}
S tudent S abr i na Al f aro di s pl a ys ar t at l ocal exh i bi t. p 6
UTSA sof tball team sweeps rival TX State. p7
{
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
{SINCE 1981}
President Ricardo Romo received the Clark Kerr Ward from UC Berkely for his contributions to the advancement of higher education.
San Antonio Texas Education Agency estimates there will be a 5-10 percent reduction in federal education financing due to the sequester, including $51 million cut for special education and $65.4 million for aid to improvised students.
March 26, 2013
Issue 9
{WWW.PAISANO-ONLINE.COM}
Stabbing near UTSA hospitalizes three Matthew Duarte News Editor
news@paisano-online.com Three men were wounded as a result of stabbings at the 6700 block of Pinon Canyon at Aspen Heights, a student-housing complex near UTSA, in the early hours of Sunday, March 9. KENS 5 reported that the altercation allegedly began at around 1:40 a.m. when a group of students tried to crash a party before returning with pans and box cutters. San Antonio Express-News reported that the altercation allegedly began at a separate apartment, where a melee erupted in the living room. Two of the victims were taken
to Methodist Hospital by another partygoer while the third was initially treated at the scene, according to the Express-News. Witnesses told police that when officers arrived at the scene, the 21-year-old victim was lying facedown and bleeding on the couch with what appeared to be a knife in his upper left shoulder. The male victim was treated on the scene before he was taken to University Hospital, Express-News reported. He was released later that day. According to KAAB, police have been called to Aspen Heights more than one hundred times in the past year alone. Some students have reported feeling safe at Aspen Heights. “Crime isn’t that much of a prob-
lem,“ sophomore biology major Morgon Cisneros said. “I go to a big school, bad things are going to happen no matter what.” In March 2012, Leandre “Dre” Vonzell Hill was arrested for the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Randall Perkins that occurred at the former Aspen Heights property on the 6500 block of West Hausman Road, now known as the Estates at San Antonio. Aspen Leasing Manager Sam Hagerty told the Express-News that the move to the new location on Berthound Lane was not a reaction to the fatal shooting, but rather a planned expansion of the complex. Mary Seitz, a member of a nearby neighborhood organization, told KAAB, “Aspen
Will Tallent/The Paisano
UTSA
Volume 48
Police were called to the Aspen Heights apartment complex more than 100 times last year.
Heights needs to step back in and step up security.” “Our number one priority is our residents,” said Hagerty, according to the Express-News. “I feel safe,” Cisneros said. “I
University keeping pace with Texas’ Energy Sector
City Council forums coming to UTSA
Partne rs hip wi t h S h e l l l a t e st i n d u st r y co l l a b o r a t ion
Texas
Sarah Gibbens
The Texas Senate passed a bill that would limit state executives to two terms
Paseo Editor
news@paisano-online.com
History In this week in 1998, UTSA hosted a then-record 120,000 fans to the NCAA Final Four in the AlamoDome.
Sports The UTSA baseball team will host Baylor at Wolff Stadium Tuesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming San Jose State March 28-30. Softball will host San Jose State March 29 and 30.
AP Photo
Nation The Supreme Court will hear arguments against the Defense of Marriage Act on Tuesday and California’s Prop. 8 on Wednesday. Rulings on both cases will have major legal implications towards gay marriage in the U.S.
live at one of the safer student housing complexes.” No arrests have been reported in the case.
UTSA has partnered with businesses in the economically powerful Eagle Ford Shale industry as well as with up-and-coming solar endeavors
Erin Boren Intern
David Glickman News Assistant
news@paisano-online.com On Feb. 23, Shell Oil Company announced a partnership with UTSA to help create jobs in the Carrizo Springs community through municipal training and a project series regarding the Eagle Ford Shale area—one of the largest deposits of natural gas in the United States, which stretches 400 miles from the Texas-Mexico border to East Texas. This is the latest effort by UTSA to work alongside the energy industry of a state that led the nation in energy production in 2010, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. It is the goal of Shell and UTSA, according to General Manager of Shell South Texas Jan Sherman, “to develop new and innovative pathways for continuing the growth of the Carrizo Springs community that will benefit generations for many years to come.” Eagle Ford Shale energy mining was responsible for $25 billion in revenue and over 47,000 jobs in South Texas in 2011, according to a May 2012 study conducted by the Center for Community and Business Research at UTSA’s Institute of Economic Development (IED). A 2012 follow-up study will be released on March 26. Currently, natural gas production accounts for 3.1 percent of the state’s workforce and 14.9 percent of gross state
product, according to StateImpact Texas, NPR. UTSA’s IED, Rural Business Program and College of Public Policy will work with local government and business owners to enhance the public’s understanding and to address concerns about Shell’s future productions. The UTSA Rural Business Program will also host monthly business workshops. Sherman said, “Shell is focused not only on the business, but the people who make our business possible.” Shell’s desire to expand the community’s awareness of what the company is doing in the Eagle Ford region is in part due to the criticism of hydraulic fracturing—known as fracking—a process used to obtain natural gas from porous rock formations such as Eagle Ford Shale.
