-1

Alyssa Gonzales/ The Paisano

Natalie Frels

Stephen Whitaker/ The Paisano

October 2, 2012

Eric Soza (above) and Kenny Harrison (left) are key reasons for the Roadrunners surprising 5-0 start.

Write for Sports

Sideline Talk The truth about transfer blocking Sheldon Baker Staff Writer

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So, you wanna know what happened to Jarred Uthoff and Dominique Ferguson? Well, I’ll tell you, but not before I set the record straight about NCAA transferblocking. Under NCAA guidelines, universities and athletic directors have the power to block athletes from attending rival or potential non-conference universities. The reason: competitive disadvantages. It raises an interesting question: do universities and athletic directors have too much power over student-athletes? This issue pertains to UTSA as the men’s basketball team released three players over the offseason without incident. Moreover, the issue of transfer-blocking affects UTSA

by virtue of our athletic department being a Division I member of the NCAA and a member of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Transfer-blocking came to the forefront when two student-athletes made news. ESPN’s E-60 reported that Jarred Uthoff of The University of Wisconsin and Dominique Ferguson of Florida International University were prohibited from transferring to another university. Uthoff wanted to transfer closer to home after committing to play for Wisconsin Basketball Coach Bo Ryan. Ferguson wanted to transfer after his coach, Isaiah Thomas, was fired by Florida International but the university refused to release him. In an interview by the Huffington Post, the National Association of Basketball Coaches executive, Jim Haney said, “400 Division I men’s basketball players transferred in 2011” and “in all but a handful of cases releases are granted.” However, according to the NCAA, 445 Division I men’s basketball players transferred; only 175 of them were released to other division one schools; 35

transferred to junior college schools, and 37 players transferred to NAIA schools. The 270 remaining players either transferred because either they lost interest, were academically ineligible, or were injured. Don Jackson, a sports attorney, said, “I don’t even like these kinds of restrictions, but at least there is some rational basis to them.” although ESPN and the Huffington Post create the picture that universities have too much power, however, it isn’t any university’s best interest not to release a player. For example, if a school doesn’t release a player who wishes to transfer, the student athlete’s scholarship will still count against the university. During an interview on Outside the Lines, Notre Dame’s head coach, Mike Brey, said if transfer blocking rules change, “universities will have to re-recruit their players every single year, which would cause financial disaster.” Coaches and athletic directors have a responsibility to put their universities first. In this era of big network contracts, tournament appearances, and endorsement deals, tens of millions of dollars are at stake for

universities each year. Furthermore, most universities who are not a member of the FBS conference have a hard enough time operating in the black at the end of the year. Although Mark Emmert, the president of the NCAA, said, “something should be done to make transfer rules less onerous for athletes,” but nothing looks to be done any time soon. Uthoff and Ferguson’s situation should be a cautionary tale for aspring student athletes to take more time before they decide which university to attend. As far as Jarred Uthoff and Dominique Ferguson are concerned, Uthoff was eventually given a release by Wisconsin to attend Iowa; Ferguson however was not released, so he applied for the NBA draft and did not get drafted. He is currently waiting for an opportunity to play professional basketball overseas. Universities don’t exert power over helpless student-athletes. Rather, universities have an obligation to protect their brand. To block players from transferring to rival universities is just good business.

Upcoming Home Games Volleyball

Cal State Bakersfield versus UTSA, 7:00 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 4 Louisana Tech versus UTSA, 6:30 p.m.*

Sunday, Oct. 14

Saturday, Oct. 6

Sunday, Oct. 28

UT-Arlington versus UTSA, 2:00 p.m.*

Texas State versus UTSA, 7:00 p.m.*

Thursday, Oct. 25 University of Idaho versus UTSA, 6:30p.m.* Saturday, Oct. 27 Seattle University versus UTSA, 7:00 p.m.* Soccer Thursday, Oct. 11

Louisiana Tech versus UTSA, 7:00 p.m.*

Football Saturday Oct. 20 San Jose State versus UTSA, 1:00 p.m.* Saturday, Oct. 27 Utah State versus UTSA, 1:00 p.m.*

