The Paisano Volume 49 Issue 5

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Are campus superstitions real? Find out page 6

UTSA womens basketball drops fifth straight at home against Tulane page 8

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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

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UTSA Alpha Omega will host a fundraiser to benefit Chance for Africa, a program that helps African children finish school, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, in the H-E-B UC Ballroom.

San Antonio City Council has called for a special election on May 10 to fill vacancies left by former council members Elisa Chan and Carlton Soules.

Texas UT Board of Regents Chancellor Francisco Cigarrao announced Monday, Feb. 10, that he will be stepping down from his position to become the head of pediatric transplant surgery at UTHSC San Antonio.

U.S. University of Missouri defensive lineman Michael Sam publicly came out. Sam could make history as the first openly gay player in the National Football League.

Volume 49

Issue 5

February 11, 2014

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A guide to Valentine’s Day Looking for a great place to take your Valentine? Find out the best date spots in San Antonio on page 7, and visit our website at www.paisano-online.com for our Valentine’s Day Netflix movies and gift guide!

Brittney Lopez / The Paisano

Energy secretary praises UTSA UTSA Matthew Duarte Editor-in-Chief

news@paisano-online.com US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz visited UTSA’s Downtown Campus Thursday, Feb. 6, to meet with university

and city leaders and to engage the community during a town hall discussion. Joining Moniz at the event were UTSA President Ricardo Romo, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro and Les Shepard, director of UTSA’s Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute (TSERI). The event came shortly after President Barack Obama’s State

of the Union address, during which he reiterated his “all of the above” energy strategy, which would double down on renewable energy sources and natural gas to reduce U.S. dependency on foreign oil. Moniz had high praises for UTSA, where he said “clean energy and innovation” are helping achieve a brighter future in

the energy sector. He emphasized that partnerships between the government, universities and business are critical to the continued growth of the energy sector, both in San Antonio and across the country. While Moniz emphasized the need for more renewable See ENERGY, Page 2

UT Regents Chancellor steps down LOCAL Matthew Duarte Editor-in-chief

news@paisano-online.com UT System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa will be stepping down from his position to return to his previous career as a transplant surgeon. Cigarroa has been the Chancellor since his appointment in 2009. “It has been such a wonderful

privilege to work with countless and exceptional professionals throughout the UT System,” Cigarroa said, according to a press release. “Together we have been able to impact many lives through the creation of new and transformative initiatives.” Cigarroa — who has been in the spotlight as tensions between the Board of Regents and administrators at UT Austin have made headlines across the state — will remain at his post until a replacement can be

found. “In large part, I have completed all the goals that I set out in 2009,” Cigarroa said. He specifically commented on the progress made by UTSA and other schools that are making strides to reach tier one status. Other accomplishments for the system that have come under his tenure include the university merger that led to the creation of UT Rio Grande Valley and laying the foundation for medical schools in Austin and South Texas.

Cigarroa’s tenure has also seen harsh criticism of UT Austin’s decision-making, particularly regarding President Bill Powers and the firing of Mack Brown, UT’s former head football coach. The Board of Regents (BoR), particularly Wallace Hall, have been accused of micromanaging in Austin. These tensions have spilled over into the political discussion, as every member of the board was appointed by Governor Rick Perry, whose policies Powers has openly and harshly See STEPPING DOWN, Page 2

Banning plastic bags LOCAL Lizzette Rocha Staff Writer

World As conflict continues in Syria, United Nations representatives resumed peace talks in Geneva on Monday, Feb. 10. The first round of talks yielded no resolution.

Sports The UTSA Baseball team will host the Saint Peter’s Peacocks in a threegame home stand at Roadruner Field starting Friday, Feb. 14.

Rising clean-up costs for grocery and retail store bags has encouraged City Councilman Cris Medina to propose a ban on plastic bags for the city of San Antonio. The ban was proposed last November. A governance committee will consider the issue on Feb. 19 before a ban is proposed to City Council. According to Councilman Medina’s consideration request, “San Antonio spends nearly $1.3 million per year in controlling single-use carryout bag pollution.” The request also stated that plastic bag pollution can affect San Antonio’s infrastructure, cost small businesses money and make the city less attractive to visitors. In cities such as Brownsville, TX, a plastic bag ordinance allows businesses to charge customers a $1 environmental fee if they opt to use plastic bags. However, specific provisions concerning the ban for San Antonio have yet to be determined.

Rafael Gutuirrez / The Paisano

news@paisano-online.com

Plastic bag bans have already been passed in Austin and Brownsville. Customers who forget their bags must now pay a small fee.

“I’m in favor of policies that help preserve the environment,” said District 8 Councilman Ron Nirenburg, “but with any new ordinance, we would need to study the consequences before we cast a vote.” Although the plastic bag ban would limit the distribution of plastic bags in stores and may decrease pollution clean-up costs, the effect the ban would have on businesses is still not conclusive. “I wouldn’t mind (the ban)

because plastic bags are optional,” said Tracy Coward, UC Campus Convenience Store employee. To students like UTSA psychology major Nailah Brinson, the ban is simple. “I wouldn’t like it exactly because I like things to be in plastic bags,” she said. “I would probably be opposed to the ban.” Councilman Nirenburg encourages UTSA students to attend public meetings to voice any concerns or requests for

further information. UTSA student Matthew Frost agrees with the ban but is still unsure about what the ban could mean for San Antonio and its college campuses. “Though the ban on plastic bags is a step in the right direction environmentally,” Frost said, “an immediate ban with no transitional period would cause many problems, perhaps outweighing the benefit.”

