The Paisano Volume 48 Issue 7 by The Paisano

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This month, the UTSA art gallery features work with themes from the border pg 6 UTSA earns a win against Nicholls in the 11th annual Ramada WorldWide Bracketbusters. pg 7

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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

{SINCE 1981}

The FBI has launched a probe to investigate whether former UTSA contractors and developers committed more than $1 million dollars in fraud through a bid-rigging scheme.

{Arts}

Argo won Best Picture at the Oscars, while Life of Pi won awards for Adapted Screenplay and Direction.

{UT System}

Rick Perry has appointed two new members to serve on the UT Board of Regents, who oversee the entire University of Texas system.

{WWW.PAISANO-ONLINE.COM}

President calls for minimum wage increase News Assistant

Gov. Rick Perry has called on state lawmakers to find room in their budget to help fund the $16 billion I-69 project, which would carry traffic from southern Texas to Michigan.

Issue 7

Food stamps and gun classes: take a look at some of the bills being debated in the Texas Legislature. Page 2

Corey Franco

{Texas}

February 26, 2013

news@paisano-online.com In his State of the Union Address on Feb. 12, President Obama called upon lawmakers to raise the current federal minimum wage. The president said in the address, “Even with the tax relief we’ve put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That’s wrong.” According to the latest release from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the poverty line, or poverty guideline, for 2012 in the U.S. was $11,170 for a one person household, and for each additional occupant that number increased by $3,960. Obama said, “Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour. This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank, rent or eviction, scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the

country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets.” “[Raising minimum wage] would help strengthen the economy and lift many of the 15 million workers who rely on the wage out of poverty. Obama also wants it tied to inflation so it keeps pace with the cost of living,” Politico said. The current minimum wage rate is $7.25 an hour as a result of Congress’ vote to increase it from $5.15 in 2007. This rate equates to a $15,000 salary for a full-time employee. Congressman Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) stated in a release that, “Despite this, the real value of the minimum wage today buys less than it did in 1956. In addition, workers who rely on tips haven’t seen an increase in their wages since 1991.” The minimum wage requirement for tipped labor force is $2.13 an hour. According to the Huffington Post, “the minimum wage has fallen in value because Congress hasn’t raised it to keep up with inflation. At its peak in 1968, the minimum wage was equal to about $10.50 an hour in today’s dollars. That’s a 25 percent decline in buying power.”

The most recent release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that, in 2011, 1.7 million Americans earned the prescribed Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, while an additional 2.2 million earned wages below the minimum. These 3.8 million workers with wages at or below the Federal minimum made up 5.2 percent of all workers paid hourly, who, in turn, comprise 59.1 percent of the entire wage and salary workforce. Nineteen states already have minimum wages over $7.25 an hour. The highest is in Washington state, where the minimum wage is $9.19 an hour. According to Forbes, “The impact of increasing the minimum wage goes well beyond the 3.8 million Americans directly affected as it is estimated that some 28 to 30 million Americans would be benefited as those working above the minimum wage level would experience increases in pay to keep them ahead of those on the lower rungs of the company employee ladder. In many ways, the debate is the perfect stage for expressing the core philosophical differences that exist between Progressives and Conservatives in 2013 America.” See MINIMUM WAGE, Page 3

{History} This week in 2002, UTSA announced that it would create an Honors College for top undergraduate students.

71: The percentage of Americans who support raising the minimum wage to $9, according to a USA Today/Pew Research center poll.

{Basketball} UTSA will take on Seattle University on Saturday, March 2. The men play the Redhawks at 6 p.m. in the Convocation Center, while the women play on the road with a 9:00 p.m. tip off.

Will Tallent/The Paisano

{Numbers}

Pete Souza/The White House

{San Antonio}

Volume 48

President Obama listens to Joe Biden at a policy meeting at the White House on Jan. 14.

Federal government faces mandatory spending cuts David Glickman News Assistant

news@paisano-online.com As March 1 nears, Congress still appears to be nowhere close to solving the sequester, a budgetary situation that would result in mandatory spending cuts by the federal governent. If Republicans and Democrats cannot come to an agreement over budgetary matters, $85 billion in cuts to both the military and domestic programs will immediately go into effect. The sequester was part of a deal reached during the debtceiling debates of 2011. Due to the parties’ disagreement on a deal to raise the debt-ceiling, they compromised on a stop gap measure, raising the debtceiling, but also agreeing to figure out a way to cut $1 trillion in domestic spending over the next 10 years under the Budget Control Act, according to the New York Times. A “Supercommittee” consisting of six members from each party were tasked with figuring out what form the $10 trillion in cuts would take. However, because the “Supercommittee” was unable to agree on spending cuts by Dec. 23, 2011, no deal was reached, and nothing was proposed to Congress. As such, a clause in the Budget Control Act would have

removed $85 billion in budget cuts on Jan. 1, 2013. “Together with the expiration of the Bush tax cuts and the payroll tax cut, this would have amounted to a giant fiscal contraction, almost certainly throwing the United States into another recession.” according to the Washington Post. However, deals with the tax cuts were reached and the sequester was pushed back until March 1 of this year. Currently, President Obama is fighting for an even split between domestic cuts and tax increases to replace the sequester cuts. Republicans have held steady against tax increases and proposed shifting the sequester cuts to programs such as food stamps and Medicare along with spreading them out over 10 years according to CBS News. If a deal is not reached by March 1, effects will be felt within a month in the U.S., according to the Washington Post. In particular, people receiving unemployment benefits will see a likely 9.4 percent reduction in their check. The Department of Defense is expected to begin furloughing large quantities of their civilian task force due to the sequester. Payments to doctors and other medical professionals who treat Medicare patients will drop as well.

