The Paisano Volume 51 Issue 4

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Don’t miss anything at UTSA.

Viking recreation

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comes to life outside the MH Building

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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio 2014 Columbia Scholastic Press Gold Medalist

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UTSA Conference USA released its 2015 football schedule, which will feature UTSA home games against Lousianna Tech and Rice.

Volume 51

Issue 4

February 10 - February 17, 2015

Roadrunner football’s best class yet?

Associated Press news@paisano-online.com

San Antonio Uber has stated the company will shut down operations in San Antonio March 1st if regulations for transportationnetwork companies are not “significantly relaxed.” Marcus Connolly, The Paisano 37 prospects committed to UTSA’s football team, the largest recruiting class in the program’s history.

Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editor

Texas Whataburger and H.E.B. are partnering once again, this time to bring the restaurant’s Honey BBQ and Bold BBQ sauces to grocery shelves.

@shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com On Wednesday, Feb 4,

Matthew Duarte @matthew_duarte news@paisano-online.com

A proposed Senate bill would give courts power to grant DNA testing on evidence that has a “reasonable likelihood” of having biological material.

Sports UTSA baseball opens the season at home, against the UL-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns at Roadrunner Field in a 3-game series from February 13February 15.

Larry Coker and the UTSA Athletics Department announced that a 37-man recruiting class will be coming to play for UTSA in the 2015 season. This class will change UTSA

football as we know it. 28 high school seniors, eight junior college transfers and one Football Bowl Subdivision transfer make up the largest class in the history of the football pro-

See RECRUITING, Page 8

Last month, UTSA announced that it received a prestigious Carnegie Award, given to schools that demonstrate significant engagement in the community. The designation, which is awarded every five years, is the culmination of years of work by the university. “The Carnegie award is essentially a designation for an award that is made by the Carnegie Foundation to recognize universities that are significantly involved in community service,” explained Jude Valdez, UTSA’s vice president for community services. The Carnegie Foundation defines community engagement as “collaboration between a university and the community that enriches scholarship and research, spurs creativity, addresses pressing social issues and prepares students to be educated, engaged citizens who value civic responsibility,” according to UTSA Today. “The Carnegie designation speaks to our commitment to community outreach and

our drive to make a differ- Education (NERCHE). The man Ron Niremberg, who ence in the lives of our stu- NERCHE is the administra- represents UTSA’s Main dents and our community,” tive partner of the Carnegie Campus. “We know that the said UTSA President Ricar- Foundation with the pur- growth of UTSA and the acdo Romo in a statement. “It pose of managing and ad- tivities that UTSA engages is a remarkable milestone for ministering the classification in are rich and important the university and another process. for the greater San Antonio advancement in our journey “I think our work within community.” to Tier One recognition.” the District 8 community “We are an engaged uniThis was UTSA’s first time within my office has been versity,” Valdez said. “Since receiving the Carnegie des- benefited by UTSA, not just UTSA was first established, ignation. Among the other in terms of an institution, we have been deeply conschools earning the recog- but its students, its faculty, nected to our region and our See CARNEGIE, Page 2 nition this year were the its staff,” said City CouncilUniversity of Texas at Austin, Texas Tech and the University of Houston. “These are campuses that are improving teaching and learning, producing research that makes a difference in communities and revitalizing their civic and academic m i s s i o n s ,” said John Saltmarsh, director of the New England Resources CenMarcus Connolly, The Paisano ter for Higher UTSA is responsible for over 16,000 jobs and $1.2 billion each year in and around San Antonio.

WEB - Old Tune Review

ARTS - Netflix Gems

In honor of the late, great Buddy Holly, this week’s Old Tune Review takes a look at Holly’s last album, “That’ll be the day.”

Check out six Netflix suggestions that didn’t make the “popular” cut but still deserve recognition.

visit paisano-online.com

gram. Coming on the heels of a season that graduated more than 25 seniors and was below .500, this monumental class came at the perfect time for the program.

UTSA earns Carnegie designation for community involvement News Editor

Legislature

Cost of education program for vets could rise dramatically

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OPINION - The New Album Release The surprise album is changing the way artists release music in 2015.

A recent ruling by a federal judge could turn a state program that waives college tuition and fees for military veterans into one of the most expensive in Texas history. State lawmakers six years ago expanded the program to allow veterans at public universities to pass any unused tuition exemptions to their children, according to the Austin AmericanStatesman. Lawmakers gave little consideration to the cost since the schools were required to pick up the tab. But a U.S. District Court judge last month struck down a provision of the so-called Hazlewood Act that says veterans and their families may receive tuition benefits only if they enlisted while living in Texas. The ruling creates the possibility that more and more veterans who enlisted elsewhere could move to Texas to claim free tuition after taking a year to establish residency. The Texas attorney general’s office has indicated that it intends to appeal the ruling. In the meantime, lawmakers are contending with an estimate from the Texas Veterans Commission that says the program could swell from $169 million to $750 million, and could eventually surge into the billions. “This has got to be fixed. We’ve created a monster,’’ said state Sen. Charles Schwertner, R-Georgetown. While campaigning last year, Gov. Greg Abbott called for the state to pick up the entire tab for Hazlewood, describing it as an “unfunded mandate’’ for colleges and universities, according to the Statesman. University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven this week described the program as “phenomenal,’’ but said he hopes the state will fund it to lift the burden on universities. In 2008, the annual cost of the program was $24.7 million for 9,882 students, according to the Legislative Budget Board. By 2013, it had grown to nearly $170 million, with about 39,000 students participating.

SPORTS - Women’s Basketball Roadrunners win in back-to-back blowouts at home. Page 8

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Please recycle this newspaper!