Will UTSA quit smoking? UTSA Paulina Rivero-Borrell Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com According to the American Lung Association, 70 percent of smokers started smoking regularly at age 18 or younger, and 86 percent at age 21 or younger. “Eighteen percent of the US population smokes, in which 20 percent are 18-24 year olds,” said Amanda Graves, health education coordinator at UTSA. UTSA has created a tobacco cessation program for students who smoke tobacco and would like to stop. The free program, which started Jan. 21 and ends March 4, presents seminars that provide information on smoking triggers, quitting factors, lifestyle changes, health effects of smoking and how to develop a quitting plan. Because few students joined the cessation program this semester, Health Services will offer only oneon-one sessions. UTSA Health Services will work on promoting the program this semester in order to re-launch it in the fall so that more students will join the group seminars. Graves explained how the cessation program works. “We provide students with help to identify the triggers that cause them to smoke, and we organize a quit plan with a goal date.” Graves and the other UTSA health education coordinators are trained professionals who consult with students and lead smoking cessation seminars. “We want to raise awareness and emphasize the harm of smoking. We want to educate students and staff on the importance of quitting,” said Graves. Carolina Paz, a public relations major, is in favor of the program and the cessation of smoking on campus. “I am happy that UTSA is becoming a smoke-free campus. It will be beneficial for everyone, including the non-smokers.” However, some students opposed to a tobacco-free campus are not willing to quit. Psychology major Isabel Villasenor explained how the tobacco-free campus was a topic in her psychology class. “All of the smokers in my class agreed that turning the campus into a “smoke-free” place would not help to lower smoking. They also said that they would not stop smoking because of this.” Daniela Villasenor, an architecture major, attends most of her classes at the Downtown Campus. She explains that the Downtown Campus has been smoke-free for a year, yet

See SMOKING, Page 2


NEWS

2 February 11, 2014

Smoking: UTSA creates pro- Energy: renewable solutions grams to help students quit Continued from page 1

Continued from page 1

people are still smoking regularly. “I see the same number of people smoking, only they go to a little corner where it is not considered ‘school property.’ I don’t really think turning the Downtown Campus smokefree helped lower the amount of smokers.” Banning tobacco on campus may not force people to quit smoking, but it will create barriers to the number of cigarettes students can smoke during the day. Today, students are allowed to smoke on some parking lots, but after June 1 all parking lots will be smoke-

free. Students will not be allowed to go to their car for a smoke break unless they leave campus. Andrea Del Rio, mechanical engineering major, believes that people will definitely smoke less thanks to the ban. “Since we spend most of our time in school, this is where we smoke the most. When the prohibition starts, we will not smoke while in school, definitely reducing the amount of cigarettes during the day.” The Office of Environmental Health, Safety and Risk Management is also helping UTSA staff members quit smoking. Rowdy New U is a wellness program for UTSA faculty and

staff. According to the program’s website, “The mission of UTSA’s Rowdy New U wellness program is to encourage all university personnel and their families to enhance their health and well-being through educational opportunities, wellness activities and self-improvement.” The program includes assessments, fitness classes, personal development training, community events and a main focus on tobacco cessation. For more information on the cessation program, the banning of cigarettes on campus and the Rowdy New U program, visit UTSA’s website.

Stepping down: UT Board will seek new chancellor Continued from page 1

criticized. Paul Foster, chairman of the BoR, was complimentary of Cigarroa but expressed disappointment in seeing the chancellor leave so soon. “I do not know any leader who has accomplished so much so quickly or been as effective as Chancellor Cigarroa,” Foster said. “It goes without saying that it will be challenging to find a replacement for Chancellor Cigarroa.” The timing of Cigarroa’s resignation, however, has caused many to speculate if the deci-

sion was politically motivated, particularly given the tense relationship between the BoR and UT Austin. Because Cigarroa’s replacement will be chosen by the BoR — who were all appointed by outgoing Governor Rick Perry — some had hoped that one of this year’s gubernatorial candidates would oversee the transition when Cigarroa did step down. As the Texas Tribune put it, “Cigarroa could not have done Perry a bigger favor.” Cigarroa, however, dismissed

accusations that his announcement was made for anything but personal reasons. “The timing made a lot of sense to me because I had time to reflect upon many of the successes we’ve had in the last five years,” Cigarroa said. He also expressed his desire for UT Austin to “become America’s finest university.” Once the BoR can find a replacement, Cigarroa will become the head of pediatric transplant surgery at the UT Health Science Center.

energy across the country, Castro made sure to highlight San Antonio’s role in embracing renewables. “We have more wind and solar production than any other municipality in the United States.” Castro further explained that San Antonio has been a leader in “being environmentally responsible while also creating jobs.” He cited a grant from the Department of Energy that allowed the city to create the first bike share program in the state and to retrofit city facilities to make them more efficient. UTSA has also worked with the Department of Energy — most recently with the federal department’s SunShot initiative. The university was one of just two schools to receive a SunShot DISTANCE (Diversity in Science and Technology Advances National Clean Energy in Solar) award, which will allow UTSA to implement a program that will provide more research and development opportunities in solar energy to students of minority groups. In addition to its work with the federal government, “the Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute at UTSA is working directly with the city to research a variety of sustainable initiatives,” said Michelle Garza, student chair for UTSA’s Green Fund. Among the projects UTSA and the city are working on together are “broad scale deployment of PV (Photo Volatic) solar and EV (Electric Vehicle) charging stations on campus

and around the Alamo region,” according to Shepard. Shepard also added that UTSA’s relationship with the city has also brought about “innovative technology development associated with load and solar forecasting.” “The clean energy initiatives affect our future,” said Garza, herself an environmental science major. “When we educate ourselves on the challenges of today we can work toward the solutions of tomorrow.” Moniz stopped in Austin before making his appearance at UTSA and stated that the two cities are “very complementary” in their energy approach. “What’s going on in Austin is only a baseline for what’s happening in San Antonio,” the secretary added. “No longer can we compete with Austin and Houston and Dallas,” Shepard said. “If we come together in the way we think about problems, we’ll transform America’s energy future.” Something other Texas regions lack, however, are the natural gas reserves located in South Texas. The continued expansion of the natural gas industry has already made a huge impact on the South Texas economy. According to UTSA’s Institute of Economic Development, Eagle Ford Shale development and production accounted for 116,000 jobs and $61 billion in 2012. That number is expected to reach $89 billion in 2022, according to the study. Obama said in his State of the

Union Speech that he believed natural gas can be a “bridge fuel” that helps the country become less dependent on oil. Munoz backed up the president, stating that “half of CO2 reduction has come from natural gas.” UTSA has not let the opportunity provided by the natural gas boom go to waste. Earlier this semester, the university announced a new certification program for students seeking employment in the oil and natural gas industry. The certificate seeks to give mechanical engineering students “the fundamental engineering knowledge necessary for successful careers in oil/gas.” Shepard pointed out that careers in the natural gas industry are beneficial to UTSA students and that UTSA’s involvement with the Eagle Ford Shale region helps put the university on the map. “It provides opportunities for very good, high paying jobs,” Shepard said in an email to the Paisano, adding that it also gives students “the opportunity to build a career with multi-national companies.” This work, Shepard said, “raises the visibility of UTSA as a prominent university in Texas.” Moniz said education, particularly in the STEM degrees, will be the key to the energy sector moving forward — and that this will be especially true of development in the renewables sector. With $40 trillion in global investment in the energy sector, Moniz said, “we need to keep our lead in innovation.”