UTSA gaining access to city’s improved broadband network Chance McDevitt Contributing Writer

news@paisano-online.com UTSA is gaining more access to the San Antonio Area Broadband Network (SAABN) through agreements made between the City of San Antonio and CPS Energy, allowing the campus to have an increased level of interconnectivity between the UTSA Main, Downtown and HemisFair Park campuses.

The expanded network will improve the speed and reliability of the networks that UTSA libraries and classrooms use, reducing the hiccups experienced when massive amounts of data are being accessed, such as video media. This will not have an effect on the Air Rowdy service, although UTSA Chief Information Officer Kenneth Pierce said, “The Air Rowdy system was also recently upgraded.” On Feb. 13, Mayor Julián Castro and City Councilwoman Leticia Ozuna of District 3 an-

nounced an initiative that will allow several local libraries, hospitals, government agencies and universities to have access to the SAABN. Pierce said, “SAABN provides a higher level of connectivity between the Downtown, 1604 and Texan Cultures Institute.” With this greater connectivity between campuses comes the opportunity for new partnerships and research that would require more bandwidth, similar to how many other colleges have used other bandwidth resources.

With the development of the university and its growing student body comes a greater demand for more information to be readily available, and this project is designed to meet the needs for “faster data acquisition and access to video media,” said Pierce. The infrastructure currently in place will allow UTSA to continue to thrive with increasing enrollment. The initiative, announced by Castro and Ozuna, will utilize infrastructure that CPS Energy installed in the late 1990s.

Until now, this infrastructure, consisting mainly of fiber optic network that allows more information to be transferred simultaneously, had remained largely unused. Since this infrastructure is already in place, costs involved in accessing it will be low and, according to Pierce, “the links [that] are already in place for the Downtown Campus” will continue to be implemented in the near future.

NEWS

2 February 26, 2013

Texas high schools may implement gun education elective in high school Erin Boren Intern news@paisano-online.com On Friday, Feb. 8, Texas Rep. James White (R-Woodville) and Cecil Bell, Jr. (R-Magnolia) filed HB 1142, a bill that would give school districts the option to provide a high school elective in gun training, maintenance, safety and knowledge of the Second Amendment. According to HB 1142, the course’s purpose would be to further educate high school students on “the history and importance of the Second Amendment… and to teach respect for and proper use of firearms.” If implemented, the elective course must include “instruction on the Second Amendment,” “firearm safety,” “training in the use of firearms,” “firearm maintenance and

cleaning” and “hunter safety.” If a school district offers the course, the bill dictates that either a qualified handgun instructor or a locally employed peace officer must teach the class. White, a former teacher, stated, “I want Texas students to have the option to learn more about both this critical part of our Constitution and the practical knowledge of how to safely operate the common arms Texans use for hunting and self-defense.” However, Clay Robison, spokesman for the Texas State Teachers Association, told KHOU, Houston’s CBS affiliate, that he disagreed with introducing guns into the school environment. “Even with the safest instructor, accidents happen, and too many times, those accidents involve guns,” Robison said. “Firearms are more dangerous than football.”

White’s authorship is found on a number of other pro-gun rights bills, including a proposition to increase the number of hours required to obtain a concealed handgun license (HB 47). He has also supported a bill to allow concealed carry on college campuses (HB 972) and protection of Texans’ firearm rights from federal regulation (HB 553). According to the Houston Chronicle, White believes that the “timing of the bill is important because of the national debate on gun regulations.” White said, “Factions on both sides of the [gun] issue are just screaming at each other. Let’s introduce this from an educational standpoint instead of the hyperbole of the debate of the day.” HB 1142 is currently under review by the House Public Education Committee.

Legislation proposed that would legalize sames e x m a r r i a g e i n Te x a s Corey Franco News Assistant

news@paisano-online.com On Feb. 14, State Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) caught the attention of the Texas lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQI) community when he filed HB 1300, a same-sex marriage bill. Nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington as well as the District of Columbia–currently allow same sex marriage. Rhode Island currently recognizes same-sex unions issued in other states, while nine states prohibit same-sex marriage by statute and 30—including Texas—prohibit it in their constitutions. The bill would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act from the 2003 Texas Family Code, which denies same-sex couples the ability to marry in the state of Texas and prohibited Texas from recognizing same-sex unions from other states. The Dallas Voice recently reported that, “HB 1300 follows a Feb. 6 bill filed by Dallas Rep. Rafael Anchia to repeal the state’s anti-gay marriage UTSA Ad_5.75x10.125.pdf

amendment.” Anchia’s bill was also followed by SB 480 filed on Feb. 11 from State Sen. Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen), which would address the same Texas Family Code provision as HB 1300. “Marriage has been the greatest and most rewarding experience of my life,” said Burnam in an interview with OutSmart Magazine. “Continuing to deny all Texans the freedom to marry robs them of that experience and is detrimental to their families. Texans want a state where anyone can work hard and provide for their families. Our Texas values mandate defending the right of all Texans to have their rights and responsibilities as couples recognized by the state,” he said. The Dallas Voice noted, “a Public Policy Polling poll… shows that 61 percent of Texas voters favor either same-sex marriage or civil unions.” The poll reflected a drop in public support from a University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll released in October, which showed that 69 percent of Texas voters supported same-sex marriages. “The increasing public support for the freedom to marry in Texas is yet another sign 1/30/13

9:12 AM

that equal recognition of loving, committed couples is a mainstream Texas value,” said Equality Texas Executive Director Chuck Smith in an official statement. “Rep. Burnam has long been an outspoken advocate for the LGBT community and the freedom to marry. HB 1300, together with the Joint Resolutions filed in the House and Senate, are the legislative steps necessary to enact into law what we already know to be true: that LGBT Texans are equal and deserve equal recognition of their familial relationships.” Before any of the bills seeking to repeal the 2003 Defense of Marriage Act could take effect though, a 2005 constitutional amendment prohibiting both same-sex marriage and civil unions would need to be repealed. The Dallas Voice reported that this repeal would come, if at all, through “resolutions filed last week by Sen. Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso), Reps. Rafael Anchia (D-Dallas) and Garnet Coleman (D-Houston). To pass, those resolutions would need a two-thirds majority in both chambers to be placed on the ballot, then support from a majority of voters in November.”