Natural Gas in Texas
Fracking, which involves sending down highly pressurized mixtures of water and various chemicals into the ground in order to force oil and natural gas to the surface, is still not formally regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Overall, Texas has been highly supportive of natural gas production. According to StateImpact Texas, “Texas leads the nation in natural gas production, holding around 23 percent of the nation’s natural gas reserves.” Texas also led the nation in
natural gas production, accounting for 28 percent of the nation’s total in 2011, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Associate Professor of Research at the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute Afamia Elnakat said the natural gas extraction “could be done to minimize environmental impact… and maximize efficiency in natural gas harvesting.” “Energy independence at a national level creates better security for us and for our children and the future and promotes economic growth for us,” Elnakat said. “There is a big natural gas movement down south in Texas, and it provides economic growth [locally].” However, there have been accusations of chemicals being used in the process seeping into the groundwater, making it hazardous for human consumption and even flammable. The New York Times has also reported that new criticisms of fracking have emerged, such as that the process makes the ground unstable, causing earthquakes in the surrounding area, along with the fracking process depleting the water supply of the already droughtstricken state; these have led to fracking being banned in some areas, such as Tulsa, Okla. and the majority of New York. Gov. Rick Perry supports fracking and said to ABC News in 2011 that “There is no scientific proof hydraulic fracturing has contaminated groundwater.” That same year, Perry
signed into law a bill that required natural gas companies to disclose chemicals used in the fracking process. According to StateImpact Texas, “The act of drilling and fracturing itself” is not a cause for concern, “but rather the disposal wells.” Scientists at both University of Texas and Southern Methodist University (SMU) have found “conclusive scientific evidence that the injection of [fracking] fluids is causing quakes in the U.S.” Cliff Frohlich, associate director with the UT Institute for Geophysics, told StateImpact Texas the easiest way to explain the earthquakes connection to disposal wells is what he calls the “air hockey table model.” “You have an air hockey table, suppose you tilt it. If there’s no air on, the puck will just sit there. Gravity wants it to move, but it doesn’t because there’s friction [with the table surface]. But if you turn the air on for the hockey table, the puck slips,” said Frohlich. “Faults are the same. If you pump water in a fault [which acts as the air in the hockey table], the fault can slip, causing an earthquake.” Frohlich stated, “If disposal is causing earthquakes, you can find a different way of disposing of it. You can dispose of the stuff in a different well, or you can even take it to a fluid treatment plant.” The most recent earthquake occurred in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with a magnitude See ENERGY, Page 2
On March 27, UTSA’s Student Government Association (SGA), in conjunction with the San Antonio League of Women Voters and the San Antonio 20/20 Organization, will be hosting a City Council Candidate Forum at UTSA’s main campus, and again at the downtown location on April 13. These events will give students the opportunity to have their voices heard by future leaders of San Antonio. SGA President Xavier Johnson believes this is an event, “that UTSA has a vested interest in.” Students may wonder how exactly City Council elections will impact their daily lives, Johnson said, when, in fact, many San Antonio residents are directly affected by decisions made at such a local level. City Council makes decisions that impact zoning and, subsequently, building construction. As a university on a trajectory for growth, building laws will be of vital importance to UTSA’s future, according to Johnson. Building laws are also of importance because they affect many of the relationships between UTSA and the city of San Antonio. For example, the Alamodome, built and funded by the city, hosts UTSA football games and, beginning this spring, graduation ceremonies. According to Johnson, “There are many different rules and regulations that [City Council] has within the city and those all affect the students that go here. Every student interacts with them on a daily basis.” SGA’s motivation to host the forum is to “give our involvement and give back to the city as a whole,” said Johnson. A positive relationship between SGA and City Council would be beneficial to UTSA, Johnson stated, and with three new candidates in this year’s race he See CITY COUNCIL, Page 2
NEWS
2 March 26, 2013
ENERGY: UTSA partnering with both oil and solar companies in diverse energy sector From Page 1
of 3.0 on Jan. 22. Currently, Texas has more than 50,000 disposal wells, according to the Texas Railroad Commission. The EPA projects the completion of their study on fracking in 2014. The study will cover the impact fracking has on drinking water resources.