NEWS

2 February 10 - February 17, 2015

Obama gives undocumented parents temporar y relief C AR N EGIE: UTSA, Sa n AnAnthony Mendoza employment opportunities ment of Homeland Security ing continuously in the U.S. to nio he lp ing e a c h o the r Staff Writer within the U.S. (DHS) would cease depor- since January 1, 2010 and be @dAnthonyMendoza “The situations for many tation of undocumented a parent of a U.S. citizen or to w a r d to p -tie r sta tus news@paisano-online.com

The Department of Homeland Security has adopted the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, giving undocumented parents a means to stay in the U.S. This comes as immigration reform legislation remains stalled in Congress. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2009-2013 American Community Survey (ACS) estimated 40,342,000 immigrants are currently living in the United States with 4,188,000 immigrants living in Texas. Bexar County houses 230,500 immigrants, while UTSA’s spring 2015 enrollment statistics report 1,582 enrolled international students. Despite a large immigrant population, policy makers’ continued efforts toward a unified consensus on immigration reform remains stagnant. DACA a key contributor in immigration reform, allows undocumented individuals and undocumented individuals who were in the process of being deported the opportunity to apply for “deferred action,” temporarily delaying their deportation. Beginning in 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) granted individuals who met DACA requirements deferred action status, which allowed undocumented persons to apply for a 2-year workers’ permit that afforded them

of our young people who are struggling are without the official documents who are here on campus and our community and our country. So it’s to try and dispel some of the anti-immigrant that classifies everybody the same way and stigmatize them as evil people,” said Dr. Harriet Romo. “They’re committed people and many of them have been here a long time. Their children have grown up here and gone to our k-12 schools so it’s informational and just to get people involved and aware of the issues.” Previous DACA guidelines required individuals to be under 31 years of age as of June 15, 2012, have arrived in the U.S. below age 16, have lived continuously in the U.S. since June 15, 2007 and been enrolled in school or have graduated from high school. The DACA program, however, did not extend to parents, causing some concern for undocumented youth. If an individual qualified for DACA but was still in need of parental support, having their parents deported would create issues, such as safety and living arrangements. Furthermore, natural born citizens to undocumented parents faced a similar risk of having their parents deported leaving youth with no financial support system. Late last November, President Obama, in attempts to remedy this potential problem, stated the U.S. Depart-

parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent resident parents of lawful permanent and neither committed any residents (LPRs) in attempts felony nor some specific to further immigration re- misdemeanors. Obama’s form. Among Obama’s ex- expanded program would ecutive actions were plans to also increase workers’ perincrease citizenship educa- mits from two years to three tion and public awareness of years. lawful permanent residents, Still, an immigrant probimprove modernization of lem persists as obtaining immigrant and nonimmi- birth documents and gengrant visa programs, and ex- erating the money required pand the Deferred Action of to obtain the permits is Childhood Arrivals. difficult. Although prob“DAPA is huge because it lems may arise, President will benefit millions of peo- Obama’s executive orders ple — parents in particu- addressing immigration pollar — who have been living icy are designed to focus on in fear,” said UTSA student deporting felons and keepDiego Mancha. “I think that ing families intact rather it’s a really big victory, but I than deporting all illegal don’t think it’s nearly done. aliens. It’s not comprehensive or “At least to have people large enough to cover every- sit down and rationally talk one — there’s still room for about what kinds of proimprovements to be made.” grams work, what kinds of DACA’s expansion, the changes in the law would be Deferred Action for Par- effective — there are a lot ents of Americans and Law- of things on the table,” said ful Permanent Residents Dr. Romo. “(Immigration (DAPA), would allow par- reform) is very complex and ents to stay within the U.S. it’s hard to figure out what under similar requirements reforms will be most effecas DACA. The revised pro- tive. We’ve had efforts in the gram would eliminate the past, we just need people to age requirement, making come together and talk and anyone born before or after act.” June 16, 1981 an eligible candidate for DA PA . Ad d i tionally, individuals must h a v e Marcus Connolly, The Paisano been liv- Over 1500 international students currently enroll at UTSA.

community.” gional economy and helps The Carnegie founda- San Antonio grow into a tion also reflected upon more modern city as well. UTSA’s work with veterans, And the money has been Hispanics and underserved flowing both ways: of the communities when con- over $100 million UTSA sidering the designation. raised as part of its Capital Additionally, over 15,000 Campaign, very little of it UTSA faculty, students and has come from UTSA alumstaff volunteered their time, ni. Instead, an overwhelmcombining for over ing majority of the money 400,000 hours of outreach. “I know that students at UTSA have been on the forefront of civic engagement, of getting involved with their communities,” Niremberg said. Ivy Taylor UTSA’s work in the community has Mayor of San Antonio earned the praise of local raised has been donated by officials and business lead- members of the San Antoers. Mayor Ivy Taylor, who nio business community, is also a lecturer in UTSA’s indicating a strong desire for College of Public Policy, said UTSA to be a major source that “UTSA students and of change and growth in San graduates have been critical Antonio in the future. to San Antonio’s economic In addition to work in the and community develop- local community, Valdez ment.” said, the designation also Chief among these eco- took into consideration UTnomic impacts are the SA’s work with regional and 16,000 jobs supported by global outreach. “The ColUTSA and the $1.2 billion lege of Business does a lot of impact the university con- work in China, the College tributes to the local econ- of Education does a lot of omy each year. About 70 stuff in Africa,” Valdez said. percent of UTSA’s gradu- “So our involvement (with ates stay in San Antonio and the global community) has continue to contribute to really grown.” the local economy. “UTSA is an outstanding Additionally, UTSA model for how educational spends around $50 million institutions can engage with each year on research, much their communities,” said of which stays within the re- Taylor.

“UTSA students and graduates have been critical to San Antonio’s economic and community development.”


OPINION {The Paisano} Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Lopez

February 10 - February 17, 2015

Vaccinations, with a shot of skepticism

Managing Editor:

Editorial

News Editor:

State representative Jason Villalba (R-Dallas) announced that he would soon introduce a bill in Legislature to discontinue “conscientious exemptions,” a current Texas policy that allows parents whose children attend public school to opt out of standard vaccinations because of their religious preferences. But what about when parents choose not to vaccinate their children for scientific or bioethical reasons? The recent emphasis on vaccinations accompanies a push for mandatory im-

Mia Cabello

Matthew Duarte

Arts Editor:

Beth Marshall

Sports Editor:

Shabazz I. Dawkins

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini

Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas

Photo Editor:

Marcus Connolly

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The Paisano

munizations; both follow an alarming increase in measles cases. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported an 18.9 percent increase in the number of U.S. measles cases in the past week alone. The CDC attributes 85 percent of the measles cases in January and February — more than 100 people across 17 states — to an outbreak that began in Southern California last December. Though not universally fatal, measles is a highly contagious disease. However, some parents have chosen not to

vaccinate their children because of a suspected correlation between immunizations and autism. Although this theory has not been verified as scientific fact, it merits thorough investigation. Skepticism is healthy. Hasty solutions to exaggerated problems often inspire problems of their own. Science and medicine are not static. Eight generations ago, many of our grandparents considered bloodletting to be a state-of-the-art medicine procedure. The character and face of medicine change

constantly — usually through responsible trial-and-error (i.e. prescription dosages, surgical procedures) and by accident (i.e. virology, genetics). Capital, profit and human interests drive modern medical, pharmaceutical and scientific developments; however, scientific association often bears a tacit social connotation tantamount to veneration. We should approach current scientific theory and medical knowledge with a healthy degree of skepticism. Medicine and its agents are

not always right. Neither are parents. Medical professionals and parents must keep abreast of developments in the scientific field, apart from the rhetoric of pharmaceuticals. Only through objective consideration of both the risks and benefits, which are inextricable from science, can parents make the educated decisions that affect their children and the community.

