The Paisano Volume 53 Issue 5 by The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

Volume 53

{SINCE 1981} /thepaisano

Issue 5

@ThePaisano

February 9 - February 16, 2016 www.Paisano-Online.com

@paisanomedia

#WordChoiceMatters

UTSA UTSA alumni, Wayne Gonzales (‘11) is putting his criminal justice degree to use combatting whitecollar crimes. In December, Gonzales and his colleagues traveled to New York City to ring the bell at NASDAQ, commemorating the initial public offering of their company, Patent Data System Inc., which aims to track stock traders and prevent instances of financial fraud.

UTSA junior James Ghiden remembers the first time he became aware of race: “I was in the third grade,” he said, “I was playing basketball at a Boys and Girls Club, and some kid called me a ‘nigger.’”

Texas The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education recognized four Texas universities — Texas Tech University, the University of North Texas, the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Dallas — for reaching a major milestone in their quests to join the top tier of the nation’s colleges.

Adriene Goodwin Contributing Writer

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com

U.S. President Obama is seeking a 1.8 billion dollar budget to research and combat the spread of the Zika Virus. The virus, which is currently without a vaccine and linked to birth defects, is predominantly spreading throughout in Latin America and the Caribbean. Thus far, there have been 50 confirmed cases of Zika in the continental United States, among people who traveled to affected areas, according to federal health officials. The White House said on Monday “there is no reason to panic over the mosquito-borne virus.”

Science Scientists at UC Berkley have created a small robotic prototype for search and rescue missions taking inspiration from an unlikely place: cockroaches. These researchers say that although they “feel strongly that cockroaches are one of nature’s most revolting animals, they can teach us important design principles.” In circumstances when human lead rescue missions are not logistically possible, the “ability of cockroaches to squeeze through tiny crevices” makes them ideal mechanical models for cases “where navigation through rubble to find survivors after natural disasters or bombings” is required.

The talk with Ghiden’s parents came soon afterward. He thinks of that moment even today; this is why , for Ghiden, Black History Month matters. “I feel like people like to imagine that Martin Luther King solved racism in America,” he said. “It’s important to realize the struggle continues.” Black History Month began as Negro History Week in February 1926. Historian Carter G. Woodson deliberately selected the week between the birth-

days of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, because both men were revered by the black community. The week was expanded into Black History Month during the revolutionary 1970s, and continues today to recognize and celebrate the achievements of African Americans. However, a dialogue has gained attention. With the existence of #BlackLivesMatter, Black HisSee tory Month is now Shift, experiencing a transpage 2 formative moment.

The Creative Kindness Project aims to spread positivity around campus

JPL revovations to include IHOP Katelyn Wilkinson Staff Writer

Alyssa Gonzales News Assistant

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com David Molak was only 16 years old when he took his life in response to relentless cyber bullying. Molak was a sophomore at Alamo Heights High School and an Eagle Scout. After hearing his story, the Introduction to the Creative Literacy Arts class at UTSA decided to start The Creative Kindness Project. “David Molak’s death was caused by hatred and could have been avoided,” freshman communication major Gabrielle Hernandez said. “I hope to shed light on the power of words and let people know what impact they have on others.” The project’s objective is to spread kindness around campus by acknowledging and thanking people for their positivity. The idea is simple and the gesture is small; however, the message received is powerful. “One of the goals of this class is to explore the role of a writer in greater society—for example, writers raising awareness for a particular issue or giving back to their communities in some way—and when I read the story of David Molak, I wanted to do something,” said Dr. Cynthia Hawkins, (Department of English) who is the leader of the project. “The idea was that whenever we spotted someone being kind or positive in big or small

ways, we’d write down a little note of acknowledgement and pass it on to that person. We printed up very simple ‘kindness cards’ with an explanation of our project on the back and an invitation to ‘pass it on.’” The goal of this project is to expand beyond the limits of the creative literacy class’ reach, explained Hawkins, who wishes that the recipients of the kindness cards will continue to pass along the uplifting acknowledgements. “We just started the project, but one of the things we’re hoping for is that the people receiving kindness cards will print out some of their own from our blog and hand them out to others as well,” Hawkins said. “We’re hoping they might report back on their experience so we can get an idea of how it’s rippling out.”

The kindness cards are not limited to the UTSA campus. Students can share posts with loved one. Sophomore biology major Valeria Rodriguez, did just that and sent cards to her parents. “They both really appreciated it and it felt good to give it to them,” Rodriguez said. “It was the best seeing my mom get emotional over me noticing the little things she does for us.” Along with ability to show people that their kindness is appreciated, the cards will continue to encourage positivity. “When I was buying food at a Whataburger, two young women didn’t have the money to pay for their food, but a man who was waiting for his order covered their charge,” class member Albert Montanez said.

“He sort of looked at me funny after I gave him the kindness card, but I think he really deserved it.” The most important message that the Creative Kindness project is trying to convey is that any small act of kindness is important and it is appreciated. “It’s so easy to feel like there’s nothing but vitriol and ugliness in the world around us all the time, so it’s been really refreshing to actively focus on the good through this project instead. Someone making someone else laugh, someone throwing something in the recycling bin, anything. It doesn’t have to be an earth-shattering event,” Hawkins said. For more information on the Creative Kindness Project, including how to get involved, go to creativekindnessblog.wordpress.

The project aims to spread kindness by acknowledging small acts of positivity.

