Vol. 68, Issue 4 by The Paisano

Vol. 68, Issue 5

Est. 1981

February 20 - February 27, 2024

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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline

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Sexual assault, theft, stalking UTSA crime in the first month of school

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e Paisano

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

n compliance with the Clery Act, UTSA keeps a public daily crime log that houses all on-campus crimes. The log gives brief summaries that include the date, time, location, incident and current status of the case. The crimes detailed below are taken directly from the crime log, showcasing the trends premiered during the first month of classes. Sexual Assault On Sunday, Feb. 11, a sexual assault offense took place at Guadalupe Residence Hall. The offense occurred from 12 to 6 a.m. but was later reported on Monday at 11:57 p.m. The case is still active. Possession or Promotion of Lewd Visual Material Depicting Child On Tuesday, Feb. 6, a possession or promotion of lewd visual material depicting child offense took place at Alvarez Residence Hall. The offense occurred at 9:03 p.m. and was reported at the same time. In addition, this individual was charged with “assault by contact: family violence.” The case was cleared by arrest. Stalking On Monday, Jan. 22, a stalking incident occurred at the Recreation & Wellness Center. The incident occurred at 9:13 a.m. and continued for 24 hours; the report came in at 9:13 a.m. on Tuesday. The case is closed. Domestic Violence On Wednesday, Jan. 24, an “Assist Outside AgencyDomestic Violence” incident took place at the Recreation & Wellness Center. The incident occurred from 8 to 9 a.m. and was reported at 3:32 p.m. The case is closed. Unlawful Installation of Tracking Device On Thursday, Jan. 25, an unlawful installation of a tracking

device incident took place at the Recreation & Wellness Center. The incident occurred from 7:50 p.m. to 2 p.m. the next day and was reported at 9:06 a.m. on Friday. The case is still active. Assault: Bodily Injury On Tuesday, Feb. 6, an assault causing bodily injury took place

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at University Oaks. To specify, assault causing bodily injury means “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caus[ing] bodily injury to another.” The incident occurred at 10:28 a.m. and was reported soon after at 10:44 a.m. The case is still active. Terroristic Threat On Thursday, Feb. 1, a terroristic threat was made near UTSA’s

UTSA’s online undergraduate programs surge in rankings By Alessandra Avila Assistant News Editor The 2024 Best Online Programs list from U.S. News & World Report was released earlier this week, and it shows how much UTSA’s fully online undergraduate degree programs have improved in ranking. Upon analyzing 1,600 bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, U.S. News & World Report produced its 2024 rating. The degree programs saw a significant increase, going from No. 85 in 2023 to No. 57. As a result, UTSA is now placed in the top 20% of the more than 399 evaluated institutions. Programs offered by UTSA Online have advanced in the rankings for four years running, as indicated by the new report. Ranking number one in the UT System and among the top 10 universities in Texas for 2024 is UTSA’s online program. In addition to graduate certificates in facility management, data science and medical device commercialization as well as a master’s degree in facility management, UTSA offers three fully online undergraduate degree programs in cybersecurity, multidisciplinary studies and communication. For the first time, UTSA Online had more than 1,000 enrolled students in Fall 2023. Interim Provost and

Executive Vice president of Academic Affairs, Heather Shipley, stated that students seeking an online education are confronted with a plethora of options that may differ significantly in terms of quality and cost. With UTSA’s entirely online programs, adult learners have more online capabilities and gifted students can attend a great public research institution and receive an elite education from top-notch instructors. Giving children the information, abilities and experience necessary for a daring future is a recipe for success. Program excellence is a major factor in UTSA’s 2024 ranking. Four criteria specifically designed to measure online programs were used by the U.S. News & World Report to evaluate each institution’s online offerings. This included Faculty Credentials and Training (20%), Engagement (35%), Services and Technologies (25%) and Peer Assessment (20%). “The UTSA Division of Academic Innovation’s data-driven strategy for growing its online programs is purposeful and well-thought-out,” Vice Provost Melissa Vito said. “We design unique degree and certificate programs and offer individualized support to make sure our online learners are engaged and successful.”

Resident Lot 4. The threat occurred from 11:56 a.m. to 6 p.m. and was reported at 7:30 p.m. The case is still active. Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance On Sunday, Jan. 28, an individual was charged with multiple offenses, one being possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Additionally, there was a charge for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. The incident took place at 2:44 p.m. and was reported at the same time. The case was cleared by arrest. Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Possession of Marijuana Scattered throughout the crime log, there are multiple different charges for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. Though the two are not mutually exclusive, they do appear grouped together in the crime log consistently. Theft Dominating the crime log is theft. While most of the reported crimes are just general and labeled “theft/ larceny,” there are a few specific incidents. On Jan. 22, a motor vehicle theft incident occurred on Barshop Blvd Lot 1. The incident was reported at 9:55 p.m. on Jan. 23. The case is still active. Duty on Striking Unattended Vehicle Much like theft, “duty on striking unattended vehicles” is a consistent trend reported throughout the crime log. With five counts reported since Jan. 19, only two of them remain active. To stay in the loop, visit UTSA’s Public Safety website.