NEWS

3 February 11, 2014

The future of water in San Antonio LOCAL Lorenzo Garcia Staff Writer

news@paisano-online.com

Rafael Gutuirrez / The Paisano

UTSA and the San Antonio Express-News initiated their series of town hall discussions last Thursday, Feb. 6, with a discussion on the future of water in San Antonio. The panel consisted of former state representative and current San Antonio Water Systems ( S AW S ) CEO Robert Puente, Bexar County’s legislative delegation’s water expert State Rep. Lyle Larson and Deputy Director and associate professor of research for the UTSA Texas Sustainable Research Energy Institute Juan Gomez. Before opening up questions to the audience, Mr. Puente gave a summary of the state of water management in the San Antonio area. “SAWS

is the biggest provider in this region for water… A big part of what we are doing is reclaiming the water that we have used,” stated Puente. “The water that goes down your showers, your commodes and your sinks we capture, clean and put back to good use.” “We have the nation’s largest direct recycle system, transferring water throughout our community. We have the nation’s third largest Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR),” Puente explained. The function of the ASR is to store excess drinking water from the Edwards Aquifer — the primary source of water for SAWS — from “wet years” underground in the Carrizo Aquifer for use during “dry years.” This is an effective system because the Edwards Aquifer Authority limits the number of acre-feet of water that SAWS can withdraw from the Edwards Aquifer each year through a permit system. If SAWS does not use all their permits during a given year, they will not be carried over to the next year. To avoid losing these permits and wasting water during a “wet year,” SAWS deposits that excess into the ASR to withdraw later during a “dry year.” “We talk a lot about water,” said Puente, “but half the money we spend at SAWS is spent

dealing with wastewater issues.” He further explained that almost every process of wastewater recycling has been commercialized in some way to help reduce rates for customers. “We do all this while providing the lowest rates of all the metropolitan areas in Texas,” affirmed Puente. The first audience question was concerned with the longevity of brackish water. “Brackish water is salty water; we are working to treat it so that we don’t need to tap freshwater aquifers in the future,” Mr. Puente explained. “Centuries, billions of acre-feet of brackish water are available.” He further explained that a major source of brackish water, the Wilcox aquifer, extends from Mexico to Arkansas, giving nearly all of Texas access to this water. “It’s a very sustainable source of brackish water,” affirmed the CEO. The second question inquired into the current drought, “What if the worst case scenario happens and the drought lasts for another 20-plus-years. What happens if we run out of water?” Rep. Larson responded by saying, “If our aquifers dried up — which they shouldn’t — we would invest in ocean water desalination. The state is already investing in making ocean water desalination a viable source of water within ten years.” Larson finished by adding, “If our drought did get worse, the private sector, not the state, would

seize the market created by the demand for water.” The topic of ocean desalination plants continued into the third question, “Where are the desalination plants in Texas located? Are they in the Gulf? If not, why not?” Mr. Gomez explained that, from a glance, “it makes sense with the coastline that we have to develop sea water desalination, with the major population centers that lie on the coast.” “However,” asked Gomez, “how do you manage those developments and allow the rest of the state to remain competitive?” The base for Professor Gomez’s inquiry is that in Texas water is managed not by the state as a whole, but by 16 separate districts that compete with each other for water rights. If the districts on the coast built — with the help of state funding — ocean desalination plants, they would have an un-

limited source of water. Therefore, these districts would have an unfair advantage when negotiating with other districts. “We need to drive decisions in water management through scientific advancement, not politics,” remarked Larson. Agreeing with Larson, Gomez concluded that “The U.S. does not consider desalination to be a worthy investment. Our foreign neighbors are years ahead of us… We need to be willing to pay today for the security of tomorrow.” The panel then discussed the balance between agricultural and consumer interest. Puente explained, “65 percent of Texas water is used by the agricultural sector, but we need to provide the sector to promote economic growth.” Siding with Puente, Larson stated, “best management practices should be embraced by

the agricultural sector before Texas has to impose drought restrictions.” Building on this, Puente emphasized the success of SAWS’ rebate program in encouraging businesses to conserve water without forcing compliance on them. Closing the discussion, the panelists emphasized that the current 16-district plan does not work in practice. Further, the more educated citizens are on the issue of water, the more they will work towards reformation and progression of water management. Lastly, Mr. Puente assured the audience that the “business strategy at SAWS is to convince our customers to buy less of our product. We are succeeding at that. There is a tremendous amount of savings when you don’t have to provide water in the first place.”

Interested in writing? Join The Paisano News Team! Contact news@paisano-online.com for more info

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NEWS

4 February 11, 2014

Gay marriage battle for next Attorney General TEXAS AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ When two same-sex Texas couples challenge the state’s gay marriage ban in a San Antonio federal court this week, they’ll carry the momentum of recent legal victories in conservative Utah and Oklahoma. Whatever the outcome, the three Republicans running to become the next Texas attorney general will take notice. Gay rights groups winning same-sex marriage cases nationwide almost guarantee that the issue will confront whoever replaces Attorney General Greg Abbott. His would-be GOP successors on Sunday blasted attempts to strike down the Texas law and vowed to defend a state ban going forward. Railroad Commissioner Barry Smitherman said he “indeed’’ thinks the issue will loom large for the attorney general’s office, adding that he believed the U.S. Supreme Court overreached last year by ruling that married same-sex couples were entitled to federal benefits. “All of the requirements of marriage have always been state issues, and they should remain state issues,’’ said Smitherman, who’s in a Republican primary race with state Rep. Dan Branch and Sen. Ken Paxton. The winner in March is likely to replace Abbott, the presumptive GOP nominee for governor, since Democratic

candidate Sam Houston is a long shot. Two same-sex Texas couples will be the latest to take on the state’s gay marriage ban on Wednesday, when they’ll ask U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia to block parts of the law. One couple is two women wed in Massachusetts but whose marriage isn’t recognized in Texas; the other two men were denied a marriage license in San Antonio last fall. “There is no rational basis, much less a compelling government purpose, for Texas to deny (the couples) the same right to marry enjoyed by the majority of society,’’ attorneys for the couples wrote in their lawsuit filed in October. Abbott’s office is asking the judge to dismiss the lawsuit. Last month, a federal judge determined that Oklahoma’s voter-approved ban on gay marriage violated the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection clause. Another judge reversed Utah’s gay-marriage ban a month earlier. The U.S. Supreme Court halted weddings in Utah while a lower court considers the issue. This weekend, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder also announced that the Justice Department will recognize that same-sex spouses will have the legal rights of other married couples, such as not being compelled to testify against each other. Branch, Paxton and Smitherman all spoke Sunday at a meeting of the Texas Asso-