The Rise of Renewables
These fears have led many to question the true impact of fracking and other nonrenewable sources of energy. Additionally, many worry that the energy market, which is currently heavily dependant on coal and natural gas, is not diverse enough to support longterm stability. With such concerns in mind, State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez (DAustin) introduced HB 303 in January, a bill which is currently being reviewed in the State Affairs committee. HB 303 aims to increase Texas’ renewable energy dependence from 4 percent in 2010 to 35 percent by year 2020. According to his website, part of Rodriguez’s platform is “the promotion of renewable and sustainable energy as part of a statewide approach to improving environmental quality and creating economic development opportunities.” “I would call [the bill] reasonable and safe, because…the innovation and engineering is there,” Elnakat said. “It’s making the regulatory and political traits parallel to them.” According to the EIA, from 2005 to 2010, Texas’ renewable energy consumption grew by
more than 230 percent. While wind energy consumption from 2005 to 2010 rose by 500 percent in Texas, solar energy consumption expanded by just 83.3 percent. Texas, the national leader for wind energy, brought in almost 10,000 MWs in 2010, a national record. Although wind has a growing foothold in Texas’ energy sector, many view solar as a key market component for longterm renewable growth, and Rodriguez’s bill calls for solar energy consumption to rise from .24 percent to 2 percent, increasing solar consumption by more than 700 percent in the next seven years. Making an energy market in Texas that does not depend completely on the oil and natural gas sectors is a growing concern for many. As Rodriguez stated in Reporting Texas, “That’s what this is all about really. We’re trying to kick-start it a little bit for the non-wind renewable areas.” “We need a diverse market, which is the intent of this [support for solar power], and I think it could be really good for the Texas economy,“ Rodriguez said. HB 303 is just one of several bills dealing with upcoming energy changes, and changing energy dependence to more renewable resources is not just a topic at the state level. “Four years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it. We’ve begun to change that,” President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address. “Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in Ameri-
ca. So let’s generate even more. Solar energy gets cheaper by the year – so let’s drive costs down even further. As long as countries like China keep going all-in on clean energy, so must we.” As Elnakat said, “Energy independence at a national level creates better security for us.” According to Environment Texas “Texas has the best solar energy potential in the nation.” According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Texas has the potential to generate more than 100 times our current electric use from solar power.” As reported in Reaching for the Sun, a brief by Environment Texas, an environmental advocacy group, San Antoniobased CPS Energy and Austin Energy make up 85 percent solar energy capacity for the state of Texas. “Texas’ solar story is primarily a tale of two cities—San Antonio and Austin—with the rest of the state largely languishing in the shadow,” stated the Director of Environment Texas Luke Metzger. “It’s time we reach for the sun and bring clean solar energy to the rooftops of all Texas’ homes, schools and businesses.” According to Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), Texas ranks 13th in the nation for its solar capacity, with the ability to power just over 11,000 houses on pure solar energy. The Reaching for the Sun report showed that CPS Energy supplies 52.6 MWs to San Antonio and its surrounding counterparts, bringing in the largest solar energy consump-
tion in Texas. Second to CPS, Austin Energy supplies 41.3 MWs to its consumers. The third largest consumption of solar energy belongs to Oncor of Dallas and Fort Worth, at only 9.89 MWs. While Blue Wing Solar Facility and Centennial Solar Farm supply 34 megawatts of energy to the San Antonio community, according to SEIA, CPS Energy and Nexolon have broken ground on a solar plant which will bring 400 more MWs of energy and 400 jobs to the San Antonio, according to the San Antonio Express-News. “We believe that we have a once-in-a-generation chance to be a world leader in an industry that is growing stronger and stronger by the year,” Mayor Julián Castro told the Express-News. “This is very exciting for me because I see our new energy economy in San Antonio really taking off.”
UTSA’s Sustainable Energy Research
Near the heart of San Antonio’s sustainable energy movement has been the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute at UTSA. The Institute works on many projects including solar forecasting, the water energy nexus and electric vehicle issues in addition to research relating to Eagle Ford Shale. “I mention these two things: Eagle Ford and renewables—I bring you back to our platform here at the Institute, and my personal view on the world,” Elnakat commented. “The best remedy is prevention. The best way to address our energy
problem, also, is to reduce demand, to make things more efficient.” To that effect, the Institute is working on a project incorporating more solar energy into the Texas grid, addressing several areas of solar power in San Antonio as well as evaluating solar energy deployment through CPS Energy and studying the smart grid. Additionally, their research also focuses on improving energy storage and creating solar forecasting methods. The Institute is also working on circuit reliability in partnership with Blue Wing Solar. Although much of their work relates to the greater San Antonio area, the Institute’s SmartLiving project brings innovative energy technologies to the UTSA campus. The SmartLiving project seeks to integrate 1228 solar panels, 21 inverters and 18 smart combiner boxes to the UTSA Main and Downtown campuses. The initiative
also implemented “a real-time monitoring system that allows researchers and students to study solar power, irradiance and variability,” as stated on its website. The SmartLiving project aims to bring LED lighting to all downtown campus buildings, carbon monitoring sensors in some classrooms to fluctuate room A.C. based on class sizes and scheduling and also thermal camera sensors in the downtown cafeteria. “San Antonio is trying really hard to be the new energy economy. We’re showcasing our city,” said Elnakat. “It goes to show the nation that we’re a microcosm example of what tomorrow’s America is—and we can still have this culture, this heart, but we can make it innovative in science and engineering. We can also be energy independent and secure, but also still have that culture and diversity.”
CITY COUNCIL: 3 new candidates up for election in San Antonio districts From Page 1
believes now is a pivotal time to get involved. In the forums, candidates will have roughly two minutes to speak. Afterward, time is given to students to better understand their candidates by asking questions. “Students will have an opportunity to have their questions and their voices heard,” said Johnson. The first of the forums will be on March 27 for candidates
running in District 8, which includes the UTSA Main Campus. The event will be held in the University Room of the Business Building (BB 2.06.04), and will run from 7:30-9 p.m. For students in District 5, which includes the Downtown Campus, a forum will be held at the Downtown Campus Retama Auditorium and will run from 6-7 p.m. UTSA will be an early voting site for the election on May 11.