Social Media Editor: Rebecca Conejo

Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha

Ads Manager:

Edidiong Adiakpan

Senior Copy Editor: Kate Kramer

{Staff Writers} Anthony Mendoza, Patrick Martinez, Robert Avila, Pavela Bambakova, Savin Weerasinghe, Brittany Brink, Maria Cristina Moreno, Daniel Shaw, Teia Herrera, Alysha Gallagher, Anelia Gomez-Cordova, Brayden Boren, Christopher Breakell {Staff Photographers} Robert Pistochi {Contributing Writers} Hayden Housson, Olivia Ybarra, Randi Gilmore, Nathaniel Archer, Linda McNulty

{Adviser}

Diane Abdo

{Advisory Board}

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo 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. The Paisano is distributed on all three UTSA campuses — Main, Downtown and the Institute of Texan Cultures. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tripoint and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to:

14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)-690-9301 {Letters to the Editor}

Letters must be fewer than 400 words and include the writer’s name, classification or title and telephone number. The Paisano reserves the right to edit all submissions. Send letters to: Editor@paisano-online.com

© 2014, The Paisano

Manliness needs to change Licensed swords Satire

Commentary I believe that in order to truly achieve gender equality, our definition of masculinity must change. Many men are finding themselves at a crossroads: continue to honor the masculine identity put forth to them by generations past or embrace gender equality. For men, like myself, who have chosen the latter option, the question is, what does it mean to be a man? Like many males in Texas, I learned most of what I know about sex and women in the locker room. In the locker room, teenagers — barely through puberty — would boast about their conquests, their crushes and how much weight they bench-pressed the day before. Most of the boasting was done by alpha males, the guys who ran the fastest, scored the most

touchdowns and in turn attracted the most female attention. Initially, my idea of manliness was defined by the amount of female attention I received. As a result, I became guilty of the objectification of women without even recognizing it. It wasn’t that I treated girls badly — my female friends would compliment my chivalrousness. However, I considered chivalry as the work that it took to make a girl mine. This caused the eventual unraveling of some of my most serious relationships. All I wanted from girls was sexual attention because that’s what I believed affirmed that I was a man. A man’s primal instinct, after all, is toward physicality rather than intimacy. However, this inclination does not excuse the misogynistic remarks spoken in the locker room. Many men look at a crude comment about a woman’s figure as a badge of honor. The honorable path is to stop

looking at women as conquests. Every time we make a comment about a woman’s body, we deny ourselves a society free of abuse for both men and women. Fortunately, I have found a way to treat women as individuals. Chivalry is not the antidote to misogyny; pretending that men must protect women implies that women are weaker than men. They are not. In fact, most women are probably smarter and tougher than some of their male counterparts will ever be. Acknowledging the worth of women does not make a man any less masculine. Being a man is ignoring what you were taught in the locker room and acknowledging the fact that women can do whatever they please. Nate Archer Contributing writer

I’ll just sit here by Christopher Breakell

A new law passed last week by Texas Legislature will allow licensed and trained swordsmen to bring their swords on campus. The previous state law banned blades over 5.5 inches. Following California’s law, Texas law now permits Texans to carry swords on college campuses, as long as they are sheathed. The bill was passed unanimously after the representative viewed the 38th episode of Game of Thrones. Licensed swordsmen must be 21 years old, pass a background check and complete a training class that includes state laws and a multiple choice test on the warrior’s code. Participants must score at least 70 percent to pass, meaning that they slice at least 20 of the bananas, oranges and melons that are thrown in the accuracy test. Students for Sheathed Swords believes that students have a right to defend themselves from the dangers on college campuses. “Dragon attacks have increased the past few years,” said president of the SSS and UTSA medieval weapons professor Lance

Lot. “They begin pillaging and setting fire to classrooms and no one has the ability to stop them.” Lot’s comment followed a fire a month ago where two student-dragons at the University of Houston set fire to their chemistry professor, their geology lab and the small village of the Woodlands in Houston. The students, who had been previously cited for aggressive behavior, are now being held in the Harris county dungeon awaiting their trials. Addressing concerns of safety, Lot relates the nonissue with swords compared to more dangerous weapons. “There is virtually no danger with swords,” said Lot. “They are not like crossbows, which can fire multiple bolts or be set off accidently; anyone can just point and shoot one of those. Swords require serious technique to be deadly…and there is a code.” Some students had concerns about swords being brought to campus. Sam Murai, whose roommate was recently sent to Azkaban after an incident at Texas State, said, “My roommate was that wizard last year, the one that cast spells on and charmed all those people. He had a license for his wand and a wizardry code too.” The Texas State incident and fire, along with other attacks, is one of the main decisions for the sheathed-sword bill being passed. Proponents for the bill believe carrying a long, broad, two-handed, rapier, pirate, Viking, and other swords is a right that others share around the state and should not be any different on college campuses. “Students are rational, wellbalanced and stable,” stated the Lt. Governor in an open letter addressed to Texas universities. “I understand that many of them come to school with no experience with alcohol, sex, societal pressure, as well as the enormous debt from student loans.” The Lt. Governor continued, “But these kids are tough now from stuff like 20 page essays, five 3-hour long finals that count for 50 percent of their grades, and one of worst job markets in history. Swords, in comparison, are very easy for these young adults to handle.” Robert Avila Staff writer


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OPINION

The Paisano February 10 - February 17, 2015

The death of the rollout album: the new music standard

Commentary The album rollout is dead. Months of a nt i c i p a tion over an artist’s upcoming work, the overwhelming amount of singles that trickle out little by little, week after week, and the endless amount of pop culture critiques is overwhelming. Over the past year, we’ve seen high profile artists struggle to maintain their edge and remain dominating cultural forces. Pop-stars like Nicki Minaj have seen decreases in album sales that follow the traditional album rollout of press tours, singles and interviews. Minaj’s newest album “The

Pinkprint” sold 244,000 albums in its first week, with 628,000 sold by February 2015. In comparison, “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded,” Minaj’s previous album, sold 253,000 in its first week, with over a million sold and going certified platinum in the same two-month span of time as “Pinkprint.” Even Katy Perry — the 2015 halftime show diva herself — has felt a similar decline between her last two albums. 2013’s “Prism,” while outselling Perry’s previous album “Teenage Dream” in its first week 286,000 to 192,000, has had a harder time selling the performer now than when she was rising in 2010, with “Prism” taking seven weeks longer than “Teenage Dream” to reach 1.5 million sold. Artists have even had

struggles just releasing their albums. Lil Wayne, a 5-time platinum artist, is suing his label Cash Money for $51 million for refusing to release his 11th studio album “Tha Carter V.” A singles rollout has been existent, but even those have faltered compared to mega-hit singles like “A Milli” and “6 Foot 7 Foot.” Countering these recent decreases in album sales, triple-A musicians have started releasing their albums from seemingly nowhere; some released as measures taken against leaking these albums online and others to put advanced buzz to rest and put both critics and the listener on an equal playing field. It’s raised the stakes in the music industry by adding something that has been tangibly absent for years: surprise.