ciation of Realtors, where they commended Abbott’s record of 30-plus lawsuits against the federal government. Only glancing references were made to the issue of gay marriage, as the candidates instead delivered promises to secure the Texas-Mexico border and take on federal environmental regulations. A favorable ruling for the same-sex Texas couples this week would almost certainly trigger an immediate appeal, which would go to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. “I’m optimistic the 5th Circuit will allow Texas to control its own destiny on this issue, which is what they should do. It should be a state issue,’’ said Paxton, of McKinney, who’s served in the legislature for a decade. Branch co-authored in the Texas House a 2005 state constitutional amendment that defined marriage as between one man and one woman. Last fall he filed a brief defending that law with the Texas Supreme Court in a separate case involving a same-sex couple who married in Massachusetts and then sought a divorce in Texas. “I think it’s hard to predict where issues are going to move,’’ he said. I think the courts have got the ball at this point. My concerns have been that when we think we’re going to fix one bias, we don’t create other biases.’’

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OPINION

August 26, 2008

The Paisano

Opinion

5 5

February 11, 2014

{The Paisano} Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Duarte

Managing Editor: J. Corey Franco

News Editor: Sarah Gibbens

Arts Editor:

Jennifer Alejos

Sports Editor: Jakob Lopez

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini

Special Issues Editor: Erin Boren

Business Manager: Jenelle Duff

Senior Copy Editor: Beth Marshall

Photo Editor:

Rafael Gutierrez

{Staff Writers} Edidiong Adiakpan, Alejandra Barazza, Taylor Bird, Patrick Martinez, Rafael Mendoza, Mario Nava, Lorenzo Garcia, Rebecca Conejo, Paulina RiveroBorrell, Gibson Hull, Jonathon Garza

Politicians undercut fine arts programs in order to promote STEM “I promise you, folks can make a lot more, potentially, with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree.” During a recent trip to Wisconsin, President Obama made headlines after this remark discouraging fine arts degrees. The president is only one of many politicians who have recently come to devalue liberal arts education. Gov. Mitt Romney has criticized English degrees; Gov. Rick Scott, R- Fl., has questioned the value of anthropology and Gov. Patrick McCrory, R-NC, has opposed public funding for gender studies. UTSA is not immune to the negative stigma against liberal

and fine arts majors — and it shows. Tier One universities generally require $100 million in research expenditures and a competitive acceptance rate. Speeches from UTSA administration constantly push the university’s agenda to become a Tier One research institution, and while Tier One is undeniably great, we’re letting other colleges fall by the wayside. It is imperative to UTSA’s development that they proportionately develop its various fields of study. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are amazing programs that will attract funding and recognition. STEM degrees have the potential to innovate and improve society. But are

arts degrees worthless simply because their outcomes are less tangible? Arts education has numerous benefits beginning from a very young age. According to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), when art is integrated into primary school education, children see improvements in decision-making, inventiveness, cultural awareness and overall improved academic performance. The positive outcomes of arts education do not end after high school. A recent study by the Association of American Colleges and Universities found that, while liberal arts majors may take longer to reap the benefits of their degrees, they

Comic

have similar levels of employment, salary and overall job satisfaction to their STEM degree counterparts. Another recent study released by the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) found that 92 percent of those who graduated with a fine arts degree were currently working. Of that 92 percent, 57 percent were working as professional artists. The study also found that those who graduated with fine arts degrees tended to be entrepreneurial with their talents — six out of ten were selfemployed — and those who pursued graduate or doctorate degrees found long-term success (based on job security and

income level). Supporting arts education is beneficial to everyone, not just those who wish to graduate with an arts degree. When Steve Jobs revealed the iPad 2 in 2011, he recognized the importance of arts education, saying, “It is in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough — it’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our hearts sing.” STEM programs may prompt priceless innovation, but it is the inspiration and passion from the arts that creates true, long-lasting change.

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The Paisano would love to publish new comic submissions!

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Steven Kellman, Mansour El-Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:

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Commentary

“America t he Beautiful” or ugly Americans? Super Bowl ads are created to get viewers talking about a company’s product. If you remember the ad the day after the game, the commercial did its job. If you can talk about it for days afterwards, it’s a success. But what if it sparks controversy? The Coca-Cola ad during this year’s Super Bowl did just that, and America is still — one week later — divided on its reaction. The commercial in question is the “America the Beautiful” spot that begins with a female singing the song in English. Halfway through the first line, another young voice picks up the lyric in a different language. In all, nine different languages were used to complete the song: English, Spanish, Tagalog, Mandarin, Hindi, Hebrew, Keres, French and Arabic. Sounds like an amazing ad celebrating the diversity of our country, right? Wrong — at least that’s what many viewers would have you believe. The uproar over one of America’s most beloved, patriotic songs being sung in languages other than English could be heard “from sea to shining sea.” The Twitterverse exploded with tweets from both sides of the fence. Many praised the ad, but many more attacked the commercial as a slap in the face to Americans. Fox commentator Todd Starnes tweeted: “Coca-Cola is the official soft drink of illegals crossing the border.” Another irate tweeter posted, “Nice

to see that Coke likes to sing an AMERICAN song in the terrorist’s language.” Say what? Perhaps that viewer developed a little amnesia during the game. Remember Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber? How about Eric Robert Rudolph, the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games bomber? Or Wade Michael Page, who killed six people in 2012 at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin? Know what these people have in common? They’re all terrorists, they’re all American and they speak English. So, to which “terrorist language” was the tweeter referring? What many of the opponents of the ad fail to remember is that America is a melting pot. Regardless of what many right-wingers believe, immigration is legal when done through the proper channels, and most of us can trace our heritage to a country that is not the United States. Many “true” Americans believe that immigrants, once they’ve landed on our shores, need to assimilate themselves to the American way, as if to say, “Welcome to America, now speak English and forget your past.” Never mind that many of these “immigrants” are actually second and third generation Americans who happen to have an ancestry that can be traced to other parts of the world. Perhaps most ironic in all of this is the 1971 Coca-Cola ad that featured several dozen teenagers on a hilltop in Italy singing, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing.” Over forty years later it sounds like Coke has done just that — taught the world to sing. The world, however, is getting smaller and smaller, with many of

those “foreigners” living right here within our borders. We should all be proud of being Americans, but there is still plenty of room to allow for the pride of our ancestors, be they African-American, Mexican-American, ChineseAmerican, European-American or what have you. So sing, hyphenated Americans, in whatever language you feel. America has welcomed you even before the Statue of Liberty was erected, and we love the diverse cultures you bring with you. Paul McIntier Intern