Fabian De Soto, The Paisano

@katelynmarie11 news@paisano-online.com Renovations to the JPL food court will include the installation of an IHOP Express. This renovation will include the entire JPL food court and will bring other new restaurants as well as upgraded seating and lighting. Lauren Beaver, the communications coordinator of Business Auxiliary Services, said, “Ultimately, the decision to bring an IHOP was the result of student feedback and the ability to meet all criteria necessary for installation and implementation.” New dining options on campus have to go through several steps before they can be built. Business Auxiliary Services (BAS) received and reviewed feedback to guarantee the JPL food court remodel would meet students’ needs. “I think it’s a great addition to the food options already there. It will provide more breakfast options for students who may not have time to grab some before heading to school in the morning,” said Caitlin Chambers, a senior Early Childhood Education major. “Plus, breakfast food is great at any time of the day!” The JPL food court renovations and the new IHOP Express should be completed in August.

2 UT System contest seeks entrepreneurs Johnee Jasso Staff Writer

@johnee_thegreat news@paisano-online.com The UT System is seeking innovative student leaders to pursue their entrepreneurial ideas in a 5-week summer program. Students within the UT System are encouraged to enroll in the competitive Student Entrepreneurship Fellowship (SEF) summer program to earn handson experience with launching a startup. The SEF offers 20 two-person student teams the opportunity to collaborate and explore their entrepreneurial ideas in a guided environment. A nationally recognized faculty will conduct formal classes that cover core concepts, such as value propositions, business model canvas tools, and Lean Startup methodologies. Teams will test their business models through customer feedback and other entrepreneurial methods, then present their startup to a panel of judges. Last year, UTSA undergraduates Kavina Patel and Farham Ahmad won first place.

To continue reading visit www. paisano-online.com

February 9 - February 16, 2016

NEWS

Shift from Black History Month to Black Heritage Month at UTSA concerns some continued from page 1

In this period of selfreflection, black voices debate the achievements and setbacks. While most agree that Black History Month is still very important, there are those within the black community who are ambivalent about its status today and its ability to implement real change. “While I appreciate having (Black History Month) because at least it provides the opportunity to have a discussion, I feel like the problem is that it is an ongoing discussion,” said UTSA Department of English professor Dr. Sonja L. Lanehart, whose field of expertise includes sociolinguistics, language and literacy in the African American community. “It’s an ongoing issue. It’s an ongoing problem. We have still not come to a resolution where all people are seen or treated equally, or equitably.” According to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 19 percent of blacks under the age of 25 held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2013. In her book “Invisible Men: Mass Incarceration and the Myth of Black Progress,” University of Washington sociologist Becky Pettit highlights how young black men between the ages of 18 to 34 were at least six times more likely to be incarcerated than young white men were. With growing concerns of stagnancy, modern critics of Black History Month

worry that it focuses solely on “exceptional” individuals rather than those who face adversity today. Who are the few, fortuitous pillars of historical prominence? “Martin Luther King for sure. He’s the go-to,” said Ghiden. He paused to recall anyone else. “Malcolm X, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks. Maybe Frederick Douglass.” Despite a dedicated month to celebrate these individuals, Ghiden said Black History Month does not really affect him as a black American man today. “It’s important for your formative years,” he clarified. Black History Month today is a nod to the past, but #BlackLivesMatter is a recognition and response to what the movement regards as systemic racism. Lanehart believes the “#BlackLivesMatter movement has the potential to be transformative in the current climate of racial tension. “I think #BlackLivesMatter has probably done more than all the Black History Months have yet to do,” she said. Through her involvement with the American Dialect Society, Lanehart (who teaches the course called #BlackLivesMatter) has garnered the awards for both “Hashtag of the Year” as well as “Word of the Year.” She attributes this achievement to social media and its capabilities as an activist’s tool. “The hashtags Black Twitter comes up with and creates—it’s all part of consciousness rais-

ing, but also calls to action. And that’s something Black History Month has never been able to accomplish, unfortunately.” Senior Tabbi Austin is the president of UTSA’s #BlackLivesMatter organization. She said that Black History Month is the “one time of year where the spotlight is on us. We can take that and use it as a platform to discuss things that are re-

“Black History Month is meant to be more than talking about festivities and cultural byproducts. ” Dr. Sonja L. Lanehart

UTSA Professor, Department of English ally important, such as police brutality, use of excessive force, [and] education.” Visibility has been achieved under this annual spotlight, but now that spotlight is pulled further into activism. On-campus events sponsored by student groups and organizations are well underway. Aniriel GarciaVazquez is the graduate

assistant for the Student Center for Community Engagement and Inclusion, and has worked on the planning committee to commemorate Black Heritage Month. While she understands that history and heritage are used interchangeably, she also notes there is a reason the committee focuses on heritage. “Heritage is more about culture,” Garcia-Vazquezsaid. The committee began planning Black Heritage Month events with African American student organizations in November and the “history or heritage” debate occurred at this time. History studies the past; while heritage incorporates culture and traditions. While this distinction seems to go unnoticed by students, it does strike a chord with Lanehart. Despite the cultural representations with music and food, she claimed that shifting the focus to heritage does a disservice. “There’s nothing challenging; there’s nothing transformative. And that’s kind of insulting, to be perfectly honest. It’s problematic, especially on a college campus. Black History Month is meant to be more than talking about festivities and cultural byproducts,” Lanehart explained. Garcia-Vazquez understands and empathizes with this critique. “I can definitely see that,” she said. She noted that some of the events aren’t necessarily “educating others” when that’s what she believes Black History

Month is supposed to be. “(When planning,) you’re more worried about the number of people that are going to come out and what would interest them, versus the meat of what you’re trying to say.” She said she hopes to appeal to various interests by highlighting facets of African American culture in a positive way. Other campuses within the University of Texas System remain focused on black history and its relationship with present issues. UTArlington will host a “Conference on Critical Issues in the Black Community” and a panel on student activism, while UT-Dallas infuses culture and history with “The Art of Blackness” and an interactive discussion on #BlackLivesMatter. Colonialism, colorism, and racial profiling are just a few of the topics to be covered. At UT-Austin, students can enjoy Duke Ellington jazz concerts, forums ranging from criminal justice reform to intersectionality, and a conference titled “Race, Democracy and Public Policy in America.” A comprehensive list of Black Heritage Month events at UTSA is available at http://www.utsa. edu/inclusion/about/ news-events.html.