* = Conference Games

Keep up with the Roadrunners

Follow Sports on Twitter @PaisanoSports1

Sports The Paisano Roadrunners rally late to draw with Idaho, 1-1 2 8

October 2, 2012

Will Tallent

A line of tired faces, unsatisfied and hungry for more time on the pitch walked off the field Sunday afternoon. After 90 minutes and two ten-minute overtimes, the Roadrunner soccer team tied their second game in a row against the University of Idaho Vandals. The game kicked off at 1 p.m. with the wind ranging at a breezy five to 10 mph. The clouds were abundant enough to supply some shade but sparse enough to remain summer-like, the temperature stayed in the high 70’s and low 80’s, it was the perfect day for kicking the ball around. For the Roadrunners this day this held a lot more importance; as it was an opportunity to prove themselves against The University of Idaho, a very high ranking Western Athletic Conference team. The Roadrunners started off with the wind in their face, battling for the ball and struggling to keep it out of the box. For the first 20 minutes the Runners struggled to fight off the Vandel’s smart, shortpassing game and fasted-footed forwards. What UTSA lacked in reaction time the ladies certainly made up for in determination and speed. The Roadrunner’s defense did a fantastic job of booming the ball clear to the other side of the field almost every time Idaho got a little too close for comfort. Defender Anka Grotle and Kinber Chudej, usually a forward, seemed to really step up while playing backfield, beating Idaho to the ball and consistently preventing close calls in the box. At the 23 minute mark, players on both benches anxiously watched as the forward, temporarily playing defender, Kauwela Neal intercepted the ball and made a break into Idaho’s territory. Weav-

Will Tallent / The Paisano

Staff Writer sports@paisano-online.com

UTSA’s Laylla da Cruz chests a pass down to the ground while Idaho’s Katie Baran tries to chase da Cruz down.

ing in and out of players, cutting and slicing though the Vandals’ mid-field and defense, Neal managed to end up right outside the box on a single run. A shot and a miss later the game had changed completely. Even though the Roadrunners didn’t score, the taste of a near goal was enough to act as a catalyst, changing the mainly defensive game to a full on offensive assault. For the rest of the first half, the ladies fought hard and put constant pressure on the Vandals’ defense and goalie, passing smart, and playing offensively. Whenever the ball would cross the mid-field line

UTSA would slam the ball back to their forwards. After 15 minutes of beautiful shots on goal and impressive saves from the Vandals’ goalie Liz Boyden, the San Antonio girls started to lose their first bits of steam. As the frustration of many near goals set in, Coach Steve Ballard and the girls struggled to maintain composure. The last ten minutes of the first half were largely characterized by action in the mid-field, as the teams switched possession rapidly. The determined players constantly completed for a chance to score. Coming into the new half a new energy could be seen in the girls. Players were

jumping up and down, giving pep talks to one another, all while harboring the wild eyes of lazer focus. Whatever their coach said to them must have worked. The girls started off with a bang whilst zooming down the field right from the getgo, performing some great maneuvering tricks, very smart passes and a great shot on goal. Unfortunately this new found energy was cut short after forward Chelsea Small and mid-fielder Erica Hart of Idaho fought their way through through the Roadrunner defense and sent a low, speedy bullet to the right of UTSA’s goalie, Katarina Pus, from outside the six

yard box. The Roadrunners slowly walked back to their positions without one bit of chatter. Slowly but surely their spirits returned and the ladies were back in the game. Twelve minutes before the game was over, off a corner kick, Neal jumped out of a chaotic mass of players and managed to score a goal. With the clock ticking faster and faster and the match now tied, both teams were infected with an intense focus and determination unparallelled earlier in the match. The attitude of the Roadrunners changed to a “fired up and determined” state, as said by the goal scorer herself. Both teams were playing well, with spouts of discomposure, making it incredibly exciting and balanced in the last few minutes. Neither team scored, sending the game into overtime. The game ended in a draw two overtimes later. The players walked off the field, disappointed in leaving without a winner. The Runners played their hearts out and executed to an amazing level. There is always room to improve and the main area according to Ballard is of course “finishing and simply putting balls in the goal”. With 25 shots and only one goal, capitalizing on their scoring opportunities is an area the Roadrunners need to work on. Despite these statistics Ballard points out the two teams we have played were top teams in the WAC, and he is incredibly proud of how the girls have been playing. The Roadrunners may be disappointed in walking away with a second tie but remain focused on their next game and improving their weakness. With the future in mind this disappointing result is a step in the right direction for a team that has struggled this season.