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NEWS

3 February 26, 2013

Junk food could soon be unattainable through food stamps Julia Brouillette Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp program, may no longer be available for the purchase of energy drinks and other specified junk food items such as chips, candy and cookies. Earlier this month, Texas representatives filed two bills that would prohibit foods considered “unhealthy” from being purchased with public-assistance dollars.

There are currently over 4.1 million Texans who rely on SNAP to buy groceries, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Existing restrictions on SNAP purchases include alcohol, tobacco products, various vitamins, medicines and hot food. The first bill, HB 523, filed by Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) stated that an “energy drink” is any beverage that contains at least 65 milligrams of caffeine per 8 fluid ounces and is specifically marketed as metabolically stimulating. However, coffee-based beverages would not be banned.

According to Canales, the potential for health issues is the main concern, especially the health risks posed for younger Texans. “I have reviewed countless studies indicating that energy drinks have led to thousands of people being hospitalized due to resulting health complications and in some instances death,” Canales said in a press release. “My proposed legislation in no way attempts to dictate what a parent can and cannot feed their child. It does, however, stand for the proposition that the State of Texas will not assist families in providing

dangerous products to their children.” The second bill, HB 751, filed by Rep. Richard Pena Raymond (D-Laredo), outlaws SNAP purchases of several types of chips, candy, cookies and sweetened drinks. Raymond clarified that his bill would not impose on personal freedoms with regard to food consumption. “You buy whatever you want. You want to buy 2 pounds of butter and go have that for supper, that’s your money, you do whatever you want,” Raymond told KGBT News. “We should not, on the one hand, be using tax

dollars to buy junk food and then, on the other hand, using tax dollars for health-related diseases that come about because of junk food.” According to the Houston Chronicle, Human Services Commission Spokesperson Linda Gockel said that other states have been unsuccessful in similar efforts to ban certain types of foods covered by SNAP. Previous attempts to restrict SNAP purchases have been consistently blocked by the Federal Food and Nutritional Service. Both bills, if passed, would take effect on Sep. 1, 2013.

er education to take classes that would prepare them for college-level courses, while students looking to enter the job market upon high school graduation could learn vocational training. Patrick authored the bill with Vice-Chair Eddie Lucio, Jr (D-Brownsville) and fellow members Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) and Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood). The proposal modifies the current high school degree, changing its structure by adding what the bill calls “endorsements” to a student’s diploma. According to Section 3, after completing the foundation high school program, students could earn endorse-

ments on their diplomas in business, humanities, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) or distinguished achievement. Section 7 outlines the implementation of more options for those students interested in career-prep instead of college-prep. “The bill will give students greater flexibility and more rigorous courses in CTE [Career Technical Education] so that all students are ready for either career, college or both,” said Patrick on his Facebook page Feb. 20. Construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation and utility positions make up almost 30 percent of jobs in San

Antonio, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. According to the Texas Tribune, Mario Lozoya, director of government relations with Toyota Texas, said, “The state must realize that not everyone in high school wants to go to college. But each graduate still needs a high-quality education.” Learning the more in-depth basics of a particular trade is something Patrick hopes to bring to the high school degree plan. If SB 3 is passed, students seeking career-prep could participate in a vocational training program, giving them access to internships and opportunities to work with both

public and private businesses. Students will be learning practical trade skills while also earning school credit. In an effort to lower the state dropout rate, the vocational training program will also target high-risk dropout students. According to the Texas Education Agency (TEA), in the 2010-2011 school year, the overall Texas dropout rate was 2.4 percent, while the drop out rate in San Antonio was 3.2 percent—the third largest dropout rate in Texas. The bill now awaits a vote in the State Senate.

Vocational training proposed as alternative to college prep

Erin Boren Intern news@paisano-online.com On Feb. 25, the Texas Education Committee passed SB 3, a bill introduced by Texas Sen. Dan Patrick (RHouston) that will modify the high school curriculum and introduce more leniency in graduation plans. Under SB 3, Texas high school students would have the option to take classes separate from the dictated core curriculum, which would be more relevant to students who do not wish to attend a college or university after graduation. This would allow students pursuing high-

MINIMUM WAGE: Obama claims increase would help raise millions out of poverty From Page 1

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) came out in opposition of the minimum wage hike following the president’s State of the Union. The Speaker was quoted in Politico saying, “Listen, when people are asking the question ‘Where are the jobs?’ why would we want to make it harder for small employers to hire people? I’ve got 11 brothers and sisters on every rung of the economic ladder. . . What happens when you take the rungs away on the economic ladder, you make it harder for people to get on the ladder, our goal is to get people on the ladder and help them climb that ladder so they can live the American dream.” According to Politico, “The White House was prepared for this line of attack, releasing a fact sheet that cites studies and economists concluding that a wage increase would not jeopardize jobs. But Republicans don’t buy it, saying higher wages raise the cost of doing business — a no-no at a time of high rates of joblessness.”

28th Annual

DIPLOMA DASH 5K San Antonio City Championship Run

Convocation Center, UTSA Main Campus 7 a.m. Registration 8 a.m. Race Starts Chip-Timed Race

To register and for more information:

utsa.edu/dash

Only $10 for UTSA students

PASEO

4 February 26, 2013

How effective is your advisor?