Masters of Biomedical Sciences

YOU WILL KNOW

CONNECTIONS At UIW, you will find your connection to careers in health professions. You can learn more about our Masters of Biomedical Sciences program by attending one of our upcoming information sessions: Thursday, February 11 at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. For more information or to reserve your spot, call (210) 283-6976 or visit www.uiw.edu/mbs. Sessions will be held at the Office of Admissions (4301 Broadway, Administration Bldg., ground floor.)

San Antonio, Texas

uiw.edu

Housing Fair February 9 - February 16, 2016

February 18th | 1-5pm | Free food UTSA Convocation Center Visit The Outpost & Villas at Babcock tables to be entered to win a

BEATS PILL

APPLE WATCH

The Outpost Villas at Babcock Prado Student Living The Estates at San Antonio LUXX Student Housing

Maverick Creek Villas The Reserve Tetro Student Village Avalon Place Hill Country Place High View Place

Housing Fair sponsored by American Campus Communities. PREMIER SPONSOR OF UTSA ATHLETICS Actual prizes may vary. Limited time only. While supplies last. See office for details.

OPINION

4 [The Paisano] Interim Editor-in-Chief: Mia Cabello

Interim Managing Editor: Randi Gilmore

Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas

News Editor:

Caroline Traylor

Arts & Life Editor: Brayden Boren

Sports Editor: Brady Phelps

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini

Photo Editor:

Fabian De Soto

Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha

Distribution Manager: Patrick Martinez

Advertising Marketing Liason: Jenelle Duff

Social Media Coordinator:

Madeline Harper

{Staff} Kat Joseph, Claudia Jimenez, Annette Barraza, Christopher Breakell, Alex Birnel, Robert Avila, Justice Lovin, Andrea Velgis, Alyssa Gonzales, Urub Khawaja, Diego Ramirez, Gaige Davila, Marina Vences, Johnee Jasso, Lyanne Rodriguez, Memorie Johnson, Katelyn Wilkinson, Kate Kramer

{Contributors} Daniel Earles, Anthony Suniga, Chris Herbert, Aidan Watson-Morris, Janette Lopez, Jose Santos, Elizabeth Davis, Ethan Pham, Kevin Prichard, Taiwo Adepoju, Anthony Suniga, Adriene Goodwin, Matthew Trevino, Jose Alverez, Raquel Alonzo

{Marketing} Mia Mitchell, Savan Patel, Kesley Smith, Celina Perkins, Catherine Adams

{Adviser}

Diane Abdo

{Advisory Board}

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo, Red Madden 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 Tri-point 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:

February 9 - February 16, 2016

Black history, heritage: more than a name or month Editorial

Names make a difference. Words matter. On the Internet, some words have mattered more. Social media and online forums have brought serious topics of social concern to the general consciousness. The #BlackLivesMatter hashtag can attest to that statement. As one of the most

popular hashtags of 2015, #BlackLivesMatter has even made its own impression on UTSA. Not only has the university begun offering a course called #BlackLivesMatter, but Black History Month is now Black Heritage Month. The name swap was instated by the UTSA Student Center for

Community Engagement and Inclusion. The consensus among the UTSA community planning the events of the month is that heritage is more fun than history, although the two terms can be used interchangeably. In comparison to other UT System universities, UTSA’s variety of events

Choosing the ‘lesser evil’ is voting for a lesser democracy Commentary Alex Birnel Staff Writer

The partisan politics of a presidential election year have many people in a state of unsurprising fervor and mania. Mainstream establishment candidates and populist insurgent candidates have emerged on both the right and left ends of the spectrum. But do the number of candidates and their distinctiveness guarantee that all issues have a meaningful champion? The answer is no. There are several matters of policy where voting does not imply any register of dissent. Take just one example. How do I register indignation at the polls about the destitution of the Gaza Strip and the slow but de facto annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank by Israeli settlers? How to express personal outrage is, of course, not mutually exclusive with voting for a particular candidate, but it does require activism outside of the electoral process. This geopolitical issue has bipartisan support. No candidate with current political clout meaningfully goes against the grain on this issue. Activists have pointed out the hypocrisy of Bernie Sanders’ stands. Sanders is a selfdescribed “socialist” and a “radical,” but for years he has failed to stray from articulating the conflict in terms of moral equivalency. In 2014, during a panel discussion on climate change in New York City, peaceful protestors unfurled a banner in front of the podium that Bernie was speaking at that read “BERNIE VOTED FOR THE WAR ON THE INDIGENOUS OF PALESTINE.” Since then, the Sanders campaign has released basic outlines of its foreign policy. Much of it reiterates what is standard: about the need for a two-state solution and Israel’s right to defend itself, but it also condemns “disproportionate” violence by Israel and killings of civilians by the Israeli army. Notably, Sanders’ position calls for Israel to end its blockade of Gaza. The slight change in his plank is testimony that pressure from outside the electoral process is crucial, if not more than casting a vote. Or to put the crux another