NEWS
3 March 26, 2013
OPINION
4 March 26, 2013
{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, Paulina Rivero-Borrell
{Staff Photographers} Ruth Olivares, Alyssa Gonzales
{Contributing Writers} Julian Montez, Philip Taele, Eric Mondragon, Jasmine Rodriguez, Beth Marshall, Pete Torres, Renee Rendon, Mary Caithn Scott, Chance McDevitt, Chris Rodriguez, Mark Zavala,
Boy Scouts should adapt to the times, lift ban on homosexuals Rick Perry is no stranger to controversy, so it should come as no surprise that the Texas Governor wouldn’t miss the opportunity to take an unpopular stance on an issue that falls well outside his jurisdiction. Last week, on Glenn Beck’s radio program, the former Eagle Scout stated that he hopes the National Board of the Boy Scouts of America “will follow
their historic position of keeping the Scouts strongly supportive of the values that make Scouting this very important and impactful organization.” The Boy Scouts of America have attracted a host of media attention since they reaffirmed their position on homosexual behavior, a position that bans gay troop members and troop leaders from being a member of
the organization. However, the Boy Scouts are behind the times and their antiquated stance on gay rights is poisonous for any modern institution. While the BSA has seen its membership decline to historic lows, support for gay rights is higher now than at any other point in history. According to a Washington Post poll released earlier this
Could the impasse between USA and N. Korea be solved with basketball? While we are engrossed in the March Madness that is the N C A A men’s basketball tournament, the rest of the world seems to be spiraling out of control. The past few weeks has seen an increase in threats from North Korea directed at South Korea, as well as Japan and the United States. These threats have, to this point, remained empty, but the risk of war in Asia seems to grow each day. The North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un ordered his military to be on high alert as early as February 2013. Recently North Korea backed out of the armistice that ended the Korean War in 1953 and has kept peace between North and South Korea ever since. North Korea also has a poor
reputation for human rights on the global stage. According to ABC News, 200,000 political prisoners are in forced labor-camps. It was reported on March 23 in the South Korean paper, Chosun llbo, that the Communist regime has also ordered its foreign diplomats to sell state-manufactured drugs from their embassies to earn hard currency. Dennis Rodman, the NBA Hall-of-Famer and five-time NBA Champion made international headlines when he visited the communist country in February. He was photographed sitting next to Kim Jong-Un at a basketball game in North Korea’s capital city of Pyongyang. The two were watching a game between members of the Harlem Globetrotters and the Korean University of Physical Education. Following his trip, Rodman went on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” and told Stephanopoulos that Kim Jong-Un loves basketball and
is waiting on a call from President Obama, though he did not specify what the purpose of the call would be. The State Department has not come out in support of Rodman’s trip to North Korea, and relations between the United States and North Korea remain nonexistent. But if what Rodman said was true, then there are options for avoiding a war. The first option would be for Rodman to take a former NBA legend, such as Michael Jordan, Earvin “Magic” Johnson or Charles Barkley, with him to North Korea. This would probably be unlikely to happen, but it might help improve relations between the two nations if they were given the chance to meet two great American athletes. Another option would be to offer reciprocal tours. The NBA occasionally opens the season with exhibition games in Asian countries such as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. It is unknown how North Korea would interpret an offer to
Vulpes Vulpes by: Christopher Garcia
Tell us what you think
{Ads Manager} Kevyn Kirven
{Advisor}
Diane Abdo
{Advisory Board}
Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman
The Paisano encourages new comic submissions! Send to Editor@paisano-online.com
© The Paisano 14545 Roadrunner Way
{Send letters to} editor@paisano-online.com
San Antonio, TX 78249
Letters must be less than 400 words and include the writer’s name, classification or title and telephone number. The Paisano reserves the right to edit all submissions.
{
Follow us on Twitter @ThePaisano
{
Like The Paisano on Facebook
Stephen Whitaker Managing Editor
www.paisano-online.com
Amanda Dansby, Janae Rice, Erin Boren, Sheldon Baker, Marcia Perales
E-mail: editor@paisanoonline.com
it means preventing a war and improving the nonexistent conversation between North Korea and the United States. Sports can open doors that politics cannot. In 1971, the United States and China, also a Communist nation, regained their mutual diplomatic relationship following a ping-pong exhibition between the United States national team and the Chinese team. This incident became known as Ping Pong Diplomacy. While it wasn’t until the late 70s that the United States restored full diplomatic relations with China, the road to reunion began with a sporting exhibition. Maybe it is time to think outside the box and give sports a chance to calm the tensions.
Paisano has a new website design. Check out the stories on our newly redesigned website
{Interns}
Fax: (210)690-3423
have our best athletes put on an exhibition of NBA teams, but if Kim Jong-Un really loves basketball, he won’t turn down an opportunity to see the best basketball teams with players from all over the world. We would then offer an invitation for the North Korean national basketball team to tour the United States, playing against college teams, while being shown the friendliness and hospitality that Americans are known for. The final game of the North Korean national team’s tour could be played in Washington D.C. against the reigning collegiate National Champion with Kim Jong-Un and Barack Obama sitting together to talk about a mutual interest—basketball. The chance that either of these options happen is about as good as those of a 16-seed beating a one-seed in the NCAA tournament (16’s are now 0-116 all-time against one seeds), but it is worth trying if
Same Address! Different look!