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor of The Paisano, I was astonished to read last week’s lead story about the spontaneous resignation of Dr. Douglas Brode — a distinguished film scholar and filmmaker. I was astonished, principally that this professor, whom I do not know personally, would not at least attempt to accommodate this blind student in his silent film class. I speak from experience. Several years ago, a blind graduate student in the Spanish M.A. program enrolled in my Spanish Civilization class. In the class, my students were responsible for knowing the content of 800 PowerPoint slides, dates, periods, styles and movements. Students had to identify 10 images on each of three exams. Initially, I was stymied: How could I accommodate this student given the multimedia format (with written textbook)? I called Disability Services, and I got the same advice as Dr. Brode did. I wracked my brain. Then, I invited the student to my office to ask her what her expectations were. That helped a lot. Here was our solution: The student attended class and took notes on her keying apparatus. (Yes, blind students can do that!) A friend of hers, who had taken my class al-

ready, volunteered to work with her on the slides outside of class. As part of the class, I also played a significant number of musical pieces from across history. Therefore, I substituted the music for the images for her to identify on the exams. She kept the maps by identifying north, south, east, west, verbally. She took the other parts of the exams via Blackboard as the other students did because she had special software that could read Microsoft Word documents to her. It worked. I was very satisfied with her progress. It took extra effort on my part, but I didn’t feel I had to compromise my standards. That wasn’t all. She enrolled in another Spanish culture class of mine on Contemporary Spain — another course with 800 PowerPoint slides. We used the same format, and it worked. Writing the course paper proved more difficult for her; however, that’s on her, not me. In Spring 2012, the student then signed up for a class that involved filming a Chilean play. The students in the class made up the cast and crew. When they were not needed in the studio, the students worked in small crews to produce a one-minute film of a well-known poem of their

choosing. I wondered how the blind student could possibly benefit from the class and how she could collaborate. It turned out the student had acting experience and was able to play one of the secondary roles quite well. We just had to make sure there were no obstacles in her way, to keep her safe. She wore stylish Lady Gaga sunglasses. For her video project, the student carried equipment to locations, did voiceover narration, and helped edit the soundtrack with her crew. She used her strengths. In all three cases, the blind student’s experience of the material was different but not inferior to her classmates’. And she pulled her own weight. Accommodation was challenging but, as I hope to have shown, not impossible. It’s a shame Dr. Brode didn’t stick around long enough to find that out. What he failed to grasp was that it wasn’t about him; it was about her. She should decide what are her limits are. Sincerely, Nancy Membrez UTSA Associate Professor of Spanish Literature, Culture, and Film, and Digital Filmmaking Modern Languages and Literatures

Letters to the Editor

We would love to hear your feedback! Letters must be fewer than 400 words and include the writer’s name, classification or title and email address. The Paisano reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Send Letters to the Editor to: editor@paisano-online.com

{Come join the team!} We are always looking for innovative writers, photographers, videographers and graphic artists. Interested? Email us at: editor@paisano-online.com

The movement truly became visible when R&B artist Beyoncé Knowles released her eponymous fifth studio album, “Beyoncé,” unexpectedly in 2013 on iTunes with no promotion or prior announcement, taking the world by storm with it’s novel idea of songs and visuals combined to make the album a completely new experience for the listener. Three days after its release, Apple announced that “Beyoncé” was the fastest selling album in the history of the iTunes store in the U.S. and worldwide, selling over 828,000 digital copies in its first three days on the market. Since February 2015, it has sold over 2.2 million copies in the U.S., a huge increase over her previous album “4” and its 1.4 million copies sold to

date. The year 2014 was the music industry’s turn to catch up. Established artists like Kid Cudi and J. Cole both released albums in 2014 with little warning nor promotion and no lead singles, with Cole eclipsing his previous album’s first week’s sales by over 74,000 units. Even legends like Björk and D’Angelo came out of hiatus to release their own surprise albums in the last two months. Björk’s newest surprise digital-only album “Vulnicura” has already sold over 8,000 more copies than “Biophilia,” her traditionally released album from 2011. Album rollouts are still necessary to reach the largest audience possible. According to a recent Nielsen report done in December 2014, 90

percent of Americans still listen to the radio each week, hence the steady singles release to familiarize the average American with what they want to hear. Artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber don’t need to surprise release their albums, since their fan base is so large and established it’s unnecessary. But imagine a world of surprise releases, where buying an album was a mystery of what you would find when you hit play, to not know what you would find as you put on your ear-buds, where music is new again. This is the album now. Brayden Boren Staff writer

Letter to the Editor State Representative Allen Fletcher (R-Tomball) and State Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury), along with 19 other senators, have introduced house Bill 937 and Senate Bill 11 respectively; these bills would allow lawabiding, licensed individuals to carry their concealed firearms on to college campuses. The bills have wide support among the safety-conscience public. This will be the fourth time our state Legislature takes up the matter. It will be hotly contested and bantered about, and it is generally not popular with school administrators, in particular UT Chancellor William H. McRaven. I have been an adjunct professor at UTSA for five years, and I have taught at other universities for more than 18 years; however, I break with conventional thinking and lend my full support to passing this legis-

lation. Here is why: Perception is not knowledge. The perception that guns are evil, dangerous and harmful does not square with the facts. Gary Kleck, Sociology Professor at the University of Florida, published data that claims guns are used as many as 2.5 million times per year in the U.S. to defend lives and protect property. Another fact, 1 in 8 adult Americans has a concealed carry permit and safely, respectfully carries his or her firearms today. Did you know this? Probably not, as the common narrative regarding firearms always focuses on negative. Further, allowing concealed carry by trained licensees implies a willingness within the campus to confront an active shooter, and such preemption will be viewed as a strong deterrence. Conversely, an unwillingness to allow concealed carry implies weak-

ness and serves only to be an invitation for an attack. Gun-free zones should not exist. Sandy Hook and the theater in Aurora Colorado were gun free zones. Gunfree zones serve the interests of the school administrators and others who make the easy short term, popular decisions. Seeing campus concealed carry as the best long-term decision requires examining the facts, confronting hard decisions and recognizing that there are no perfect solutions. All of us will benefit from campus carry, an umbrella of safety that protects us all — students and staff alike.