As students enroll in their fifth and sixth years, many students seek direction and question the benefits of academic counseling. Staff Writer

paseo@paisano-online.com Angst-ridden freshmen and over-worked seniors sit in the waiting rooms of the advising offices in each of their respective colleges. Some are there to take care of a registration hold, while others wait for a chance to discuss their degree plan. All have questions that need answering. The advisors stand ready and willing to help by addressing any questions or concerns that students may have throughout their undergraduate career. But just how effective is advising? Joshua Birdwell, a senior history major at UTSA, transferred from Northwest Vista College, one of the five Alamo Colleges in San Antonio. He has attended UTSA since the Spring of 2011 and has met with an advisor four times. Although his visits to the advising center have been rare, and brief, Birdwell stated that they have made a lasting impact on his undergraduate career. “I would stop in the office and talk for about 10 to 20 minutes just about regular topics: taking the right classes or making sure I wasn’t taking a class that didn’t pertain to my degree,” Birdwell explained. “They were helpful and gave me confidence in my degree plan.” For Birdwell, the experience

was informal, yet very informative. “My first advisor actually switched departments and he still sent me an updated degree plan. I didn’t ask him for anything.” This type of attention makes for a great student experience and contrasts greatly with his experience with advisors at North West Vista. “Whenever I would stop by the advising center, there was usually no one there,” Birdwell stated. Others like Brian Sarabia, a senior majoring in infrastructure assurance in the college of Business, take the advisory experience to a completely different level. “I have one specific advisor I speak with and I usually visit them at the beginning of the semester, as well as two to three times throughout the semester,” Sarabia explained. “I mostly discuss what classes I need to take, what grades I need to make and what I need to do to graduate.” Sarabia went on to commend the advising center within the College of Business, bringing up a specific moment when he was told about a reverse transfer program to get an associate’s degree from St. Philips College, another Alamo College. “They get the job done effectively and quickly; they have a lot of walk-in hours which is great,” Sarabia said. While many students are satisfied with their advising experience, others have trouble

finding the personal attention they seek in advisors. The student population at UTSA is quickly rising and outgrowing its limited advising resources. Some students are forced to wait weeks or even months before speaking with an advisor due to overwhelming student demand. Lauren Bruckner, a senior marketing major, said, “It takes two months to book an appointment. It is because they are always backed up with appointments.” Students who would rather go the digital route will find a large database of information pertaining to their degree plans, along with information regarding specific actions and requirements for individual degree plans. This is the case with Bryant Andrade, a second-semester freshman political science major. “They pretty much provide all of the information you need online,” Andrade stated. “I really only went into the office to get rid of a hold I had and to ask questions about the summer law school program; other than that, the advisor just confirmed what I already knew.” Andrade explained that he usually just follows his degree plan online and any questions he has are usually answered within the advising office’s website. “It’s a great resource and [the information] is pretty straight-forward and not very confusing. I usually just stick

with that.” The Undergraduate Advising website, which can be found under the Academics tab on UTSA’s main website, contains links and resources that assist students with any questions they might have– everything from a basic degree plan for freshmen who are undeclared, to a section containing answers to frequently asked questions. There is also a helpful list for

identifying which particular advising center students will need based on their majors, accumulated credit hours and transfer status, along with basic contact information for each college’s advising center. Those interested in learning more about what advisors have to offer them may consult the academic advising syllabus, which outlines what plans advisors have in helping their students and lists the many

ways an advisor can assist students. With thousands of students who need advising within each college, it is important that students make appointments in advance. Scheduling regular time with an advisor ensures that students can receive academic advising to stay on track without getting lost in the crowd.

Alternative Consulting

Will Tallent/ The Paisano

Will Flores

Career Center is another useful resource for students. Located at both the Main Campus and Downtown Campus, the Career Center has walkin hours from 1-4 pm every Wednesday. Audrey Magnuson, Director of Career Services, describes the mission of the Career Center as trying to, “provide lifelong skills for students and alumni so that they find meaningful employement.” The Career Center serves as a resource to edit resumes, help students prepare for interviews, provide students with tools to find employment and even loan business clothing. The center also faciliates several career fairs each semester, hosting 75 potential employers on average. To read the full story of on the UTSA Career Center, visit: paisano-online.com.

28th Annual

DIPLOMA DASH 5K San Antonio City Championship Run

Convocation Center, UTSA Main Campus 7 a.m. Registration 8 a.m. Race Starts Chip-Timed Race

To register and for more information:

utsa.edu/dash

Only $10 for UTSA students

OPINION {The Paisano} Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Katy Schmader

Assistant to Editor: Erin Boren

Managing Editor: Stephen Whitaker

News Editor:

Matthew Duarte

News Assistants: Corey Franco David Glickman

Paseo Editor: Sarah Gibbens

Arts Editor:

Jennifer Alejos

Arts Assistants: Wilfredo Flores Janae Rice

Sports Editor: Sheldon Baker

Sports Assistants: Delaney Marlowe Mario Nava

Photo Editor: Will Tallent

Photo Assistant: Vince Cardenas

Web Editor: Natalie Frels

Web Assistant: Amanda Dansby

Business Manager: Jenelle Duff

Senior Copy Editor: Alyssa Torres

{Staff Writers} Bridget Gaskill, Christina Coyne, Randy Lopez, Alex Camacho, Shelby Hodges, Stephanie Barbosa, Council Royal, Julia Brouilette

{Staff Photographers} Ruth Olivares, Alyssa Gonzales

{Contributing Writers} Julian Montez, Philip Taele, Eric Mondragon, Jasmine Rodriguez, Beth Marshall, Pete Torres, Renee Rendon, Paulina Rivero-Borrell, Mary Caithn Scott, Chance McDevitt

{Contributing Photographers} Scott Cochran, Katherine Kish, Craig Garrison

{Interns} Amanda Dansby, Janae Rice, Erin Boren, Sheldon Baker, Marcia Perales {Ads Manager} Kevyn Kirven