Comics
Scott Cochran, Katherine Kish, Craig Garrison
Phone: (210)690-9301
12 men who have walked on the moon, 11 were Scouts. The Boy Scouts of America needs to recognize that when they talk, people listen and they should lift their ban on gay members.
Commentary
{Contributing Photographers}
The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:
month, 58 percent of Americans support gay marriage and 55 percent of people in a Quinnipiac University survey believe that the ban on gays in the Boy Scouts should end. The Boy Scouts are not perfect, but they prepare young men to be leaders. Of the 535 individuals who represented us in Congress last year, 206 have participated in the BSA. Of the
PASEO
5 March 26, 2013
Discrimination policy Boy Scouts of America review ban on gays Paulina Rivero-Borrell Mark Zavala Staff Writers paseo@paisano-online.com
Years of maturing into an adult can be a tumultuous time in any person’s life. Even more difficult can be doing so in a climate of religious upheaval and sexual discrimination. In one national organization, children and their parents face both of these controversial issues. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) have been mentoring boys and providing them with lifelong learning experiences since 1910. The organization helps mold future leaders by providing educational activities and lifelong values, all in an enjoyable atmosphere. Notable Scouts include astronaut Neil Armstrong, former President Gerald Ford, Gov. Rick Perry and movie director Steven Spielberg. With over a century of experience, the organization believes that helping youth by teaching them life values creates a more responsible, productive and conscious society. According to the BSA website, the mission of the organization is to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.” However, since the organization’s creation, BSA has implemented policies that prohibit atheists, agnostics and homosexuals from becoming members. Organization leadership believes that by allowing these
groups into BSA, the fundamental principles and tenets would be broken. BSA has denied membership to or has revoked existing membership of boys who display these traits.
“In my opinion, a gay person can be perfectly morally straight and still be openly and actively gay.” Stephen L. Schmidt
Senior, business major The organization strongly believes that these traditional policies are essential in its mission to teach young boys about the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Both state and federal courts have supported these policies. In the 2000 Supreme Court case Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, the Supreme Court found that, through freedom of association, the BSA is constitutionally allowed to reject any individuals it chooses. For the last decade, the BSA has banned the membership and leadership roles of gay individuals, but the organization has chosen to deny affiliation with homosexuals as early as 1980. In the California Supreme Court case Curran v. Mount Diablo Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Timothy Curran, a former Eagle Scout,
was disqualified from the assistant scoutmaster position after he publicly stated that he was a homosexual and “publicly expressed his commitment to communicating to others his view as to the acceptability and morality of homosexuality.” The BSA stated that this ideology conflicted with its official position that homosexuality is immoral. Recently, however, the organization has been forced to rethink their policy towards gay scouts. In January 2013, Scout officials announced that the ban on gays in the group was being debated. Herndon Graddick, president of Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) an advocacy group for gay, lesbian and bisexual people, told the New York Times that “scouting is a valuable institution, and this change will only strengthen its core principles of fairness and respect.” “I do not agree that the BSA should have a ban in place for gay members and leaders,” said Stephen L. Schmidt, a senior prebusiness major and member of the GLBTQ community at UTSA. “The main reason, as I understand, for the ban is the scouting code of honor that includes the line “keep myself... morally straight.” Schmidt is referring to the last line in the Boy Scout Oath. The BSA outlines being morally straight as: “Maintaining honest and open relationships with others. Holding oneself to a high moral standard and be-
ing clean in speech and actions while being faithful to religious beliefs.” “In my opinion, a gay person can be perfectly morally straight and still be openly and actively gay,” said Schmidt. He was a Boy Scout when he was younger. Schmidt started out as a Cub Scout and continued to move up through the Boy Scouts until he quit when he started high school. “I am proud of what I did as a Scout and of the lessons I learned during my time.” The age at which individuals address sexuality varies; most studies suggest children begin to address their sexuality as early as 10 years old. Schmidt says that he never had issues being a Scout as a boy because he had not discovered his sexuality until after leaving the Scouts. “At the time I was in Scouting, I didn’t know what gay was. I didn’t feel different from the other scouts..” Many BSA leaders remain adamantly against gay scouts and believe that the values and policies of the organization should remain the same. “If the board capitulates to the bullying of homosexual activists, the Boy Scouts’ legacy of producing great leaders will become yet another casualty of moral compromise,” said Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, to the New York Times, “The Boy Scouts should stand firm.” While UTSA does not have an active Boy Scout organization on campus, one local fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, was