The Paisano

6

August 26, 2008

ARTS&LIFE 1

February 11, 2014

{Local Events}

Tuesday, February 11 6 p.m. Event: Red Dress San Antonio Fashion Show

The Fashion Group International of San Antonio will host a cocktail conference in an effort to promote the mission of the American Heart Association. The event will be held at 231 E. Houston St. with WOAI’s Leslie Bohl as a presenter. Admission is $20-$50. For more information, visit redress-sa.com

Rafael Gutierrez/ The Paisano

Wednesday, February 12 7 p.m. Event: “BYOV: Bring Your Own Vinyl at Hi-Tones”

UTSA is known for its Sombrilla fountain superstition, but there are many more that students may not know.

Rumor has it: UTSA’s most popular superstitions Amelia Reyes Staff Writer

arts@paisano-online.com Most students have heard of the ghost in the McKinney Humanities building and that the Sombrilla Fountain contains a magical power that helps students ace their finals. But what about how the MH Building looks like a prison or the reasoning behind its crazy corridor numbering? Here are a few more superstitions that you probably haven’t heard before. In September 2013, UTSA welcomed the anticipated arrival of the Rowdy the Roadrunner statue that is currently housed in the H-E-B University Center. This led to a new tradition occurring. “During my (December) graduation ceremony, I remember (UTSA President Dr. Ricardo) Romo saying that some students had rubbed the Rowdy statue for good luck on their exams,” says Sierra Salazar. Not many students have ad-

mitted acting on this superstition, but rubbing a statue for good luck is a common superstition among other universities. For example, Harvard University has a long-standing superstition that students and tourists rub the polished left shoe of John Harvard for good luck. Another increasingly popular superstition is the housing of graduation rings. According to Salazar, once students buy a graduation ring, UTSA asks if they can house the ring in the Alamo on the night before the ring ceremony. “(Rings) will then be taken to the Alamo where they will spend the night in the hallowed shrine to commemorate your achievement and forever tie your accomplishment to the rich history of San Antonio,” said the Office of Alumni Relations. The purpose of this practice is to boost your morale as you walk the stage and receive your ring. Please note the following

myth about the campus is pure rumor and speculation. Some students have heard that the MH Building has the spirits of deceased people roaming around the fourth floor. However, not many have heard that the rumor’s purpose was to help prevent riots during the tumultuous 1960s. According to Dr. Richard Utecht, there were only four buildings that made up UTSA — the MH Building, the John Peace Library, the Convocation Center and the Multidisciplinary Studies building. While the Vietnam War was raging, many students were protesting in universities across the nation against the draft. “Some students would occupy offices or classrooms and they would attack the professors in there. UTSA was supposedly planned and developed with escape hatches in case that ever occurred,” says Dr. Utecht. If you have class in the MH Building, you’ll notice there is a

Interested in arts? Like to Write? Contact: arts@paisano-online.com

door behind the podiums. Supposedly, behind those doors is a catacomb system that would help professors escape from the hostile students. “It’s also been mentioned that the wide corridors on the third floor were designed that way for police cars to drive through — the campus was built almost like a fortification,” said Dr. Utecht. Despite these strange rumors, Dr. Mary McNaughtonCassill says there is an explanation for why UTSA has the Vietnam period rumors. “A lot of the myths are not true, but are buoyed because there was a period when the campuses were on lockdown because it was a scary time for people.” Another strange rumor that faculty members have heard about the MH Building is its original purpose. “The Regents weren’t sure if the university would succeed when it first opened, so they designed the campus to be easily converted to a prison,” says Dr. Aaron

Cassill. The rumor also explains this possibility because of “the lack of windows at ground level, the easily enclosed central area and setup and the incomprehensible numbering system so the prisoners would never know where they were and couldn’t plan an escape.” There is another myth about the numbering system in the Humanities building. “There was a psychology professor who wanted to do human maze studies and didn’t want the numbers to reveal any information about where the people really were,” says Dr. Cassill. Since UTSA is a relatively young campus not many stories or traditions have been established. Though we have few superstitions and myths, more tales will develop over time. If you have any unheard superstitions or myths about UTSA, send them to arts@paisanoonline.com.

Hi-Tones (621 E. Dewey St.) presents a night of music with its weekly edition of “BYOV: Bring Your Own Vinyl.” Guests will be able to serve as DJs for the night by contributing their musical tastes to the turntable. Admission is free. For more information, visit facebook.com/Hi-Tones.

Thursday, February 13 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Exhibit: “Andy Warhol: The Athletes” The San Antonio Museum of Art (200 W. Jones St.) brings work from Pop Artist Andy Warhol in this intimate exhibit. Screenprints of Muhammad Ali, Chris Evert and Willie Shoemaker, among others, are featured in the collection. Admission is $5-$10. For more information, visit samuseum.org.

Friday, February 14 7 p.m. Music: Bone Thugs-NHarmony Backstage Live (1305 E. Houston) presents music from Grammy award-winning group Bone ThugsN-Harmony. The Hip Hop group will be performing all of their greatest hits. General admission is $26 and VIP tickets can be purchased for $76; a small fee will be applied for guests under 21. For more information, visit backstagelivesa.com.

Saturday, February 15 Noon Event: San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo The AT&T Center (One AT&T Circle) brings live entertainment, fried carnival delicacies and livestock to San Antonio in this annual festival. Performer Dustin Lynch will take the stage this Saturday. Prices vary. For more information, visit

“Dreams: A Key to Secret Worlds”

Free Spiritual Exploration Discussion

Thursday, February 13, 7:00-8:00 p.m. University Center 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room)

Info: Maryam - iju144@my.utsa.edu, or call Justin: 832-244-6502 www.Eckankar-Texas.org

Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Organization - visit the bulletin board in MH2-5C for info. on ongoing activities.