way: suppose a feminist wants to see a glass ceiling broken by Hillary Clinton so that young girls see that it is possible for a woman to be President. How does she reconcile that with the desire for a global feminism that condemns bombing women in far away developing countries when the ‘feminist candidate’ has a record of voting for war? The alternative to examples like this of using grassroots movements to keep issues morally independent and non-competitive with one another is to muddy the water for the voters. Plen- t y o f people rely of the idea of voting for a “lesser evil.” It’s the pragmatist approach. The logic goes “Hillary might be bad, but Trump is far worse.” It’s not that this assessment is untrue. It certainly is. However, it’s also not fair to apply the same rubric to both sides. It’s a given that, generally, Republicans or Conservatives have odious polices in the eyes of a Democrat or a Liberal. If you are looking for the limits of reasonable opinion, it makes more sense to examine someone like Sanders or Clinton. Rather than push past limits, we tend to accept them as a “lesser evil.” But there is a risky habit in choosing a “lesser evil”: It makes voting an act of “voting against,” instead of “voting for.” You vote “against Trump” not “for Hillary.” It appears we are okay with simple negation, and resigned and are to forgetting what we endorse ultimately to get on with living our lives. Or worse, we fully acknowledge our chosen candidates’ sometimessevere flaws and think cynically about our complicity. We have a demeanor sporting a borderline fatalistic attitude, or one of detached amusement at the whole spectacle. The rationality behind “lesser evil” in a presidential race is structural. We are asked to funnel our expression through one act— a vote for one candidate, a person who packages all the issues for us. This is democracy narrowed down to shallow proportions. Ostensibly, we in this agitated camp are forced by this arrangement of power to vote for a mixed bag candidate who treads on our morals and principles, a symbolic

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

Illustrations by Christopher Breakell

third partier without the Darwinian fitness to survive in a duopoly of money, or abstain. Before I’m bogged down in my argument, I want to suggest something. Instead of all these genres of surrender that I played out, we should remember the other option: We fight; we win. There are countless movements out there with radical visions. 350.org is trying to avert the ecological catastrophe that climate change would reap on the planet by allying with indigenous first nations to not so subtly put the pathology of capitalism on trial. #BlackLivesMatter has burgeoned beyond its catalyst of police brutality to include issues like stateless Haitians expelled from the Dominican Republic, the environmental racism of the Flint, Michigan water crisis, and ancillary causes such as #BlackLandMatters. Kurdish feminist anarchists in Rojava (located in Northern Syria) are experimenting with radical forms of gender equal direct democracy eschewing the ideas of statehood, capitalism and patriarchy. The group #StrikeDebt is spearheading the global effort to cancel student and housing debt. The Sylvia Rivera Law Project works to provide free council services to trans-gender people who are railroaded in the legal system, while also supporting activist causes looking at the limits of law as means of protection. These efforts, collectively, are democratizing; their efforts pick up where the standard channels of influence fail to deliver. Fundamentally, terms such as “bipartisan consensus” and “lesser evil” are just the vocabulary that describes the status quo and keeping it going. If those terms form the decision-making framework of the average voter, fine. Work, school, families, girlfriends, boyfriends, and choice of free time all bid for our attentions. That is plenty of cross pressure, but we should not have illusions that “lesser evil” is anything more than personal and notional solution to a deeply undemocratic structure. The only genuine solution to the long list of problems

for “Black Heritage Month” sorely lacks academic substance customary of a campus community. Even if history has less curb appeal than a lip-syncing and costume competition in the UC, it is an inextricable and fundamental part of cultural identity. A name is only as important and impactful as

the actions it inspires. A name is only a verbal representation of the true substance, what is truly important. Black history is black heritage. Regardless of its moniker or the event line up at the university, February is a month to get information.

Are presidential debates useful? It’s Debatable.

Commentary Justice Lovin Staff Writer

The candidates for the Democratic Party nomination recently agreed to hold at least four more debates before the election. This comes after a number of complaints made by the Bernie Sanders campaign regarding the limited opportunity for debate. Of course, four more debates don’t necessarily guarantee that there will be a less limited quality of debate. In fact, under the current standards and system it is unlikely that any meaningful discourse will take place. It’s worth keeping in mind that these debates are in no way a requisite part of the American political process either, the first general presidential debates came with the wide spread use of the television in the 1960 Kennedy-Nixon debates, and even then debates weren’t a regular thing until 20 years later. Moreover, those debates, unlike ours, gave candidates quite a bit longer than a minute to establish their positions; like much of the rest of televised programming, the debates have become disturbingly superficial. The current status quo was established in 1987 with the transition of debate sponsorship away from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, that withdrew on the grounds that “the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter.” Under the present management, called the Commission on Presidential Debates — essentially extensions of the two main parties — this is exactly what is taking place. Here is one place where Republicans and Democrats have no trouble getting along, not because of any capacity for compromise or

understanding, but because they have a shared goal; the continued hegemony of their two parties over American democracy at every level. Our problems are not limited to the influence of money on politics. Billionaires are not the only ones with disproportionate control; they are not even the worst offenders. As an example of the conflict of interest between the parties and democratic values, consider that candidates are forbidden from engaging in nonsanctioned debates. If Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders were to have a oneon-one debate, they would both be prevented from participating in further debates within their own parties. This isn’t about what the voters want. It isn’t about the clash of ideas. It’s about control of the political landscape and producing easily digestible, 30-second sound bites that limit the range of discussion. The debates are farcical in their pretensions of representing the political consciousness of our democracy. The questions are planned and the moderators and networks handpicked by the two-party oligarchy. And the candidates, dependent on the parties for legislative support, are more like celebrity spokespersons than policymakers. This is not how democracy is supposed to work. This is the two-party system in action. Libertarians, fiscal-conservatives and evangelical Christians share the Republican Party despite their widely differing positions. Similarly, socialists, Keynesians and environmentalists comprise the Democratic Party. In the true spirit of compromise, everyone contributes and no one gets what he or she wants. The question is not are the debates useful, but for whom are they of use? And be sure, it isn’t you or me.