founded on the basic principles common in the Boy Scouts. After returning from World War I, Alpha Phi Omega founder Frank Reed Horton, in an interview for the Alpha Phi Omega website, tells of his time in the Scouts. “I found that the Scout Oath and Scout Law were what I had been seeking– a standard of manhood that would withstand the test of time…” Horton subsequently went on to establish the Scout-based fraternity in 1925 at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. However, one does not need to be a member of the Boy Scouts to join Alpha Phi Omega. “We were all founded on the Scout principles, and we follow the Scout Oath and Law,” said Victor Castano, sophomore management major and president of the UTSA chapter of Alpha Phi Omega. “It used to be required to be a Scout to be a member, but not anymore. We still adhere to all the values and guidelines, but we aren’t officially members of the Boy Scouts.” In an attempt to gain insight, BSA nationally surveyed members about the gay ban; only volunteers and parents were able to answer. The opening statement of the survey claims that the organization does not allow members “who engage in behavior that would become a distraction to the mission of the BSA.” One survey question was hypothetical, asking, “Is it acceptable or unacceptable for a gay
adult leader to take adolescent boys on an overnight camping trip?” Another survey question created a scenario of a religious Boy Scout whose troop, chartered by a church, believes that homosexuality is wrong. It then asked, “Steve, an openly gay youth, applies to be a member in the troop and is denied membership. Is it acceptable or unacceptable for this troop to deny Steve membership?” Parents filling out the survey could choose one of the following as a response: totally acceptable, somewhat acceptable, neither acceptable or unacceptable, somewhat acceptable or totally unacceptable. Reactions have varied according to the region. Some liberal-minded families believe that times are different now and that the world is more socially progressive. They mention how even the military has already lifted the ban on gay service members. Others strongly support the ban. In his blog on World Net Daily, former presidential candidate Rick Santorum claimed that allowing gay boys in the Boy Scouts would, “leave the Scouts hollowed out at its core.” According to Mark White, a former Marine Corps officer and three-year den leader with Cub Scout Pack 302, “The time is right for the BSA to embrace diversity and to welcome members regardless of sexual orientation.”
ARTS&LIFE
6
I like my art served ‘RAW’
March 26, 2013
{CAM Events} Tuesday, March 26 6 p.m. Exhibit: “Bite Like a Kitty” Guadalupe Gallery (723 S. Brazos St.) presents “Bite Like a Kitty,” an annual group show featuring five San Antonio artists. The show is curated by Bill Arning, the executive director of the Contemporary Art Museum Houston, with music provided by DJ Mike. Food and beverages sponsored by the Chili Queens and Blue Moon Beer. Admission is free.
Sabrina Alfaro joins a special group
Wednesday, March 27 12 p.m. Exhibit: “Machas and Trannies y Queers OH MY!”
of artists for the ‘Generation’ exhibit arts@paisano-online.com Uncooked to perfection; raw natural talent. RAW: Natural Born Artists is a non-profit organization that discovers and sponsors local talent and showcases their work in special exhibits. The organization stemmed from an online community for artists by artists who wanted to network and produce exhibits in various cities around the country. Founder Heidi Luerra launched the site based on her experiences of trying to make connections in the art world. The purpose of RAW is to give artists a platform to promote their work. The exhibits follow a one-night-only program with an event occurring each month at a selected RAW city. Currently, the organization operates in 54 cities. RAW events are strictly formal with a 21-and-up admission policy. Cocktails are served to guests as they mingle
with the artists and view the artwork. This year, RAW is featuring San Antonio artists in a series of exhibits at Backstage Live. The most recent exhibit, which took place last Thursday, March 21, was titled “Generation” and featured UTSA printmaking student Sabrina Alfaro. “I was following them on Facebook and I got an invite asking if I wanted to show my art, and it just went from there,” she said. Alfaro joined over 25 artists for the coveted spot at the “Raw: Generation” exhibit. Those featured in the exhibit included photographers, visual artists, fashion designers and multimedia artists. Alfaro is currently working on her B.F.A. in new media and printmaking as well as working part-time at Digital Pro Lab, all while being a full-time mother. She also has an art and crafts line with homemade jewelry and hair accessories. Her artwork is presented under the pseudonym “Paint
Thursday, March 28 7-11 p.m. Exhibit: “Moral Sense” PLAZMO Contemporary (1101 W. Woodlawn) will present Moral Sense. James Supa Medrano explores the contrast between the concept of good and bad with right and wrong in his new work. Admission is free.
Will Tallent/ The Paisano
Jennifer Alejos Arts Editor
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 while highlighting the themes of sexuality. Admission is free.
Sabrina Alfaro poses next to her artwork at the RAW: Natural Born Artists ‘Generation’ exhibit.