{Advisor}

Diane Abdo

5 February 26, 2013

If we can come together to ‘harlem shake,’ why not for other events UTSA’s “Harlem Shake (UTSA Romo Edition)” has received over 500,000 hits since the video was uploaded to YouTube two weeks ago. UTSA’s incarnation of the internet sensation was an achievement of both student participation and social media. The logistical amassing of hundreds of students (not to men-

tion UTSA President Ricardo Romo) to dance in the “Harlem Shake” video is certainly an achievement on its own. However, what does it say about a university who only comes together for a fleeting moment of internet fame? There are thousands of Harlem Shake videos on YouTube, and although UTSA’s is possibly

It is an exciting time to be a Roadrunner. The basketball teams are fighting for seeding in next m o n t h’s Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament and baseball and softball are playing well early in their seasons. While these sports are in various stages of their season, the men’s indoor track and field team just won another conference championship. The indoor Roadrunners have made winning a tradition, and they have continued that tradition this weekend by winning their eighth consecutive conference championship

at the WAC Indoor championships in Albuquerque, N.M., from Feb. 21-23. The Roadrunners bested UT-system rival UT Arlington by finishing the event with a school-record 159 points, 22 better than Arlington, who had entered the day 19 points up on the Roadrunners. It was their first conference championship in the WAC, a conference they will leave in July for new challenges in Conference USA. The previous seven came while the Roadrunners were members of the Southland Conference. The eight consecutive indoor championships are part of the successful tradition of UTSA’s track and field programs, both men and women. Since the founding of the track and field program in 1982, the Roadrunner track athletes have won

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(1992-94; 96, 97) and five cross country (1991-93; 95. 96). The 33 conference championships won by the UTSA track program are the most by any sport on campus. Yet there is hardly any mention of their accomplishments on campus. We should be proud that our school has been so successfully represented by the track athletes. To show that pride, we should celebrate the track team’s winning tradition in the same way we celebrate the championships of our other teams. It could be simple as a banner hanging in the Convocation Center next to the exploits of our volleyball team as well as those of the two basketball teams. Perhaps when the track stadium opens at Park West they will showcase the accolades won by UTSA’s track athletes. For now,

at least, there ought to be some recognition of our track team in a highly public location such as the Convocation Center. We should celebrate these Roadrunners for their accomplishments in the last eight years, and we should also remember the winning tradition on which they are building with each successful conference championship victory. They are just as much Roadrunners as the football team or the basketball teams. The track-and-field Roadrunners are also the most successful Roadrunners. They should be celebrated as such by their school. Stephen Whitaker Managing Editor

UTSA should focus on each individual discipline equally On Feb. 20, CNN contributor LZ Granderson raised an interesting point in his “Governors, stop bashing liberal arts”: “Should students continue to take out huge loans to pursue majors that don’t have a clear path to paying that loan back? In other words, a job?” The answer to that question should be determined by each student individually, and neither government nor college officials should promote any particular degree over another.

In fact, according to a report by Georgetown University’s Center for Education and the Workplace, despite common misconceptions, computer, mathematics, engineering and business majors have a higher unemployment rate than communication or journalism majors. Despite personal preference for particular career fields, university faculty should aim to provide every student with the best education and opportunities for student-resume growth. With 6,650 students, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) is the largest college at UTSA, yet it received only 12.9 percent of award funding in 2011, according to the Annual

Comics Vulpes Vulpes by: Christopher Garcia

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33 conference championships while being members of three different conferences. In addition to their eight straight indoor titles, the men have also claimed four outdoor championships in the Southland (most recently in 2012) and eight cross-country conference championships in the Trans American Athletic Conference and the Southland Conference. The women finished second this weekend to rival Texas State. In their history, they have contributed 13 conference championships to the university. The Roadrunner women haven’t won a conference championship since the 1997 Southland outdoor event, but between 1991-97 they were dominant, winning three straight indoor championships from 1992-94, five outdoor

Commentary

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motivation to do so. Will we let ourselves be defined by a silly internet fad as we pursue tier-one status? Or is 500,000 views just the foundation from which we will build a more open and cohesive student culture?

Winning conference championships an annual thing for indoor track team

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

San Antonio, TX 78249

that our university president can join in making a video for the internet, but our students rarely come out to show support for our sports teams? When less than 5 percent of our student body votes in Student Government elections? Our students clearly don’t lack the means to come together as a community, but instead the

Commentary

{Advisory Board}

the only one to feature a University president, it does very little to bring attention to anyone outside our University. We should be attempting to make inroads to other Texas communities, not simply proclaiming our perceived greatness to ourselves through an internet meme. What does it say about us

Report of Sponsored Program Activities. The College of Sciences (COS) and the College of Engineering (COE) combined received 70.7 percent. And the numbers don’t stop there. In the last four years, COLFA’s funding increased 22.4 percent, while the COS’s funding hiked to 37.2 percent. And in 2011, COLFA made up over 25 percent of the total awarded degrees, according to the UTSA Fact Book, compared to 18.1 percent of the total awarded degrees from both COS and COE. Why is funding not portioned to each college based on the population of each? Praise for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors continues

to increase with UTSA’s Tier One status looming. By excluding equal praise to non-STEM majors, the Tier One campaign undermines the importance of liberal and fine arts. Every major deserves equal representation at UTSA, as well as equal time and funding. And as the largest college, COLFA warrants proper recognition of its 23 degrees, 11 concentrations, 29 minors and two certification programs. As well, the Texas government prioritized the graduation rate of STEM majors by increasing the financial aid available to STEM-majored students. HB 2910, which took immediate effect in June 2011, created the Texas STEM Challenge Schol-