ARTS & LIFE

February 9 - February 16, 2016

Arts & Life Events Calendar: Wednesday 2/10 6 p.m. Stacey Nadeau Stacey Nadeau is giving a lecture at the UC Retama titled “Shattering the Fairytale.” Nadeau participated in Dove’s campaign which included a billboard display to showcase the different body types of women. Nadeau has appeared in several television shows, including Oprah, and after the response to the Dove campaign, she is now committed to showing men and women to love and respect themselves.

Gaige Davila, The Paisano Philipp Meyer signs books for visitors and UTSA students at the John Peace Library. The author of “American Rust” and the Pulitzer Prize runner-up “The Son,” Meyer grew up in Baltimore and has worked as an EMT, a construction worker, and a financial trader. Meyer received his MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at the University of Texas at Austin and was recently named one of the New Yorker’s 20 best writers under 40.

Creative Writing Reading Series Phillip Me yer brin gs P u litz er P riz e- n o m i n a t e d “T h e S o n ” t o U T S A

Kevin Prichard Contributing Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com

Saturday 2/13 5 p.m. Murder City Devils Paper Tiger (2410 N Saint Marys St) features Seattle native Murder City Devils this Saturday night. The band, established in 1996, will be concluding their 2016 Texas Tour at the Alamo City. Other artists opening the stage are the Riverboat Gamblers and CASKETS. As if that wasn’t enough, a free after show will follow with doors opening at 11 p.m. Tickets are $20. The event is open to all ages. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Sunday 2/14 6 p.m. Rowdy Gras! Stone Oak’s Alamo Drafthouse (22806 US Hwy 281 North) has a unique way for you and your Valentine to celebrate this weekend. Come down and enjoy a five-course meal inspired by the last dinner aboard the Titanic, with dishes such as Salmon Mousse on English Cucumbers and Vanilla & Chocolate Eclairs, while enjoy a showing of the “most epic romance in cinema history.” Or… you could always confirm your belief that there was in fact, enough space for Jack.

On Friday, Feb. 5, UTSA faculty hosted a seminar as part of the Creative Writing Reading Series that featured Philipp Meyer, award-winning author of “American Rust” and “The Son.” During the seminar, Meyer read three excerpts from his most recent book, “The Son,” which was a runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize. “The Son” follows the “rich, dynastic saga” of the McCullough family’s bloody struggle for power and wealth in Texas—spanning over 150 years—from the Comanche raids of the 1800s to the

oil booms of the 1900s. The story delves into the origins of the American image of the Frontier, using “Texas as a lens for looking at the greater mythology of America.” Meyer explained that the process of writing “The Son” took him five years of meticulous research into Comanche customs, even going so far as to kill a buffalo and ritualistically drink its blood, as a way to better capture the lives of the Comanche and Anglos in the West. Meyer began by reading a passage from the perspective of the family’s patriarch, Colonel Eli McCullough, who was kidnapped by the Comanche at 13 and violently pursues his ambitions of wealth and power. Near the end of his life, Eli contemplates his use

‘Hail, Caesar!’

Movie Review Aidan Watson-Morris Contributing Writer @md_reviews arts@paisano-online.com

Joel and Ethan Coen (“Fargo,” “The Big Lebowski,” “A Serious Man”) have been responsible for some of the most unique films of the past few decades. Their latest, “Hail, Caesar!,” looks at the rigid studio system of 1950s Hollywood, a movie factory with meticulous control over the lives of its stars. It is a historical moment of enormous potential energy, transforming the screen into an ideological battleground for the soul of democracy— or so conventional wisdom would have it. The central argument of “Hail, Caesar!” is essentially not one at all: even when the industry is cynically monopolized, cinema is able to transcend the market and offer a spiritual experience. “Spiritual” is not meant in a trite sense; Eddie Manix (Josh Brolin), protagonist of the film and studio employee whose job is to prevent press scandals, spends his rare moments of spare time in church, confessing even the most trivial of sins with sincere penitence. The titular “Hail, Caesar!” is a high budget production of the life of Christ. When Manix is offered a “less frivo-

lous” job at Lockheed, the film directly contrasts the measurable impact of scientific discovery with the ineffable power of cinema. The narrative is sporadic, the only lietmotif centering on the kidnapping of famous movie star Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) and the increasingly desperate search for him conducted by Manix. Other characters come and go as the story demands, but the funniest moments of the film come from Alden Ehrenreich, who plays naïve cowboy actor Hobie Doyle as he is taken out of his element and forced to act in a serious drama. Although it is a potent homage to the craft, the thematic reverence to Hollywood feels unearned. “Hail, Caesar!” is comprised by undeveloped ideas, glances at subplots, and a script which comes across as incomplete. It’s tremendously entertaining in its current form, but the brisk pace of the movie is not the compelling rhythm shared by all the Coens’ best movies. Instead, situations are resolved with a brief line of dialogue that undermines their significance, jokes are rushed to a punchline, and characters are introduced just to fill gaps in the story. None of these flaws make “Hail, Caesar!” a bad movie, but they do make it a slight work for the Coen brothers.