Mistake,” which was inspired by Bright Eye’s song “Waste of Paint.” The clever name holds a special meaning for Alfaro. “I made the name when I was a sophomore in high school and it’s kind of stuck to me. I think it says that there are mistakes in making art.” Most of the time Alfaro is in the printmaking lab perfecting her work. On this particular day, March 12, Alfaro was preparing some work before spring break, some of which that were shown at the RAW
Earn a Master’s in Engineering at St. Mary’s University Computer Engineering Electrical Engineering Engineering Systems Management Industrial Engineering
exhibit. A radio played in the background while two students cleaned their workstations, Alfaro stood next to the students at her own desk as she worked on a print, which featured a depiction of a pregnant woman holding a beer bottle. The print has a cartoon-ish perspective to it, but the message is clear. Alfaro describes the mother as a vessel for her child, even though her lack of judgment has prevented her from making wise choices. The theme was based on the idea of “transit” said Alfaro and what it means for mothers who are carrying their future children. She grabbed another piece and explained how the image of today’s generation is related to the dependence we have on technology. The print, titled “Loca Amarrada” shows a group of young girls who appear to be neglected in the background while the mother-figure is taking a picture of herself on her smart phone. The two children in the image shy away from the mother as she feeds her self-indulgent nature. The print addresses the need that culture has for capturing every moment on social media sites. Alfaro says that her 3-yearold daughter enjoys her work but doesn’t grasp the feminist meaning behind the prints. “I don’t think she really understands a lot of it. Some of my work is visually exciting to her, but I do focus on feminism, your body and loving yourself.” Alfaro’s artistic style is a
mixture of playful themes often combined with serious overtones. “I like the whimsical. I love cute stuff,” says Alfaro. “I still like to do serious, but humorous. It’s not too extreme.” The majority of her pieces usually feature a woman figure as the subject, some of the classic Hollywood type and some that portray the modern woman trying to survive. Her eccentric style makes Alfaro stand out from other artists. As she explains the meaning behind the piece, one can’t help but notice her pink-striped top paired with snake-printed skinny jeans. Her hair sports a bleached hue, which she is preparing to dye a soft pink, and her arm reveals a freshly inked tattoo—a girl with bright pink hair dressed as Hello Kitty. Alfaro also has a knack for creating Japanese-inspired jewelry. Her pieces include dainty plastic bows, flowers and Hello Kitty silhouettes. All very reminiscent of toys one had when he or she were younger. Alfaro also has a line of playful prints with creatures she imagined herself and photographs she took using a fish-eye lens, all of which include the Paint Mistake style of colorful, vibrant, cute and eye-catching subjects. (To continue reading this article, visit paisano-online. com)
Friday, March 29 6-9 p.m. Exhibit: “Rust and White” Curator Laura Wood presents artist Dyan Green’s body of work, “Rust and White” at Equinox Gallery (418 Villita Street). Green’s works embellish familiar objects in ornate works of art using pins. Admission is free.
7-10 p.m. “Free Teen Night: Art After Dark” The McNay Art Museum (6000 N. New Braunfels) with Lance Letcher, will present “Free Teen Night: Art After Dark.” High school students are encouraged to bring picnic supplies to make collaborative sculptures and to Instagram bizarre subjects. The event includes food and music. Admission is free.
Saturday, March 30 7:30-11:30 p.m. Exhibit: “Art in the Land of OZ” OZ-Modern (207 E. Hildebrand), will present artists Robert Tatum, Adrian Herrera, Paco Felici and Joshua Perez in “Art in the Land of OZ.” Admission is free.
Sunday, March 31 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Exhibit: “Paintings, Prosecco and Peacocks” Franco Mondini-Ruiz’s studio (2710 Leal Street) presents “Paintings, Prosecco and Peacocks” by artist Franco Mondini-Ruiz. Mondini-Ruiz is an American artist that incorporates his Mexican identity in his work. Admission is free.
For the week’s full calendar, visit: paisano-online.com
Software Engineering
www.stmarytx.edu/GradEngineering
A Catholic and Marianist Liberal Arts Institution
May 29, 2013!
SPORTS
7 March 26, 2013
Rampage continue to struggle in March Mario Nava
Assistant Sports Editor
The Roadrunners are tied for first place with San Jose St. in the WAC. UTSA starts a three-game series against them March 29 - 30.
UTSA opens up WAC play with a sweep of Texas State Mario Nava
Assistant Sports Editor sports@paisano-online.com Building on a strong start to the season, the Roadrunners finished an 11-game roadtrip by winning three games against the Texas State Bobcats over the weekend. On Friday, March 22, UTSA (18-12, 3-0 WAC) won a doubleheader, 3-1 and 5-0. The following day, the result was no different for Texas State (5-25, 0-3 WAC), as the Roadrunners completed the sweep with a 3-1 win. The victories ended a fourgame losing streak to the Bobcats, which dates back to April 2011. The weekend was highlighted by superb pitching performances by the ‘Runners starting rotation, led by senior Haylee Staton (9-4, 2.34 ERA).
During game 2, UTSA pitcher Alyssa Vordenbaum (7-5, 2.45 ERA) gave up only four hits in her first complete game shutout of the season. Staton and Vordenbaum worked in tandem in the final game with Staton, again, giving up only one unearned run on four hits in five innings. Vordenbaum relieved Staton and pitched two scoreless innings with four strikeouts to capture her second save of the season. For the series, UTSA outscored Texas State 11-2 and out hit them 23-12, continuing the Roadrunners’ consistent offensive output this season. UTSA is hitting .290 as a team while holding opponents to .251. Sophomore catcher Megan Low, one of three Roadrunners to play all 30 games so far this season, drove in one run in both games on Friday, which included a home run during the night
game. It was Low’s fifth of the year as she is hitting. 400 with 23 RBIs, placing her second in the WAC. As conference play begins, UTSA has 20 games remaining including 11 home games and nine road games before the conference tournament. The ‘Runners currently stand second in the WAC, only two games behind the San Jose State Spartans (22-10, 3-0 WAC). UTSA will return home against the Spartans on Friday, March 29 for a three-game set at Roadrunner Field. Friday’s first pitch is set for 4 p.m., followed by a doubleheader on Saturday.