arship program. The program awards financial aid and a job with a participating business to eligible students. “Any official who’s concerned about higher education in this country should address the skyrocketing costs, not demonize degrees they don’t appreciate,” Granderson stated. In this age of constant accelerating change, the millennial generation was brought up during the diffusing of social norms and common clichés of the past. If UTSA can set aside all other stereotypes, why can’t we equalize focus on all majors? Erin Boren Assistant to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Thank you UTSA students and Dr. Romo! You have rekindled a fire that was slowly burning out. As I was heading to the Sombrilla to participate in UTSA’s version of the Harlem Shake (redux), I rode the elevator with another “adult” who described his hesitation about the whole activity. I asked him what he was doing when he was this age? He just rolled his eyes. I laughed and pointed out some of our students’ courageous, socially responsible accomplishments that have taken place since I began teaching at UTSA: organizing one of only three gay fraternities in the county (and whose president went on to join the Human Rights Campaign’s Steering Committee and lobbied for fair and equal rights); organizing a hunger strike to urge passage of the DREAM Act, acronym for Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors, (with a few students lasting over 40 days without food), marching to San Fernando Cathedral (some students marching 14 miles alongside IH-35) to bring attention to their struggle to get the federal government to pass the DREAM Act , to staging a sit in at U.S. Senator Kay Baily Hutchinson’s office to convince her to support the DREAM Act.

I explained that I thought our students are also courageous for posting the “failed version” of UTSA’s Harlem Shake on YouTube. Despite the criticism, the organizers of the Harlem Shake returned with a more exciting version of their original Harlem Shake. This time around, the young organizers were able to convince Dr. Romo to participate. No other university has a university president participating in this cultural phenomenon, much less leading the dance. KUDOS TO YOU DR. ROMO! And to the students who criticized, participated, and organized the event. I am proud of each and every one of you. From the serious and political events mentioned above to the UTSA’s Harlem Shake (redux), our students have done what every major university only hopes to do for every student, teach them. Our students are doing exactly what we teach them: to have a voice. Monday, as I walked towards the Sombrilla and saw the mass of students looking up to the JPL at the lone young man who was giving instructions, there was not a sound. The mass of students was silent. He had his hands placed on the concrete beams as he shouted instruc-

tions to the attentive, costumed participants below. As I listened and watched, I thought, of how proud I was of him and the students/participants. I am proud that our students acknowledged and took responsibility for their “failed version,” responded to the constructive criticism, and then moved on. Isn’t this what we want our young people to do? Isn’t this what we been trying to teach them? Next time I hear an “adult” comment about how young people don’t know anything, don’t pay attention to politics, or don’t care about a single thing, I will remind them of what I have witnessed over these past few years. Our students are the young people who won’t sit back and complain; our students are the young people who ask, “How can we fix this?” And then they find ways to fix the problem. Thank you, Dr. Romo and UTSA students. You make me proud to be a UTSA faculty member; you make me proud to be your teacher; and you make me proud to be part of such an awesome community of doers! Rose Rodriguez-Rabin Lecturer II The Writing Program

ARTS&LIFE

6 February 26, 2013

{Local Events} Tuesday, Feb. 26 3 p.m. Exhibit: Ethel Shipton: “Moments” Unit B Gallery (500 Stieren) presents “Moments,” art from Ethel Shipton. The exhibit presents over 1,400 small works created from a list that Shipton has kept over the course of 2 years. The works presented represent those moments in time as the artist seeks to answer the question, “What is a moment in time?” Admission is free.

Craig Garrison / The Paisano

Wednesday, Feb. 27 9 p.m. Movie: “Kiss Me” and “Wildness”

Tal Palo Tal Astilla features work from Ana Fernandez, Rigoberto Gonzalez and Laura Anderson Barbata at the UTSA Art Gallery at the main campus.

Tal palo tal astilla: Three artists explore cultural boundaries Marcia Perales Intern

arts@paisano-online.com This month the UTSA Art Gallery is featuring an exhibit titled “Tal Palo Tal Astilla,” which seeks to represent a cultural theme based on the Mexico-United States border and influence on it’s citizens. The exhibit features three talented artists, Ana Fernandez, Rigoberto Gonzalez and Laura Anderson Barbata and is curated by UTSA professor Ricky Cuauhyollotzin Anthony Armendariz. “Families [tend to] use catch phrases to teach lessons,” Armendariz says. “Then when they become older, they become part of the way you pass on culture.” The entrance, which Barbata created herself, features a bright orange crepe paper river, creat-

ing a physical and mental sense of crossing a border into a realm of real life border culture. “It creates a physical border that [one] must overcome,” Armendariz explains. “Once beyond the border, there are more parallels than differences. I wanted to raise awareness of the similarities.” Barbata’s work draws inspiration from spiritually charged religious icons, historical text of indigenous origins and personal narratives. “At the exhibition, analytical works explore our colonial past and history,” Barbata says. “I want to explore issues of justice and to understand the past that comprises my rich Mexican heritage.” Armendariz agrees that Barbata’s work “is all passion [and] about the animalness in us.” The majority of her work em-

bodies a headless theme. “As I explored religions that shaped our past, I decided to remove their heads to liberate them from the readings that we can impose on them,” Barbata says. “Gonzalez’s work is a contrast to Barbata’s but counterbalances Barbata’s,” Armendariz explained. Gonzalez has a mix of political and contemporary subjects and complex visual vocabulary with old master sensibility. The pieces shown “depict scenes of violence, torture, beheadings and shootings,” Gonzalez said. “The paintings are informed by the visual idioms of 16th century Baroque art.” His piece “Autoretrato (Selfportrait)” grasps immediate attention, as it is the only one with an actual complete figure of a human being. “I try to draw an allusion be-

tween the act of painting and prayer. For example, the gesture of the hand resembles the way I hold the brush, and it can also be interpreted as such. There is also the symbolism implied in the darkness surrounding me and the positive connotation of the light emanating from a candle,” Gonzalez explained. One work of interest features a graphic goat head and pan dulce with an exposed brain that expresses Mexican culture in an eye-catching way. “In most of my work, I try to address social issues such as immigration, culture, the war on drugs and other issues that need to be brought to people’s attention with an artistic sensibility,” Gonzalez said. Fernandez’s work is technically different from the other artists. She has a “looseness and her process is different techni-

cally on how the paint is laid down,” Armendariz stated. Ana Fernandez paints symbolic and mystically poetic portraits of inanimate objects, such as homes and vehicles, which serve as surrogates for their owners. They are regionally specific but broadly appealing. The pieces that Fernandez showcased in the exhibit represent still-life with a story. “She does composites of dwellings in San Antonio and reinterprets them to make them false narratives,” Armendariz says. “It’s a contemporary subject matter.” “Tal Palo Tal Astilla - Artists Influenced by La Cultura” will be displayed at UTSA’s Art Gallery at the main campus through March 1.