Michael D. Noll Adjunct Professor College of Business Real Estate Finance and Development Program

Photo Poll

Should colleges ban romantic relationships between faculty and students? “I dont think it’s an issue, as long as everyone is happy.” Jennifer Tomalenas

Sophomore pre-biology major

“Yes, they should. Relationships would promote unfairness in the classroom.” Mitchell Herrador

Senior mechanical engineering major

“As long as the students and professors aren’t in the same class.” Anna Edge

Senior environmental science major

“That’s a tough question. It depends on how old they both are.” Sean Soderman

Senior computer science major

“Professors and students can be involved if it doesn’t interfere with the academic environment and these students don’t recieve special treatment.” Will Trimble

Senior public relations major Photos by Mia Cabello, The Paisano


ARTS & LIFE

5 February 10 - February 17, 2015

.com


6 Arts & Life Events Calendar:

February 10 - February 17, 2015

Netflix gems: Treasures worth digging for their homes, to be institutionalized and often forced into lives of servitude afterwards. The practice continued well into the 1960s, and its victims are now referred to as the Stolen Generations. Rabbit-Proof Fence presents the heartwrenching story of three girls taken from their families and placed in an internment camp, only to escape, evade trackers and make their journey home across the Australian continent on foot. Have tissues on hand.

Thursday 2/12 7 p.m. Joe Nichols Embrace your inner Texan and kick off the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo the right way with Joe Nichols at the AT&T Center (723 AT&T Center Parkway). Known for country hits like “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” and “Sunny and 75,” Nichols will take the stage to play song selections both old and new. To purchase tickets and to stay in the loop for all things Rodeo, visit sarodeo.com.

Friday 2/13 7 p.m. Valentine’s Day Dinner and Ghost Tour So maybe a ghost tour isn’t the first idea you had in mind when coming up with this year’s Valentine’s Day plans, but consider spending the evening at the allegedly haunted Menger Hotel (204 Alamo Plaza). Enjoy dinner, a tour of the hotel and stories about San Antonio’s other haunted locations. For ticket prices and other information, visit sistersgrimmghosttour. com.

Saturday 2/14 8 a.m. Cupid’s Chase 5k If ghosts aren’t your forte, then you can practice running away from them at the annual Cupid’s Chase 5k. McAllister Park (13102 Jones Maltsberger Rd.) will be San Antonio’s race headquarters. The race costs $30 before Feb. 13 and $50 on race day. For more information, visit comop. org/cupidschase.

Sunday 2/15 3 p.m. The Addams Family Musical Stop by Woodlawn Theatre (1920 Fredericksburg Rd.) for opening weekend of The Addams Family Musical. See the classic movie come to life through song and enjoy a few laughs from the creepy and kooky family themselves. Ticket prices range from $17 - $26 and can be purchased via woodlawntheatre.org.

ARTS & LIFE

Jakob Lopez, The Paisano More and more people are opting for a Netflix subscription over a cable bill. With only select titles making it into the popular on Netflix category, it’s worth it to search for the ones that often fly under the radar.

Linda McNulty Contributing Writer @ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com

Helix, 2014 If you’re no longer freaked out by the 2014 Ebola outbreak, try watching Helix, a sci-fi thriller series released in early 2014. Centering around a mysterious viral outbreak on an Arctic research base, it is equally creepy and compelling, with cheery, almost trop-

ical-sounding music playing over its most disturbing scenes. Though only the first season is available on Netflix, the TV series’ second season just began airing in mid-January. Each episode clocks in at just under 40 minutes, so there’s plenty of time to catch up. Warning: not for the faint of stomach. Rabbit-Proof Fence, 2002 In the early 1900s, the Australian government initiated the abduction of aboriginal children from

Casa de mi Padre, 2012 Billed as “an overlydramatic telenovela,” Casa de mi Padre is every bit as ridiculous as one would imagine a Spanish-language Will Ferrell movie might be. This movie is more dramatic than any of my grandma’s favorite soaps. Characters include ranchers, drug lords, DEA agents, and a very fake stuffed white tiger, and while the movie may not be a cinematic masterpiece, it’s a good choice if you’re in the mood to laugh. Phoebe in Wonderland, 2008 At first glance, Phoebe in Wonderland’s movie poster

may make it look like a kids’ movie, but don’t be deceived. In her first lead role, actress Elle Fanning plays the titular Phoebe, a nineyear-old with OCD and Tourette Syndrome who finds a sense of purpose when she is cast as Alice in her school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. However, the play also enables her to slip deeply into a fantasy world. Not only is this a visually beautiful and emotionally stirring film, but it also depicts Tourette Syndrome in a very sympathetic and realistic way, as it avoids using the trope of the individual whose only symptom is coprolalia, or uncontrollable swearing. Bottle Shock¸ 2008 Though a movie centering around wine and winetasting may come off as a little too highbrow for a casual Netflix binge, Bottle Shock is more than enjoyable enough to watch anytime. Set in 1970s Napa Valley, the movie portrays more than just the relationship between a bottle of wine and a professional critic. There are relationships between fathers and sons, men and women, and

friends and coworkers, all written in a very relatable way. Chiefly, the movie charts the often rocky dynamic between a hardworking winery owner and his slacker hippie son (played by a long-haired Chris Pine) as they struggle to keep their winery open and their reputation for quality wine intact. Still not sold? Alan Rickman (of Severus Snape fame) plays a British, Francophilic wine snob to comedic perfection. Seeing his character’s horror at his exposure to popular American foods like fried chicken in a bucket and guacamole provides reason enough to give this movie a try. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, 1985 You may have seen this movie as a kid, but it’s just as entertaining if not more so as an adult. Directed by Tim Burton, it features a man who is basically the human version of Spongebob Squarepants with a cross-country quest to find his missing bike. Bonus: his journey even brings him to San Antonio, where he gets to explore the Alamo, but tragically, not the Alamo’s basement.