{Continue reading at Paisano online.com}
The San Antonio Rampage (27-28-1-16) continued their March struggles with a 3-2 loss to the Oklahoma City Barons (30-23-2-7) at the AT&T Center on March 23. Despite a promising first period where the Rampage scored two early goals, the Barons stormed back with an aggressive offensive attack netting two goals in the second and a final goal in the third to complete the comeback win. The Rampage looked to be headed in a winning direction with goals from Gomes and John McFarland. Heading into the second period, the Barons had only six shot attempts all stopped by Rampage goalie Dov Grumet-Morris. The pace of the game changed in the second period as Oklahoma City pelted San Antonio with 14 shots and scored on a goal by defenseman Taylor Fedun (5) and a power play goal from left winger Philippe Cornet (11). With a 2-2 tie heading into the third, the Rampage had few opportunities to win the game as they were outshot 13-5 for the period. The Barons would capitalize on a Gomes tripping penalty that allowed Toni Rajala to score a second straight power play goal for Oklahoma City that put them ahead for good. San Antonio had one last chance when the Barons’ Fedun was called for a delay of game penalty with only 59 seconds left. The Rampage pulled Grumet-Morris to gain a 6-4 man advantage but failed to tie the
Increase your earning potential at UIW The University of the Incarnate Word offers 20 graduate degrees, 4 professional and 2 doctoral programs.
UIW offers the following Doctoral Programs: Doctor of Philosophy with concentrations in: • Higher Education • Organizational Leadership • International Education and Entrepreneurship
The Rampage are 62-27-28-1 and are fighting for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
game. Oklahoma City finished the game with a 33-18 shot advantage and killed all three of San Antonio’s power play chances. The win puts the Barons in a three-way tie for the 8th seed in the western conference with 69 points. The Rampage is now 1-3-0-1 in their last five games and sits eight points out of the last play-
off spot. San Antonio now hosts the Rochester Americans (34-25-31) who are second in the North Division. The Rampage were held from a victory over the Americans in their only meeting this season with a 4-2 win in November.
Alumnus steps into career goal through dance
Delaney Marlowe
Doctor of Business Administration (Accredited by the SACSCOC)
Courtesy of the Rampage
Will Tallent/ The Paisano
sports@paisano-online.com
Com Gradu e to our a inform te and Ph .D. ation sessio Thurs n d
ay, at 6:3 April 4 in t 0p Confe he UIW In .m.
ter re RSVP nce Cente national r by ca lling 2 Auditoriu m. 1 0UIW. or online a 829-6005 edu/g t radst udies rsvp
Assistant Sports Editor sports@paisano-online.com Most college students have part-time jobs to help them through college, but former UTSA student David Hernandez has danced his way into a career he hopes to have for the rest of his life. Two years ago, Hernandez was working toward a teaching degree and wondering why he had chosen that path. “It got to the point where I didn’t see myself being a teacher anymore. I got tired of being in the classroom all the time.” When he landed a job on Team Energy, a loud, exciting group whose job is to get the crowd pumped at Spurs games, he thought it was just another job. Hernandez liked that Team Energy pulled slightly from his dance background, but his interest was pique when he learned that the Star Squad, the cheerleaders for the Silver Stars, was holding auditions. “The best way to sum up Star Squad is putting Team Energy, the Silver
Dancers and Game Crew all in one. Game Crew assists with the promotions on court the Silver Dancers are the entertainment of course, they cheer and dance, and Team Energy gets the crowd pumped. So, Star
Squad gets to do all of that,” said Hernandez When Hernandez first heard about Star Squad, he
was unsure whether his Latin dance background would be enough to qualify him for the team, but he was thrilled to be chosen last summer. For Hernandez, the Star Squad “was really fun and it was a good experience.” After being a part of Star Squad for a while, Hernandez heard that the Game Operations Specialist, Gretchen Luistro, was looking for an assistant, and having worked alongside her while being on the Star Squad, he decided to apply. “I really wanted to take the opportunity. I had already done the entertainment side, so I wanted to try and be part of everything else behind the scenes.” A few weeks later, Hernandez became the game operations assistant where he came to love the planning and organizing aspect of the job. “We manage all the entertainment teams for Spurs Sports and Entertainment,” said Hernandez. “There’s always something going on, ordering uniforms, making sure everyone has what they need. We do game night assignments for the Silver Dancers and every team that we work with. It’s really just getting all the details and all the behind the scenes work for game nights.” {Continue reading at Paisano online.com}
H ELP W A N T ED Personal Assistant needed to organize and help. Basic computer skills needed good with organization. We are ready to pay $630 per week interested person should contact: erijacok@gmail.com.
NEWS BREAK Check out the Paisano’s new website design, and follow us on Twitter. We follow back!
ADVERTISEMENT
8 March 26, 2013