“Spirituality” Discussion Series – with HU Chant Weekly Thursday night meetings, 7:00–8:30 pm Main Campus, UC 2.01.30 (Magnolia Room)

Feb. 11, 18, 25; March 3, 10, 24, 31; April 7, 14, 21

Sample topics: ● Spirituality and Soul Travel ● Spirituality and Love ● Spirituality and Dreams

Info: Mitziani: rbo233@my.utsa.edu Justin: 832-244-6502 www.Eckankar-Texas.org

Sponsored b y the Eckan kar Student O rgan izat io n

of violence to garner power for his family, detailing how brutal life on the frontier was for both the Anglo migrants and the Native Americans. Meyer then read an excerpt from the perspective of J.A. McCullough, Eli’s great-granddaughter and heir to her family’s wealth. J.A. recounts how little she fit in with other women, who “smiled too much” and “made no sense to her,” while struggling to maintain her family’s hard-earned reputation. Meyer concluded with a segment from the perspective of Peter McCullough, Eli’s kind-hearted son who bears the emotional brunt of his father’s ambition. Peter constantly struggles to find meaning in his life despite the essentially “state-sanctioned

violence” around him, and despite his family being “lionized in capitalism” and the “Tejano (dying) unrecorded.” Meyer’s style evinces his knowledge of history. He employs vivid imagery and casts a somber and foreboding tone onto his descriptions of the characters’ emotional turmoils. In the Q&A afterward, Meyer went into great detail about the writing process he went through when writing “The Son.” He explained the actual history of the violence in Texas rather than the mythologized version many are accustomed to hearing. He described the often untold history of the “Bandit Wars,” saying that “Mexico looked like Iraq” in that civil wars raged constantly, giving

the era the nickname “The Hour of Blood.” Meyer also recounted several things he discovered when writing “The Son.” He said that, as an artistic expression, “Fiction can be [truer] than very honest nonfiction,” and that “making art, in whatever form…is like learning to play a sport” in that it takes years of practice. Meyer also explained that it is “dangerous to get rewarded before you’re good... If you know exactly what you’re trying to say…you should be writing nonfiction.” The next installment in the Creative Writing Reading Series will take place on March 4, and will feature Rigoberto González, author of “Unpeopled Eden.”

Alison Rosa, Paramount

ARTS & LIFE Chulita Vinyl Club: all killer, no filler, just women 6

Raquel E. Alonzo Contributing Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com In the recent decade, vinyl records have been making a comeback. Compact discs are in the past, while records and record players slowly ease their way back onto the shelves where they once belonged. Claudia Saenz aka DJ Teardrop, founder of the Chulita Vinyl Club, has inspired many women across Texas to come together and share their passion for music through their own personal record collections. Saenz took charge in the DJ booth of “The Bang Bang Bar” at 119 El Mio Dr., celebrating its one-year anniversary on Friday, Feb. 5. The decorations adorning the bar’s interior include antique furniture, a disco ball over the dance floor, various decade-specific knick-knacks and a game room which holds arcade games, pool and darts. Saenz is a good friend of Phanie Diaz, Girl in a Coma drummer and one of three owners of “The Bang Bang Bar,” and Saenz quickly seized the chance to DJ there. “I was so excited about it,”

February 9 - February 16, 2016

Saenz mentioned about the bar. “I mean, just the décor and everything around the bar is so amazing. I love it. It’s a chill hangout place.” Chulita Vinyl Club originated in Austin, TX as a “basis of empowering women to be a part of something and to create and have confidence in their passion for music.” Saenz wanted to become a DJ growing up and had owned a collection of records. As a female, however, Saenz found it difficult to break through into the music industry. Saenz gathered a few girls together, along with their record collections, to play around town at bars, venues and even open for bands. “It’s all girls, all vinyl,” Saenz simply stated. Chulita Vinyl Club has many members and women all over Texas contribute to their records. Everyone brings his or her own style with their collections. “So Phanie, she was DJing earlier, and she has her own sound like garage rock, punk rock, a mix of everything. We may have nights like a punk night or new wave night, or we will have a strictly cumbia night or strictly soul night.” Chulita Vinyl doesn’t carry any one specific genre; rather,

it carries any genre that belongs to each woman’s collection of records. “San Antonio’s the best place to (play a mix of everything) because we can go to cumbia first, then you can put on a Piñata Protest record and people enjoy it at the same time.” “It’s hard to accept, but it is really hard being a woman in a male dominated world,” Saenz confessed. Not many people play vinyl records in the DJ industry today, and when they do, male DJs outweigh female by a landslide. “I don’t think I’m going to change the world with this vinyl club or anything,” Saenz stated, “but I definitely think that it creates a spark of empowerment that we sometimes lack. If you can be a part of something like this, be a part of a collective with girls, it could grow into something more.” Saenz has different chapters in San Antonio, Austin, the Rio Grande Valley, and she plans to have a chapter in Dallas soon for Chulita Vinyl Club. Visit the Chulita Vinyl Club at their Facebook page for more information, including how to join.

Photo Courtesy of Chulita Vinyl Club

Chulita Vinyl Club celebrates their one-year anniversary with t-shirts and setlist. Headed by Claudia Saenz, the all-girl, all-vinyl DJ crew encourages and empowers women by creating a sense of community and reclaiming the male-dominated DJ booth.