ARTS&LIFE 2

The Paisano

7

August 26, 2008

February 11, 2014

‘Beyond LOVE’:

Iconic Pop Artist comes

to the McNay Museum Paul McIntier Staff Writer

arts@paisano-online.com Simple geometric shapes paired with bold, brightly colored words and numbers characterize many of the works in “Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE,” currently on display at the McNay Art Museum. Organized by the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, San Antonio’s exhibition of “Beyond LOVE” is a homecoming of sorts. The McNay is the only other venue in the nation to host the exhibition, and is bringing Indiana back for a second time. Indiana’s first appearance at the McNay was in 1968, which coincided with his now iconic poster art for San Antonio’s Hemisfair Park. Indiana, who was born Robert Clark, lived in many different foster homes in Indiana throughout the Depression. Early in his career he decided to pay homage to his home state and later adopted Indiana as his surname. Indiana, perhaps best known for his 1966 LOVE painting, is often associated with the Pop Art movement popularized by artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Eschewing the label of Pop Artist, In-

diana refers to himself in his biography as an “American painter of signs.” Inspired by the primitive signs along America’s highways in the 50s and 60s, Indiana began incorporating the images into his artwork, painting simple words as such “Eat” and “Die” onto large canvases. In an interview with Arthur Carr in 1965, Indiana said “’Eat’ was the last word that my mother said before she died. And the whole ‘Eat/Die’ diptych series of paintings is related to that one specific experience.” The “Eat/Die” theme is a recurring element in his paintings, along with “Hug” and “Err.” According to one label in the exhibit, the four words refer to “survival, existence, sin and love” and appear frequently in his work. The McNay exhibit showcases more than 100 paintings, sculptures and drawings from public and private collections from around the world, placing Indiana’s work into a broader perspective by presenting the artist’s full range of work over the course of five decades. According to René Paul Barilleaux, chief curator for the McNay, the exhibit is “loosely chronological. The first gallery shows his early works, and

from there it’s thematic.” Though it may be hard to avoid the iconic LOVE image, which appears as both a painting and a sculpture in the McNay exhibit, visitors will be treated to Indiana’s other, often controversial, artwork. The Confederacy series debuted at the same time Indiana introduced his LOVE series in 1966. According to Barbara Haskell, curator of New York’s Whitney Museum of American Art, Indiana “envisioned the (Confederacy) series as a group of paintings that would identify the states that seceded from the Union during the Civil War. It was really about civil rights.” The controversy over the Confederacy series stems from the legend stenciled on the painting: “Just as in the anatomy of man, every nation must have its hind part.” Haskell points out, “The legend is so blunt and politically strong – one of the most blunt accusations that anyone has made in 1960’s political art.” Though the Confederacy series depicts four states – Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama – that seceded, the McNay exhibit displays only three; the Alabama painting is currently on loan to another exhibit. In addition to Indiana’s

paintings are his herm sculptures, which are totems made of scrap wood reclaimed from rundown buildings. The totems were fashioned after hermae, stone pillars used as boundary markers along the roads of ancient Greece. Atop the pillars sat a carved head or bust of the Greek god Hermes. The hermae were reinvented in the hands of Indiana with simple words stenciled on the pillar faces and metal wheels attached at the bottom to mimic Hermes winged feet. In addition to “Beyond LOVE,” the McNay honors Robert Indiana and his work with two complementary exhibitions: “Robert Indiana: The Mother of Us All,” and “Robert Indiana’s Hartley Elegies.” The McNay Art Museum’s exhibit of “Robert Indiana: Beyond LOVE” runs through May 25. Admission to the McNay ranges from $10 to $15 for adults and $5 to $12 for students, seniors and active military. Admission is free for McNay members, children 12 and under and on Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more information and museum hours, visit mcnayart. org.

Photo Courtesy of The McNay Museum

The LOVE statue is one of Indiana’s most popular pieces.

Photo Courtesy of The McNay Museum

Indiana’s signature use of text and color made him famous in the Pop Art movement.

Best date spots in SA Brittney Lopez Staff Writer

arts@paisano-online.com This Valentine’s Day, change things up and do something other than your average dinner and movie night. Get creative and be original by exposing you and your special someone to a romantic, intimate evening that celebrates you as a couple. Here is a list of the top ten most unique and engaging date night ideas: 1. Painting with a Twist (8910 Bandera Rd, Suite 202) Sip, paint and relax. Also known as Corks N’ Canvas, Painting with a Twist provides a unique way to express your artistic skills. With a glass of wine or beer in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, create individual masterpieces with your partner. Wine, beer, soft drinks and water are offered during your two-hour or threehour session. Painting with a Twist offers public events, or you can schedule a private party. Sessions range from $35$45. For more information, visit paintingwithatwist.com. 2. The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo (Location Varies) The San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo is one of the biggest events of the year in San Antonio. The local event features animals and agriculture, live music, carnival rides and family entertainment. An extensive variety of mouthwatering food is offered — from juicy turkey legs to fried Twinkies. Indoor and outdoor venues showcase artists and bands perform-

ing classic country, soft rock and much more. Win a grand prize for your date by playing at one of the many game booths placed throughout the area, then wind down with a sweet Ferris Wheel ride that gives you a perfect view of the city up top. Prices vary for each event. For more information, visit sarodeo.com. 3.

Francesca’s at Sunset (16641 La Cantera Pkwy) Immerse yourself in an enchanting experience at this AAA Four-Diamond Award winning restaurant. Bask in awe with captivating rooftop views of the Hill Country while you and your partner dine on exquisite cuisine. Francesca’s at Sunset has been a top-rated San Antonio fine-dining restaurant for years and will be an essential part of your special evening. Reservations are recommended. Menu items range from $14-$36. For more information, visit resortlacantera. com. 4. Monster Mini Golf (2267 NW Military Hwy) Come test your putt-putt skills at an indoor mini golf course. This isn’t your ordinary golf course. This exciting 18hole, monster-themed, glow in the dark miniature putt putt course offers fun activities at every hole. Featuring monster décor with custom and animated props, this unique setting will add excitement and adventure to your date night. Entertainment consists of a full arcade, cool contests and an inhouse DJ. Admission is $9. For more information, visit monsterminigolf.com

5. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium (307 Alamo Plaza) Escape from the ordinary and explore the unique and fascinating world of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. The three-level attraction features over 500 unusual and shocking exhibits that will spark an extraordinary twist on your date night. Walk through an array of themed settings ranging from Hollywood to horror. Snap a picture with your partner and favorite celebrity star in Ripley’s Wax Museum. The museum features over 200 life-like wax figures. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium also offers an arcade area and snack bar. Tickets range from $12.99$28.99. For more information, visit ripleys.com/sanantonio. 6. The Semeneya Dance Studio (12066 Starcrest Dr. #210) Whether you are the type who has two left feet or can break it down like nobody’s watching, the Semeneya Dance Studio has a place for you. Spreading out at 7,000 square feet, the multi-level master studio offers a unique way for you and your partner to get close and lively. The Semeneya Dance Studio offers beginning, intermediate and advanced lessons in Salsa, Bachata, Merengue, Cha-Cha, Cumbia, Men/ Women Styling, Mambo, Cuban Salsa, Ballroom Dancing, East Coast Swing, Lindy and Hip Hop. The studio delivers a home-like cozy feel with coffee and a snack bar allowing students as well as instructors to socialize and connect on

the dance floor. Individual or group prices are offered. Class prices start at $12 per person for a one-hour class. For more information, visit mysemeneya.com 7. Japanese Tea Garden (3853 N. St. Mary’s Street) Explore and enjoy a romantic stroll through one of San Antonio’s historical jewels, the Japanese Tea Garden. The scenery features a lush, year-round garden and colorful floral displays with shaded walkways, stone bridges, a 60-foot waterfall and ponds filled with Koi fish. After a quiet and intimate walk, delight yourself to a nice meal at The Jingu House where a variety of food and beverages are served, ranging from Asian entreés to Japanese tea. Admission to the garden is free and is available to the public from dawn to dusk. For more information, visit japaneseteagarden.org. 8. Main Event (1911 N. Loop 1604 East) Get a glimpse of your partner’s competitive streak and allow them to channel their inner childhood spirit. Main Event is fully equipped with state of the art bowling lanes, billiards, an ultra modern laser tag arena and over 100 video games. With a unique variety of food

and a full service bar, there is sure to be something that will

satisf y e v e n t h e pickiest p e r son. In honor of President’s Day they are promoting their “President’s Day All You Can Play Weekend” special, beginning Friday, Feb. 14 through Monday, Feb. 17. Tickets range from $15.95-$17.95 per person. For more information, visit mainevent.com. 9. Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods (17530 Henderson Pass) Lace up and hang on tight to your partner’s hand as you glide over ice (almost) effortlessly and experience the cold air seep down into your lungs. After a few rounds (and hopefully very few falls) satisfy your taste buds with their fully stocked concession stand

for a quick snack or full meal, or cozy up together with a cup of hot chocolate. Admission ranges from $8-$11. For more information, visit northwoodice. net 10. The Cove (606 W Cypress) The Cove restaurant is known for their sust ainable, organic and local cuisine. Their focus is providing their customers with as much local, natural produce as possible, including produce grown from their own garden. Menu items include a variety of options ranging from their famous fish tacos to burgers. Grab a drink from the Texas Beer Garden, which offers almost 60 Texas-brewed beers on tap. Dance to music of all genres performed by local and traveling performers at their live music venue. Want to bring your furry friend? Good news, the restaurant is petfriendly, so make it a play date and bring your pets along to share the experience with you and your partner. Prices range from $2.25-$12. For more information, visit thecove.com. Photo credit: Brittney Lopez


8 February 11, 2014

SPORTS

UTSA drops fifth straight at home against Tulane UTSA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Staff Writer

sports@paisano-online.com New challenges and opponents in their first year of Conference USA (C-USA) have the UTSA Roadrunners in the midst of another difficult fivegame conference losing streak. After leading by four at halftime, the Roadrunners (11-11, 2-7 C-USA) were blitzed by a 20-4 Tulane Green Wave (17-6, 8-2 C-USA) run en route to a 68-54 loss on Saturday, Feb. 8 in front of a Convocation Center season-high 910 in attendance. UTSA junior guard Kamra King had a team-high 15 points but was held to six points on a meager 1-of-8 from the field in the second half and 2-of-7 from 3-point range for the game. Sophomore forward Mannasha Bell chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds for the Roadrunners. “The second half you lose a little focus, you pick up the ball at the wrong spot against the press and you turn it over and they get a layup,” UTSA Head Coach Lubomyr Lichonczak said about the issues UTSA had in the second half. “We weren’t doing that the first half. Maybe we got lucky the first half…but again when you miss an assignment against Conference USA teams they make you pay.” Tulane junior guard Jamie Kaplan scored 14 points with seven assists, and freshman guard Leslie Vorphal, who played for Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, made her hometown return by scoring 12 points, dishing out three assists and forcing three

steals. The Green Wave scored the first four points of the second half on back-to-back layups to tie the game at 30. King hit two free throws to give UTSA back the lead, but that was the last time the Roadrunners would have the advantage as they shot 0-for-9 in the first five minutes. A 3-pointer by Kaplan helped Tulane regain the lead, and UTSA could only muster a layup and one free throw in the next seven minutes. Tulane would lead by 19 points before the Roadrunners tried to claw back into the game. It was freshman guard Dwanisha Tate who ignited the Road-

“When you miss an assignment against C-USA teams they make you pay.” Lubomyr Lichonczak UTSA Head Coach

runners. Tate hit a corner 3 for UTSA’s first field goal since the 14:31 minute mark of the second half. After another Green Wave layup, Tate managed another 3-pointer followed by a layup on her way to singlehandedly outscoring the Green Wave 9-2, cutting the lead to 57-45. Tate would tie her career-high of nine points off the bench. “She is very talented,” said Lichonczak about Tate’s progression. “But again, like a lot of young players, the focus seems

to be there some days and other days it’s not. If the focus is there, then I think she can do very well.” But Tulane continued to score inside, tallying 28 of their 38 points inside the paint during the second half and outrebounding UTSA 18-10 in that same stretch. The Roadrunners shot 33 percent (19-56) for the game, continuing their conference worst shooting (.326) this season. Their 23 percent (4-17) performance from beyond the arc was the 16th time in 22 games they failed to shoot better than 30 percent. UTSA faced a Tulane team who is currently in fourth place in C-USA but without senior guard Miki Turner for a second straight game after she suffered an ankle injury at practice. The Roadrunners were also missing sophomore forward Niaga Mitchell-Cole, who may be out for the season after injuring her foot in Wednesday’s loss to FIU. “Any team in the league is tough to play without your top players,” said Lichonczak. “That’s just the nature of the game. You have to be able to step up and make up for it. I thought we did for a half, but you have to do it for two halves.” In order to end their losing streak, UTSA will have to win on the road, where they have a 3-5 record this season. UTSA faces the UAB Blazers (12-9, 4-4 C-USA) on Wednesday Feb. 12, in Alabama and follow that up with an intrastate game against the Rice Owls (1011, 3-5 C-USA) in Houston.