Fitness for those who don’t even lift Column Corner

Christopher Breakell Staff Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com For a lot of college students, working out and eating right are the last things that they worry about. And why should they? As a college student, you look good, you feel good and you accomplish both of these things while eating whatever you want. To put it simply, time catches up with you. Look at a picture of your parents from when they were in their twenties, and compare it to what they look like now. If you notice some change in their shape, then you might have found your motivation. Some habits are just too good to give up, like Saturday night drinks with friends, but others things, such as those milkshakes we call Frappuccinos, can be traded for healthier alternatives. A little self-restraint may come into play too. Passing up the complimentary piece of candy after taking someone’s survey outside the JPL might just seem illogical, but it could pay off down the road, especially when you just bought a donut from the fundraising club a table over. Staying in shape does not need to be a life changing experience, nor a timeconsuming one. Find ways to sneak a little exercise into your daily routine. For

example, instead of waiting ten minutes for the shuttle after you park, walk from the parking lot to your class and then from your class to the parking lot. Instead of hanging out under the Sombrilla between classes, go to the rec with your friends and play basketball or table tennis. Many people choose to stick to a rigorous workout schedule, which is great if you do not feel overwhelmed. However, a strict workout schedule can become daunting and, instead of acting like a release, working out can become a chore. One way to counteract this feeling is by not planning out your workout schedule so precisely. Have a goal of how often you want to work out each week, but switch up which days of the week and which times of the day you work out. This way, you are not just going through the motions. Working out does not have to mean pumping iron and running laps either. This semester, UTSA Campus Recreation offers seventeen different intramural sports, either in a league, tournament or single contest format. The types of sports offered vary from 4-on-4 flag football to table tennis. UTSA students can get involved with an intramural sport by registering on the UTSA Campus Recreation website. Additionally, the Rec Center offers group exercise

classes that cater to every student, from yoga enthusiasts to kickboxing fanatics. Groups even wander away from the gym for group hikes. The schedule for these classes can be found on the campus recreation website as well. If the gym is not really your scene, grab a friend and go for a hike at one of the parks around UTSA. Some parks nearby include O.P. Schnabel Park, Bamberger Nature Park, Eisenhower Park and Friedrich Wilderness Park. They all have great hiking trails and Eisenhower and Friedrich both have over five miles of cleared trails and enough elevation to make your calves burn. Each of these parks is within a fifteen-minute drive from UTSA’s main campus. Starting good workout habits now is much easier than playing catch-up later. Some people love to work out, but the rest of us have to find alternative ways to feel motivated.

Mia Cabello, The Paisano There are countless ways to work towards being physically fit without stepping foot inside a gym. This student takes to the lawn near the Sombrilla to work on flexibility and balance.

Live without regrets, Learn without borders.

The Art of Spiritual Dreaming Free Book Discussion

UTSA (1604) UC 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room) Thursdays, Jan. 29 – Feb. 26, 6:30-8:00 PM ● Learn more about the spiritual nature of dreams ● Better recall, understand, and interpret your dreams

Info: Landon: abe250@my.utsa.edu Justin: 832-244-6502 www.Eckankar-Texas.org Sponsored by the Eckankar Student Organization

Discover where you’ll study abroad at usac.unr.edu

USAC studyabroadusac@


ARTS & LIFE

7 February 10 - February 17, 2015

Viking recreation comes to life

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano The Vinland Texas Viking Recreation group gathered between the McKinney Humanities and Business buildings to reenact viking-style battles. While the swords and shields look like accurate replicas, rest assured that no vikings were harmed in the making of these reenactments.

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Two opponents face off near a row of bike racks and anticipate their next strategic move. Onlookers stand in shock and occasionally gasp at the brutal ‘hits.’

Text on your way to school... Seriously! Texting is allowed on board VIA so go ahead and talk, e-mail and browse,

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano The sturdy metal helmets act as one of the many important pieces of armor. Though the swords are extremely dull, no one wants to get hit in the head with one.

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano In the midst of an attack, the modern-day vikings put up their defenses and keep their weapons ready for whatever move comes next. Can you handle the viking lifestyle?

Get lost in ‘Paper Towns’ Book Review MariaCristina Moreno Staff Writer @ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com

In his Edgar Award-winning novel “Paper Towns,” John Green gives his readers a darker side of teenage love. A dangerous game of a boy seeking answers about the love of his life will have readers questioning, not only their internal dialogue with themselves, but also the connections they share with the other individuals in their lives. “Paper Towns” is set in Orlando, Florida and begins with the classic story of a boy falling in love with the girl who has lived next door since they both were in diapers. However, when they were both nine years old, the boy, Quentin Jacobsen (or Q for short) and the girl, Margo Roth Spiegelman, discovered a man in a park with a bullet in his head and blood spouting from his mouth. By page eight, the horrific event ends the what-would-have-been love story between Q and Margo – but the love Q has for Margo lingers. Both are now high school seniors. Q is every parents’ dream come true. He is too responsible for his own age and is best friends with socially awkward Ben Starling and computer genius Marcus ‘Radar’ Lincoln. Margo is every teenage boy’s fantasy. She is notorious for her spontaneous cavalier adventures and her strong influence on those around her.

After ten years of not speaking more than two words to each other, Margo crawls through Q’s bedroom in the middle of a school night and beckons him on a meticulous, vengeful escapade that involves three whole catfish, shaving cream, Vaseline, Mt. Dew, one dozen tulips and a can of blue spray paint. After breaking a few laws, ruining a few of their classmates’ night, and coming home one hour before sunrise, Q imagines their relationship will finally pick up where they left off a decade before. However, Q is disappointed the next morning when Margo is a no-show at school. When word gets out that she has run away, no one is surprised or worried – not even her parents. It’s just typical Margo. After a week without a word from her, it becomes evident that Margo is not coming back. Margo’s parents have thrown in the towel, and the police have claimed her as a lost cause. But Q refuses to give up. Margo has been known to leave clues of her locations in the past, but no one has been able to solve her mysterious disappearance. This time the clues are for Q and he is confident that no one knows her better than he does. However, during his quest of finding the girl of his dreams, Margo quickly becomes the girl of his nightmares. Unsure if he is searching for her corpse, Margo herself or the Margo he dreams of, he knows he cannot let her go. His obsession has

put school, his friendships and lives on the line, including his own. Like his first novel, “Looking for Alaska,” John Green uses the example of the awkward, somewhat nerdy guy falling in love with a beautiful disaster. However, if Green had written “Paper Towns” first, he may have titled it “Looking for Margo.” Throughout the novel, Q is looking for a Margo who may not even want to be found. In his search, he finds more questions than answers about Margo, life and himself. Although John Green is famous for pulling at reader’s heartstrings, it’s safe to say tissues are not needed for “Paper Towns.” By using Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” Green has shown that people are like poetry. We might think we understand someone at first glance, but after much scrutiny, some illusions dissolve. The movie adaption of “Paper Towns” will be out in theatres June 5.

and leave the driving to us. Plus, VIA makes life on the go easier with the “Go VIA VIA” mobile app. This handy app, available for both iPhone and Android devices, is great for planning bus trips and getting real-time bus arrival information for any stop in the system. Real-time bus arrival information is also available by texting the stop ID number to 52020.