arts@paisano-online.com Madhatters delivers food to the curious and curiouser. Nestled amongst the Victorian noblesse of the King William District, on the corner of Beauregard and South Alamo, is Madhatters Tea House & Café—the restaurant itself is an oddity poking out from the contemporary and classic architecture. Appearances can be deceiving, however, as this strangelooking building holds an everchanging menu, a friendly staff and a unique environment not unlike a certain Wonderland. Adorning the steps to the entrance are planters filled with blooming primrose and stalks of dusty miller; fully grown chilies hang from the planters further down the walkway, where there is a patio with a few tables and chairs for outdoor dining. The inside is just as colorful, with photographs depicting Echincea and various

wild flowers in bloom, along with artworks for sale—it’s clear that the art community surrounding Madhatters plays an important role in the décor. Kitschy figurines and teacups ranging in size from great to small line almost every nook and cranny; the over-sized bookshelves in the antechamber hold heavily used texts. Looking up, one is treated to the sight of a large teacup displayed as if in motion, forever spilling its contents onto the patrons below. Atmosphere is everything at Madhatters, and it serves to enhance the overall experience of dining in. “It’s been like this even during the previous owner,” explains Matt Leal, describing the importance of the environment. Leal has been with Madhatters for 10 years and much like many of the other employees working at the restaurant they all know MadHatters inside and out. “A lot of people just come in to get a pot of tea. We get a lot of regulars,” states Leal. Mad-

Hatters boasts a wide variety of tea - “About 50 to 60,” Leal remarked—all of which can be served in a small, cast-iron teapot for a more relaxed drink with friends. The tea itself can be had alone, or with delectable finger-foods; electing to have the tea as a full meal prompts an employee to bring out a threetiered serving container embellished with various cakes and small sandwiches. Simple meals are extravagant in the mad world of MadHatters. The café boasts a notable menu, with different foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The breakfast menu treats customers to classic recipes, some of which feature a unique twist. The “Mad Migas Scrams,” in particular, were extremely delicious. The plate is composed of three eggs (or egg-whites for the calorie conscious consumer) fluffed to buttery perfection, mixed with crisp corn tortilla chips and vegetables; all topped with melted Gouda cheese and served with blue,

red and normal potatoes and a corn tortilla. For lunch, one could try the “Grilled Hummus Sandwich.” The sandwich consists of two hearty-sized slices of wheat bread filled with warm hummus, buttery mushrooms, tomatoes, grilled artichokes, baby spinach and melted provolone. Sandwich items also come with a side, which can be anything from the signature potato salad to the classic chips & salsa. Dinner is something entirely different from the rest of the menu. “We try to do dinner specials like salmon, ravioli... Sometimes we have trout; sometimes we have crab cakes,” Leal says as he describes the constantly shifting diner menu. Indeed, customers who go one day for the “Sirloin Burger” may find that its place has been taken by a signature seafood platter the next. “The board changes daily, it’s always different,” explains Leal. Dessert consists of customers viewing the large selection

Arts & Life is looking for fashionable students to be featured in its Outfit of the Day segment. Send your submissions to arts@paisanoonline.com

Thursday, Feb. 2 12 p.m. Exhibit: “Wall of Flowers” Tres Rebecas (117 W. Mistletoe) presents “Wall of Flowers,” artwork from artist Alberto Ramirez. The artwork is presented by Arriba Arte Studios and includes pastels and still-life from the artist. Admission is free.

{CAM Events} Thursday, Feb. 28 6 p.m. “CAM Kick-Off at Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum” Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum (116 Blue Star) presents its CAM Kick-Off celebration with new exhibits from Gary Sweeney, Lloyd Walsh and Scott Martin. The reception will begin with a ribboncutting at 6 p.m. and will feature live music and food from local food trucks. Admission is free.

Friday, March 1 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m. “San Antonio Museum of Art: A Conversation with the Founders of SAMOMA”

Mad food, mad world: Madhatters Cafe serves tea, treats and sandwiches to Southtown Wilfredo Flores Arts Assistant

The Guadalupe Theater (1301 Guadalupe St.) presents two movies dealing with issues within the Latino and LGBT community. “Kiss Me” is a short, 11-minute drama about the consequences within the boxing scene in the East LA area. “Wildness” is a documentary about a weekly performance party of the same name in MacArthur Park, a haven for Latin and LGBT immigrants. Admission is $8.

of cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes and cobblers within the cold glass display. Should one run into the age-old problem of not knowing what to get, a simple question to any staff member will alleviate the stress as they are more than willing and ready to share their favorites, along with tips to making the savory meal-completer even more enjoyable. It’s a mad world with good food; however, a great staff and a relaxed atmosphere helps with that madness. While the prices may tend to get a bit high for the average college student, Madhatters Tea House & Café is a treat that should be enjoyed thoroughly every once in a while. “It’s a good place to come, everyone knows everyone, and after a while, you get to know a lot of people.” Madhatters is located at 320 Beauregard St., and is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. with a Sunday Brunch lasting from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The San Antonio Museum of Arts (W. Jones Ave.) presents an intimate evening with David S. Rubin interviewing SAMOMA (San Antonio Museum of Modern Art) founders, Norman Rene Avila, Donjon Evans and George Homer, who are esteemed artists in the community. The event coincides with the exhibit “Artists of SAMOMA from the SAMA Collection,” which is on display until May 26. For more information visit sama. org.