Wednesday, February 12 7 p.m. UTSA Women’s Basketball The Roadrunners head to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the UAB Blazers at Bartow Arena.

7 p.m. UTSA Softball The Roadrunners head to Austin, Texas, to take on the Texas Longhorns at McCombs Field.

Thursday, February 13 7 p.m. UTSA Men’s Basketball The Roadrunners host the Florida International Panthers at the Convocation Center.

Friday, February 14 11 a.m. UTSA Men’s & Women’s Track & Field The Roadrunners head to Houston, to participate in the Houston Tuneup.

6 p.m. UTSA Baseball The Roadrunners host the Saint Peter’s Peacocks in a three game homestand at Roadrunner Field.

UTSA Softball The Roadrunners host the UTSA Classic with games starting on Friday and ending on Sunday.

Saturday, February 15 3 p.m. UTSA Men’s Basketball The Roadrunners host the Florida Atlantic Owls at the Convocation Center. Daryl Smith/The Paisano

Mario Nava

{Sports Events}

Junior guard Kamra King goes up for the layup as Mathilde Hergott and Miki Turner look on.

Sunday, February 16 11 a.m. UTSA Men’s & Women’s Tennis The Roadrunners head to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on the UAB Blazers.


SPORTS

9 February 11, 2014

UTSA dominant UTSA MEN’S TENNIS

Diego Ramirez Contributing Writer

UTSA SOFTBALL

UTSA sweeps by Lamar Jonathon Garza Staff Writer

sports@paisano-online.com The UTSA Roadrunners (3-0) dominated the Lamar Cardinals (0-3) in their three game season opener, Feb. 7-9, at Roadrunner Field. The Roadrunners began their 2014 campaign Friday and finished the weekend in record fashion. With former assistant coach Michelle Cheathams now at the helm UTSA took the victory in all three games and did so with their explosive offense. “It’s all the kids, they came out and swung the bats today,” said Cheatham on her team’s success on offense after Saturday’s double-header. UTSA would take the first game 8-6 with a spectacular walk-off two-run homer from Vivian Tijerina in the bottom of the seventh inning. This was Tijerina second home run of the

day, and she finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBIs. The victory marked Coach Cheatham’s first win as a head coach. Neither team would find the scoreboard till the second inning of Game 2, but it was the Cardinals who would plate two runs to give them the 2-0 lead. After that, it was all UTSA. Stringing together hit after hit allowed the Roadrunners to have the bases loaded three times, capitalizing on each. UTSA racked up nine hits and made history by scoring 16 runs, with an NCAA record tying two grand slams in the second frame. “That’s what this offense can do,” added Coach Cheatham after the game. Megan Low ended the game 3-for-4, with two homeruns (one being a grand slam) seven RBI’s — and all in the second inning. Randee Crawford would

take the other grand slam, going 2-2 for the game with 4 RBI’s. “Defensively I want to come out more solid. We had a little case of the nerves, and it’s important that we continue to swing the bats,” mentioned Coach Cheatham on what UTSA can improve on going into Sunday’s final game. UTSA would finish their sweep of the Cardinals Sunday, winning 10-9 with the help of Jori Fox’s grand slam in the third inning. This would be the third grand slam of the weekend, giving Fox 4 RBI’s, tying a career high. This was the fifth time in school history UTSA has started the season off 3-0. The Roadrunners will take to the road for their first road game at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at No. 10 Texas (4-2).

UTSA claimed their first victory over St. Edwards.

victory of the season, sophomore Diogo Casa had great expectations for the team as they look forward to the long season ahead. “I definitely have great expectations for the team; but the team is first before the individual victories,” said Casa after the match. The Brazilian Roadrunner came out victorious against Felix Blake with winning sets of

Brittney Davila/The Paisano

Megan Low swings while at bat. The junior catcher had three home runs and 10 RBIs over the weekend and was named C-USA Co-Player of the week.

The UTSA Roadrunners (23) clinched their first win of the season against the St. Edwards Hilltoppers (0-3) under perfect weather conditions on Saturday, February 8. The UTSA Roadrunners used their home territory to their advantage by clinching 5 out the 6 spots in the singles courts, shutting down the Hilltoppers at the UTSA Tennis Facilities with a 6-1 overall defeat. After dominating in their first

Brittney Davila/The Paisano

Daryl Smith/The Paisano

sports@paisano-online.com

UTSA dominates Trinity for their second win.

(7-4) and (6-4). The UTSA Men’s tennis claimed another win in their second match of the day, beating the Trinity Tigers at home with a score of 4-3. Roadrunner Joel Rubio led the UTSA singles players after winning his match 6-1, 6-1 against Greg Haugen in the singles matches, while Roadrunner Yannick Junger defeated Aaron Skinner 6-2, 6-0 and Roadrunner Tomas Stillman did the same against Nicolas Moreno, winning 6-0, 6-5. The Roadrunners won two out of their three games in the doubles competition against the Tigers. Doubles partners Diogo Casa and Yannick Junger and Joel Rubio and Tomas Stillman came away victorious with scores of 6-2, 6-3 respectively. The Roadrunners capped off their weekend with two successive victories and will look to take on Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday, Feb. 14.

Roadrunners on the Road UTSA Men’s Basketball

The UTSA men’s basketball team (7-15, 3-6 C-USA) was handed their third straight loss as they fell 81-71 against the East Carolina Pirates (13-11, 2-7 C-USA) in Greenville, North Carolina, on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Minges Coliseum. Keon Lewis led the Roadrunners with 16 points, while Jordan Sims had 14 points on the night. East Carolina Pirate Akeem Richmond scored a game high 30 points to lead the Pirates over the Roadrunners. Richmond helped East Carolina build a 20-point lead to help fend off a late Roadrunner rally. The Roadrunners head back home on Thursday, Feb. 13 to take on the Florida International Panthers (12-12, 4-5 C-USA) at the Convocation Center.

UTSA Men’s Golf The UTSA men’s golf team placed sixth after the first two rounds of the UTSA Oak Hills Invitational on Monday, Feb. 10. UTSA Sophomore J.J. Lindsey led the Roadrunners by hitting a five-over-par on the first day of the tournament. Lindsey managed to hit a total of seven birdies on the day, and is tied for 13th at five-over 147. The Roadrunners are in sixth place with 18 holes remaining, just a shot behind East Carolina and one ahead of Tulsa. Round three will start at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 11 to complete the Invitational.


10

February 11, 2014

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