Text the safe way. THE NEW

Ride

VIAinfo.net Robert Pistocchi, The Paisano


SPORTS {Sports Events} Thursday, Feb. 12 7:00 pm UTSA basketball

8 February 10 - February 17, 2015

UTSA announces 37-player recruiting class

The men’s team takes on ODU in the Convocation Center.

Inside Coker’s biggest UTSA class

Friday, Feb. 13

SPORTS COMMENTARY class was ranked 8th in Conference-USA (C-USA) by CBS Sports.

11:00 am UTSA tennis The women’s team takes on South Alabama on the UTSA tennis courts.

4:00 pm UTSA tennis The men’s team takes on UT Arlington on the UTSA tennis courts

6:00 pm UTSA baseball The baseball team takes on Louisiana-Lafayette at Roadrunner field.

Saturday, Feb. 14 2:00 pm UTSA basketball The men’s team takes on Charlotte in the Convocation Center

C-USA W. Basketball STANDINGS

Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editor @shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com

“This class overall… you’ll see more size and speed than we’ve had,” said UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker at the press conference to announce latest recruitment class. The players in this class make up an average height of 6’2” and an average weight of 223 pounds. Nine of the players received a three star rating from CBS Sports and ESPN and the

“We feel like we addressed offense and defense; (we) got some quality in both areas,” said Coker. With 19 offensive players and 18 defensive players, the 2015 class is very balanced. UTSA’s number one recruit per ESPN is center Clayton Woods from Dallas, Texas. Woods is ranked number nine in the nation at the center position and is the only player in the entire class to be ranked in the top ten at his position. “Clayton Woods (is an) offensive center from Highland Park (which is a) great program… Clayton is here with us now and is going to be a terrific prospect,” The class boasts players from seven different states

C-USA/Overall T-1. Western Kentucky (9-2) (20-4)

T-1. Middle Tennessee (9-2) (15-6)

3. Southern Miss (8-3) (15-7)

4. Old Dominion (6-4) (13-8)

T-5. Marshall (6-5) (14-8)

T-5. UAB (6-5) (12-10)

T-5. Louisiana Tech (6-5) (11-11)

T-5. UTSA (6-5) (11-12)

T-5. Florida Atlantic (5-5) (11-12)

10. Charlotte (5-5) (11-10)

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Larry Coker at the press conference announcing his record breaking class. The 2015-2016 season will mark his eleventh year as the head coach of a Division-1 program and his fifth year as UTSA’s head coach.

UTSA BASKETBALL

T-12. Rice (2-8) (7-14)

T-12. North Texas (2-8) (3-18)

14. Florida Int’l (0-10) (3-18)

{Recent Results} Thursday, Feb. 5 UTSA Men’s basketball W, 74-63 at FIU

UTSA Women’s tennis W, 5-2 at Sam Houston State UTSA Men’s tennis L, 0-7 at Wichita State UTSA Softball W, 13-7 vs. Texas Tech W, 12-4 vs. Montana Saturday, Feb. 7 UTSA Softball W, 7-6 vs. Colorado State W, 8-7 vs. New Mexico State UTSA Men’s Basketball W, 74-59 at Florida Atlantic

Sunday, Feb. 8 UTSA Softball L, 7-11 vs Nebraska

class, Coker was able to lessen the blow of the exodus of seniors, add size and speed, address holes in the roster while adding depth and, most importantly, bring relevance to a very young program. I don’t expect this class to produce immediately, however I do expect that this stellar group of freshman will help UTSA to compete for a C-USA title down the line. Offensive line is typically a position that transitions well from one level to the next, so I fully anticipate the stud freshman linemen to make an impact as early as next year. I really like that Coker put an emphasis on recruiting Texas. The NFL census revealed that Texas is third behind California and Florida in terms of NFL player’s birth state, so being able to tap into the wealth of high school talent in Texas will

Photo Courtesy of Steven Huehn, UTSA Athletics

be important to compete with other powerhouse programs in the state. The first chance to see the class in action will be at the UTSA Football Fiesta Spring Game, April 18 in the Alamodome at 1 p.m.

UTSA dominates in back-to-back games

11. UTEP (4-7) (9-11)

Friday, Feb. 6

including: Texas, Florida, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi and California, with the majority of the recruits hailing from Texas. “We want to recruit Texas, and we have 27 players from the state of Texas. We’re pleased about that,” Coker explained. Of the 27 Texas recruits, three are San Antonio natives. Overall, the biggest strength of this class is the depth. The 37 recruits make up the biggest signing class in the nation and no other team in C-USA has signed more than 27 players. The striking thing about this class is the emphasis on offensive lineman; in addition to Woods, offensive tackle Shane Block and offensive guard Alex Snow received three star ratings from ESPN. Coker coached teams have historically done well when the offensive line was strong. On Coker’s 2001 championship Miami team, four offensive lineman from the class received All-Conference honors. Three star recruit Jess Anders will be a welcomed edition to the running back stable which struggled in the 2014-2015 season. Anders is the highest rated recruit in the class that plays a skill position. UTSA football fans should definitely be excited about this class. With one

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Guard Crystal Chidomere puts in a basket over an FIU defender. She was one of nine players to log a score on the night. UTSA’s balanced scoring attack is critical to their offensive gameplan.