Saturday, March 2 6 p.m. Exhibit: “Machas and Trannies y Queers OH MY!” Casa de Cultura La Victoria (217 Castillo) presents work from various artists who reside in the east and west coast of Mexico. The exhibit features work from Adriana Garcia, Margo Rivera-Weiss and others as they highlight the themes of sexuality. Admission is free.

For the week’s full calendar, visit: paisano-online.com

Spiritual Experiences Guidebook Past Lives, Dreams, Soul Travel and More . . . Free Guidebook, CD and Discussion

Thursday, February 28, 7:30-8:30 p.m. University Center 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room)

Find keys to accelerate your pursuit of truth and creative techniques to enrich your daily life. Enjoy the journey! Info: Omid Ghasemi (e-mail) - qys128@my.utsa.edu or call Justin: 832-244-6502 www.Eckankar-Texas.org Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Organization

SPORTS

The Roadrunners are four games away from playing in the schools first ever Western Athletic Conference tournament in Las Vegas March 12-16.

UTSA continues winning streak Mario Nava

Assistant Sports Editor sports@paisano-online.com With four games left before UTSA heads to Las Vegas for the WAC tournament, the ’Runners are starting to come together. UTSA (7-19) defeated the Nicholls Colonels (7-18) on Feb. 23 at the Convocation Center, 76-58. More importantly, it’s the first time the ‘Runners have won two consecutive games since they beat Holy Cross and Old Dominion last November. “We feel that we can win the rest of the games on our schedule,” said senior guard Kannon Burrage. “The momentum is definitely a plus for us.” Burrage led all scorers with 17 points, with most of them in the second half. Burrage scored 14 of the team’s 18 points in the sec-

ond half. Even with an impressive performance by UTSA’s offense, their defense seemed to come together. Michael Hale III had three steals with 16 points. “If the team works as one, then, you will see the results you have seen lately…people have more pride,” said junior forward Jeromie Hill. With three of the WAC’s top scorers, UTSA has the ability to defeat their opponents in the final stretch of the season. “We have no problem scoring offense…if we can get a guy on defensively, we’re a dangerous team for sure,” Hill said. He had 16 points and 12 rebounds notching, his third double-double of the season. Nicholls held the lead during the first 4 minutes until Hill scored a 3-pointer and tied the game. The ‘Runners rang off 4 more 3-pointers in a 3 minute time span and never relin-

quished the lead after that. JaMarkus Horace, who scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds, led the Colonels. UTSA held a 45-33 lead heading into the second half, but Nicholls came out strong, cutting the lead to 7. Burrage hit a 3-pointer that put UTSA back up by double digits and UTSA extended their lead to 23 points. On Thursday, Feb. 28, UTSA will welcome the Idaho Vandals (10-16, 5-10 WAC), to San Antonio. “We had opportunities at Idaho and we felt like we could have won that game,” said Head Coach Brooks Thompson. “I feel good going down the home stretch.” Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. at the Convocation Center.

Will Tallent/ The Paisano

Burk Frey / The Paisano

February 26, 2013

UTSA is undefeated at home with a 4-0 record. The ‘Runners host Texas-Pan American on Feb.26 at 4 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.

The Roadrunners hot streak cooled down by the Cajuns Nick Castillo

Contributing Writer sports@paisano-online.com Coming off of their first four game sweep in five years, the ‘Runners were able to continue their success against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi last Wednesday. The ‘Runners scored 19 runs on 22 hits as they beat the Islanders 19-4. Shortstop RJ Perucki led the team with three hits and seven RBI’s. Pitcher Nolan Trabinino relieved John Anderson in the fourth inning and managed to pick up the win for the Roadrunners. Trabinino pitched five innings, allowed three hits and no runs. After picking up their fifth consecutive win, the Roadrunners traveled to Lafayette, La. to play a weekend series against the University of Lousiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns (ULL). The Ragin’ Cajuns stopped all the momentum UTSA had gained from winning five straight games. The Ragin’ Cajuns opened up the weekend with an

18-6 victory over UTSA. UTSA’s pitching struggled in the loss. Starting pitcher Michael Kraft only lasted 2.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Reliever Jordan Pacheco allowed six runs in only 1.1 innings of work. Relievers Doug Sefcik III and Matt Walker allowed nine runs in a combined 3 innings pitched. In game two against ULL, the ‘Runners were able to take an early 3-0 lead but the Ragin’ Cajuns were too much for UTSA to handle. The Cajuns scored one run in the second and also in the third, which tied the game. ULL went on to score six more runs. The ‘Runners tried to comeback by scoring three runs in the top of the seventh but ULL was able to beat the Roadrunners 9-6. UTSA was plagued by three errors, two of which led to ULL runs. The final game against the Ragin’ Cajuns was a defensive struggle. ULL scored one run in the first inning but UTSA was able to tie the game in the second inning. ULL took a 2-1 lead

after they picked up a run in the third inning. The score remained the same heading into the top of the ninth. UTSA’s Daniel Rockett was able to get on base and to make his way to third but the ‘Runners weren’t able to get him home and fell to the Ragin’ Cajuns for the third consecutive game. The Roadrunners weren’t able to transfer their offensive momentum into the series against the Ragin’ Cajuns. The ‘Runners put up 40 runs on 62 hits last weekend against Air Force but were only able to score 14 runs with 24 hits against ULL. While the Roadrunners were swept, Head Coach Jason Marshall wanted the ball club “at [their] best when it gets down to the end so that means keeping the beginning in perspective. I think our guys have high expectations this year. They know they have what it takes to be a good ball club,” UTSA (5-3) will try to get back on track when they face UT-Pan American Tuesday at 4 pm at Roadrunner Field.

8 February 26, 2013