“I don’t think I’m going to change the world with this vinyl club or anything, but I definitely think that it creates a spark of empowerment that we sometimes lack.” Claudia Saenz

Founder of Chulita Vinyl Club Photo Courtesy of Chulita Vinyl Club

Graduate Programs Information Session Thursday, February 18 5:45 p.m. Business Building Room 4.01.18 UTSA Main Campus • MBA—nationally ranked program with flexible scheduling • Master of Accountancy—specialties in taxation, financial reporting and data analytics • MS in Business—one year program for nonbusiness majors launches May 2016 • MS in Data Analytics—transform data into competitive advantage, 12 month program launches Fall 2016 • MS in Information Technology—ranked the No. 1 cyber security program in the nation

RSVP to gradbiz@utsa.edu Call (210) 458-4641

SPORTS Side Notes UTSA baseball UTSA Athletics is looking into a renovation project that will increase the capacity of UTSA’s baseball facility from 800 to approximately 2,500, according to Jerry Briggs of the San Antonio ExpressNews. Athletic Director Lynn Hickey’s preference is to build the new facility around the existing facility on campus rather than erecting a new stadium in the Park West Complex. Hickey has stated that she hopes the project will cost $10 million dollars or less. Preseason polls have come out, and UTSA is slotted into sixth place out of 12 in the conference. Rice, who is ranked twelfth nationally, tops the list. The Roadrunners finished last season with a 17-13 conference record and have 17 players returning. UTSA baseball held their annual First Pitch banquet this past Sunday. Houston Astros president of business operations Reid Ryan was in attendance to deliver the keynote address.

February 9 - February 16, 2016

UTSA drops fast-paced affair

Roadrunners fail to match Marshall shooters

UTSA MEN’S BASKETBALL Chris Herbert Contributing Writer

@HerbieGibbs sports@paisano-online.com Although they are currently on a six-game losing streak, the UTSA men’s basketball team has shown that they are close to being competitive in Conference USA (C-USA). In Saturday’s game against the Marshall Thundering Herd (12-12, 8-3 C-USA), the Roadrunners reached a season-high figure for total points in the 109-91 loss to the third-place C-USA opponent. The Thundering Herd started strong, scoring the first seven points and leading by double figures for the majority of the first half. The Roadrunners came back late in the first, coming within five points of Marshall before a technical foul on the bench gave the Herd four straight free throws. After making all four shots, Marshall went on a 7-4 run to lead 52-40 at the half. In the second, the Herd continued its offensive onslaught, scoring 57 points shooting 56.3 percent from the field and 55 percent from the 3-point line. Four of Marshall’s five starters finished in double figures. Sophomore guard Jon Elmore led the Thundering Herd with 23 points and eight assists. Senior forward James Kelly contributed 22 points and nine rebounds. Marshall totaled 18

3-pointers – just one shy of their single-game school record – on 34 attempts. “They take a lot of wild shots, some shots that would be questionable for other teams, but that’s their offense and they’re good at it,” said UTSA starting guard Ryan Bowie about Marshall’s outside shooting. Bowie and fellow starting guard Christian Wilson continued to lead the Roadrunners’ offense. Wilson and Bowie combined to score 55 of the Roadrunners’ 91 points. Wilson finished with a career-high 29 points, shooting 8-for-20 from the field and 12-for17 from the free-throw line. Bowie shot 9-for-22 from the field, including 4-for-11 from the 3-point line, and 4-for-5 from the free-throw line to finish with 26 points. In spite of the team’s struggles, the backcourt of Wilson and Bowie has been a source of optimism for UTSA fans. Wilson’s 20.3 points per game and Bowie’s 16.7 are currently ranked third and eighth, respectively, among C-USA players. “He’s got to be in the top half,” said Coach Thompson about Wilson’s place among C-USA guards. “We got some very good players in this league and very good point guards. What he’s doing right now is a new element and I’m glad he’s playing well.” Bowie led the team with six rebounds – all in the defensive zone. Bowie, stand-

ing at six-foot-one, leads the Roadrunners in both offensive and defensive rebounds; his 170 total rebounds on the season is 74 more than second-place, six-foot-ten Lucas O’Brien, who has 96. O’Brien, the only other Roadrunner besides Bowie to start all 24 games this season, was replaced by A.J. Cockrell, a freshman from Tulsa, Okla. after getting into foul trouble early in the second half. Starting guard J.R. Harris went scoreless in 13 minutes in the first half. He scored three points in the first for minutes of the second half beforing being benched for the remainder of the game. Junior forward Phillip Jones came off the bench to contribute 12 points and five rebounds. Like Wilson, Jones also received postgame praise from Thompson. “It’s good to see him looking back to himself…he’s not as injured as he used to be,” said Thompson. “He’s getting healthy and he brings an athleticism to our team that we don’t have.” The Roadrunners (4-20, 2-9 C-USA), currently at the bottom of C-USA, will travel to Florida to play Florida Atlantic (6-18, 4-7 C-USA) on Thursday, Feb. 11 and Florida International (1113, 5-6 C-USA) on Saturday, Feb. 13. The next home game is against fourth-place Louisiana Tech (17-6, 6-4 C-USA) on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m.

Matthew Treviño, The Paisano UTSA guard Ryan Bowie driving the net against a Marshall defender.

Matthew Treviño, The Paisano Forward A.J. Cockrell defends the UTSA net from Marshall’s attack.