Colleen Adams and Patrick Martinez Contributing writer and staff writer @PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com

Bouncing back from consecutive road losses, the UTSA Roadrunners (11-12, 6-5 C-USA) rebounded with decisive wins over conference rivals Florida International University Panthers (3-18, 0-10 CUSA) and Florida Atlantic University Owls (11-10, 5-5 C-USA). On Thursday February 5, the Roadrunners surged past the FIU Panthers in a second half comeback to win 74-56. Florida International—desperate to snap an eight game losing streak—established an early lead with a 9-0 run in which FIU leading scorer

Kiandre’A Pound sunk two three pointers and a three point play. However, the Roadrunners stayed in the game thanks to an aggressive defense maintained by junior guard Mathilde Hergott and sophomore guard Alana Heard, who combined for seven steals. UTSA Head Coach Lubomyr Lichonczak explained the Roadrunners slow start saying, “I thought the first half was the residual effects from being on the road, but I’m glad we woke up in the second half.” FIU, winless on the road, attempted to gain the game’s momentum as Destini Feagin hit a three pointer, but the second half belonged to the Roadrunners. A 10-0 run sparked by a layup from senior guard Kamra King was just the beginning of a dominating

offensive performance from the Roadrunners, as later in the second period, a torrent of field goals from Hergott contributed to UTSA’s 44 point second half performance. “We started getting stops and kept running with fastbreaks,” said Hergott, who notched a season best 15 points. “We needed to win this one. Winning tonight was great after coming from (a loss in) Alabama. That was hard.” On Sunday morning, February 8, the Roadrunners returned to the Convocation Center to soundly defeat the Florida Atlantic University Owls in a 68-45 win. The Roadrunners were led by junior forward Mannasha Bell, who not only set a career high with 17 points and 7 field goals, but tied her career high for assists and notched her fourth double-double of the

“We needed to win this one.” Mathilde Hergott UTSA forward

season with a total of 11 boards. After the game, Bell credited her spectacular performance to the Roadrunners’ desire for a powerful start to the game. Bell said, “before the game they [the coaching staff ] talked about the need to come out

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Mannasha Bell goes for one of her 11 rebounds giving her a seventh career double-double. Of Bell’s 11 boards, eight came as offensive rebounds adding to the 21 total for the Roadrunners against FAU.

with a lot of energy to help the team, so that’s what I focused on”. The Roadrunners made good on their goal to hit the court strong, staking a 16-2 lead before Florida Atlantic narrowed the UTSA lead to seven points. Senior guard Ashley Spaletta then hit crucial back-to-back three pointers to regain momentum for the Roadrunners with 8:21 left in the first half. Bell and sophomore guard Tesha Smith, who finished the game with 14 points, rebuilt a commanding 12-point lead for the Roadrunners by the end of the first half. The Roadrunners also opened with an assertive, head-on physicality, scoring 24 of their 34 first-half points in the lane. Lichonczak was proud of his team’s aggressive play, stating that

“we like to attack the paint, whether it’s a perimeter player driving in or feeding the ball to our posts, the paint is a point of focus for us in every game”. The Roadrunners maintained their imposing lead through the second half with a combination of aggressive offensive rebounding, with 21 offensive boards, and an uncompromising defense maintained by Bell, senior guard Kamra King, and junior forward Akunna Elonu, who combined for over half of the Roadrunners’ total of 27 defensive rebounds and nine steals. The UTSA Roadrunners will next face the Old Dominion Lady Monarchs in a conference game on Thursday, February 12th in Norfolk, Virginia.


SPORTS

9 February 10 - February 17, 2015

Rampage rally in big win RAMPAGE HOCKEY

In the life of an international athlete PLAYER PROFILE Nathaniel Archer Contributing writer @PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com

Photo courtesy of Darren Abate, AHL

Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editor @shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com

On Saturday Feb. 7, the San Antonio Rampage (27-15-4) rallied to defeat rival Oklahoma City Barons (30-11-3) 5-3. 13,125 fans were in attendance for the win which came on Pink in the Rink Night, presented by the Cancer Therapy and Research Center. Pink in the Rink Night was the capstone event for Rampage Hockey’s annual Pink Week – a week of events dedicated to breast cancer awareness. “We want to win every night but you know (tonight is different because) it’s a big night for women that have breast cancer,” said Rampage Head Coach Tom Rowe on the big win. “It’s a great cause and we’re glad we won; it just

kind of adds to the great night.” After being down early to the Barons, the Rampage scored three goals over a 1:32 span in the third period, setting a franchise record for the fastest three goals scored in a period. The Rampage’s five goals

“For the guys to go out and battle like they did... it was impressive” Tom Rowe

Rampage Head Coach on the night were scored by five different players: Brad Hunt, Vincent Trocheck, Brett Olsen, Shane O’Brien and Bobby Butler, whose goal marked his 100th goal of his professional career. “We came out and played Rampage hockey. The puck started going our way and

we got a big win,” said Butler when asked what went right for the Rampage on the night. “For the guys to go out and battle like they did in the third period, it was impressive,” said Rowe on the record-breaking display. The game was the last contest ever between the Oklahoma City Barons and the San Antonio Rampage in the Alamo city, as the Barons will be leaving Oklahoma City at the season’s end and will head to Bakersfield, California. With the win, the Rampage are three games behind the Barons who lead the West Division of the Western Conference. The Rampage begin the Rodeo Road Trip with a contest against the Texas Stars on Tuesday, Feb. 10. The Rampage’s next home game comes on March 7 against the Iowa Wild at the AT&T Center.

Junior communication major and member of the UTSA women’s tennis team, Alena Shichkova, is defined by her perseverance. Every day she wakes up early to go to class at 8 a.m. Immediately after class, she goes to tennis practice for three hours a day, four times a week. She has more classes to attend until late afternoon, after which she helps the men’s tennis Head Coach Jeff Kader with his tennis clinics. “I’m almost never home,” said Shichkova, remarking on her busy schedule. Shichkova was born in Russia in 1993 before moving to Ecuador at the age of six. As a young child, Shichkova dreamed of being a dancer or ice skater, however her father signed her up for tennis camp at the age of nine. Even with Shichkova’s initial apprehension, tennis became her life. In her teenage years, she was on the court for eight hours a day on weekdays while being home schooled on weekends. Eventually, she became so good against her Ecuadorian competition that she started to dream of taking her game to the next level.

Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics

She began to look into other possibilities for her life until finally, she found one. “I heard that one of my peers had received a scholarship to go to university in America,” she explained. With her skills as a player, Alena was able to receive a full scholarship to play tennis at UTSA. During her first year in America, Alena was forced to make several adjustments, not just to

assimilate into American culture, but also to change the techniques she had learned on the clay tennis courts of Ecuador. The high altitude of Ecuador meant that players play farther from the baseline in order to allow themselves more time to prepare a shot. In the United States however, most matches are played on hard concrete courts where the ball moves faster, making players move closer to the baseline. When asked what the hardest thing to adjust to when moving to America, Shihkova replied, “The food. It’s hard and expensive to shop for fresh and healthy food here.” The UTSA women’s tennis team is currently 3-1 this year. Shihkova is excited about the team’s prospects this year, though she wishes that more students at UTSA would come to matches to support the team. The team’s next match against South Alabama on Feb. 13

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano


10

February 10 - February 17, 2015

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