SPORTS

February 9 - February 16, 2016

Side Notes UTSA football

UTSA sophomore quarterback Blake Bogenschutz decided not to continue his football career due to lasting symptoms of a head injury he suffered this past season. Bogenschutz was the Roadrunners’ starting QB last year until he was concussed on Oct. 3 against UTEP. According to the UTDallas Center for Brain Health, long-term effects of concussions can include memory problems, decreased inhibition, lack of concentration, aggression and language impairment. “Despite my strong love and passion for the game,” wrote Bogenschutz in his statement, “I have come to peace and realization that my health is more important than a game.” According to UTSA Athletics’ press release, “Bogenschutz will remain on scholarship and serve as a student assistant coach until he completes his civil engineering undergraduate degree requirements.” Last week, the 2016 football schedule was released. The season will kick off against Alabama State at the Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 3. Conference play will begin on the road against Old Dominion on Saturday, Sept. 24 and conclude at home against Charlotte on Saturday, Nov. 26.

UTSA softball looking to get back into the swing of things UTSA SOFTBALL

Jose A. Alvarez Contributing Writer

@PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com The UTSA softball team is ready to go. Following an impressive 2015 season in which the Roadrunners topped C-USA’s West Division, the team will travel to California this weekend to kick off their 2016 season. Head Coach Michelle Cheatham will look to pick up right where they left off last year. Cheatham’s squad finished last year with a 3618 overall record and went 16-for-7 in conference play, but lost in the playoffs to eventual C-USA champions Florida Atlantic (39-19, 16-7 C-USA). The Roadrunners made a splash with their bats last year, and UTSA fans can expect more of the same as their home opener approaches. “We returned a lot of our big strong hitters…we had several young kids step up last year that are returnees,” Coach Cheatham said of the team’s offensive prowess. “Randee Crawford had a fantastic year. She was probably our best hitter last year with all the RBIs that she had, so we’re really excited to see her coming back.” In addition to Crawford, who led the league with 19 home runs and tied the UTSA RBI record with 64,

the Roadrunners are also counting on a repeat performance from Kendall Burton, the speedy leadoff hitter who led the league in triples last year. The C-USA preseason poll has the Roadrunners tabbed to finish fourth, a good chip to have on their shoulder as the season finally gets underway. If they are able to repeat their offensive performance of last season and complement it with a nearly intact pitching rotation, the Roadrunners will be a fun team to watch as they put runs on the board and wear out opposing pitchers. The Roadrunners will kick off their 2016 campaign at the Titan Classic in Fullerton, Calif. with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday. Friday’s matchups will feature matchups against Weber State and tournament host Cal State Fullerton while Saturday’s contests are against San Diego State and Canisius. They will also play San Diego State on Sunday, Feb. 14 before returning for their home opener against North Dakota on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Conference play will begin on March 12 with a 3-game home series against North Texas. The team also has marquee non-conference matchups against Baylor on Tuesday, March 22 and Texas on April 6 – both at home.

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Sophomore Kendall Burton earned preseason All-Conference honors after starting all 54 games last year.

Wilson announces first signing class UTSA gets mix of freshman and veteran talent

UTSA FOOTBALL

Brady Phelps Sports Editor

@PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics Freshman safety Jaquelle Green

Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics Freshman offensive tackle Josh Oatis

Frank Wilson held a press conference last Wednesday, Feb. 3 to announce his first-ever signing class at the helm of the UTSA football program. The class includes 21 players — five defensive linemen, five defensive backs, three linebackers, four offensive linemen, two tight ends and two receivers. 11 of these players were signed on National Signing Day and 10 previously announced recruits are already enrolled and attend-

ing UTSA this semester The standout prospect of this class is easily Jaquelle Green, a safety from Mississippi who had been sent offers by numerous SEC schools and previously committed to Louisville. Another interesting prospect, Eric Banks from Memphis, Tenn., was recruited by UTSA to play either as a defensive lineman or linebacker. In his senior year of high school, he earned firstteam All-Region 8-4A honors as a quarterback and was second-team all-region as a defensive end. Wilson and his brain trust think Banks can thrive on defense. “He’s 235…6-5,” said Wilson. “We’re gonna let him eat.”

One player who Wilson singled out was freshman offensive tackle Josh Oatis. “We needed another tackle to be able to protect our quarterbacks’ blindside,” said Wilson, “and we found an athletic 6-foot-6 offensive tackle that has those attributes.” Wilson also took the opportunity to announce that quarterback Dalton Sturm will be returning on scholarship next year. Sturm assumed the starting position following Blake Bogenschutz concussion early in the season. “After he finished the season the way that he did and the valiant effort that he displayed, he earned it,” Wilson said of Bogenschutz. “Going

into spring football, he’s our most experienced quarterback that we have.” Wilson said that he is interested in signing at least one more quarterback to the roster before next season, but expressed desire to remain patient and find the right fit for the program. Eight members of this signing class are upperclassmen transfers from junior colleges, with the exception of senior linebacker Ronnie Feist, who followed Wilson here from LSU. Wilson stressed the importance of bringing in a mix of young players and veteran transfers so that there will be balance across the roster. “We’re not so youthful

that we have all freshmen, but that they can learn and grow from one another,” Wilson explained. “As they graduate, the next guy will step up and the youth rises up at the same time. I think that’s how you build a program. You have to have that type of diversity within your team.”

Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics Senior transfer linebacker Ronnie Feist

Interested in writing?

NO END

Photography advertising

Video

graphic design

social media podcasts

marketing

copy-editing

JOin the paisano! no previous journalism experience required

A BOLT OF ENERGY

GREAT-TASTING ENERGY SHOT FROM NATURAL INGREDIENTS GLUTEN FREE • TAURINE FREE • NON-GMO POWER UP AT HEB & NERGIA.COM

Meetings every wednesday at 6pm AT the Paisano media arts center 14526 Roadrunner way - right behind the block