Ban on cultural graduations sparks controversy By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer

On Jan. 1, 2024, Senate Bill 17 (SB 17) went into effect, causing all Texas universities and colleges to close their diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices. SB 17 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott to prohibit “any kind of preference based on sex, race, ethnicity or national origin.” The University of Texas at Austin Multicultural Engagement Center doors have officially been shut down, “which housed six UT-sponsored student groups — Afrikan American Affairs, the Asian Desi Pacific Islander American Collective, the Latino Leadership Council, the Native American and Indigenous Collective, Queer People of Color and Allies, and Students for Equity and Diversity.” Among other restrictions, UT will no longer be allowed to fund cultural graduations. Cultural graduations are “campus-wide events that honor all students’ achievements and academic excellence while incorporating traditions and practices that uplift our communities.” “Student groups can work with the Texas Exes, the alumni organization, to continue to host them ‘in some format,’” Vice President of Campus and Community Engagement LaToya Smith said. “The four celebrations — Lavender Graduation, GraduAsian, Latinx Graduation and Black Graduation — will all take place in the Alumni Center on either May 8 or 9, ” Texas Exes Vice President of Communications Dorothy Guerrero said. Due to the bill’s new requirements for colleges and universities, many students and those in the community have begun to speak out about their thoughts and feelings toward the bill. “That’s already disheartening when you’re not feeling supported by the university that you go to. When you’re not feeling congratulated and like they’re proud of you, when you spend four years and thousands and thousands of dollars to attend the school, it feels like a stab in the back,” Vashéd Thompson, a UT public relations sophomore, said. UT Student Government’s student executive and assembly board leaders said, “These attacks on DEI are part of a larger effort to undermine academic freedom and uphold white supremacy.” Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, said, “Senate Bill 17 will be a giant step backward in our quest for equal opportunity and equal worth for all. I worry that stifling diversity, equity and inclusion on

our academic campuses will breed the negative attitudes and behaviors typically attributed to ignoramuses while stifling the development of tolerant, enlightened communities.” There are a lot of changes being made to Texas schools. Still, some things that the bill will not affect are “Academic course instruction, research and creative work regarding race, sexual orientation, ethnicity and gender are also still protected, as are data collection, student recruitment and activities to enhance student success that are not implemented in regard to race, sex, color or ethnicity.” The UT System has developed guidance to support its institutions in implementing the bill’s new requirements. They made a statement saying the “UT System remains committed to supporting its community members who come to our institutions from across the state and around the world and bring a variety of perspectives and experiences.” UTSA’s administration has not yet addressed how SB 17 will affect the cultural graduations previously held by the university. These included but are not limited to UTSA’s Lavender Graduation, Latinx Graduation, Black Graduation, which the Multicultural Student Center hosted. Lavender Graduation recognizes and celebrates LGBTQ+ students and their accomplishments. Latinx Graduation is “a culturally empowering celebration of graduating students that honors the many traditions that encompass Latinx identities. The ceremony is bilingual to be more inclusive of families and friends who may not be English dominant.” Black Graduation’s purpose is “to honor African and African American students who through unyielding determination have successfully completed an undergraduate or graduate degree.” In a statement to The Paisano, Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Affairs Joe Izbrand said, “These celebrations are scheduled closer to commencement dates so, while there are conversations underway to explore the best way to meet the wishes of students, it will likely be several more weeks before we have information to share. Regardless, we will be compliant with Senate Bill 17.” As more information regarding SB 17 is released, The Paisano will provide updates.

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Exploring UTSA’s graduation and admission rates By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer As UTSA reached R1 status and began to be recognized nationally for several of its programs, its applicants’ competitiveness and the ratio output of graduates have been questioned. Although increasing from 6% in 2010, UTSA maintains a low graduation rate, listed online at 42%. In contrast to the high admission rate of 90%, the statistics have been the source of discontent among some of its students and troubles prospective ones. Factors such as UT’s Coordinated Admissions Program (CAP) or, more recently, the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic regularly bear the brunt of the blame. However, UTSA is in a unique situation that requires it to address the needs of its current population while considering the demands of shifting goals at many students’ expense. In an op-ed for The Paisano, Senior Vice Provost for Student Success Dr. Tammy Wyatt shared, “UTSA students come from a variety of lived experiences that shape the time needed to complete their degrees, making our six-year graduation rate more reflective of our student success.” The six-year graduation rate for the Fall 2017 cohort graduating in 2023 was 51%. The “variety of lived experiences” may refer to the fact that almost 60% of UTSA students are Hispanic or Latino, 45% are first-generation and over 75% work at least part-time. These are all demographics that are statistically vulnerable to dropping out. N a t i o n a l l y, approximately 51% of Latinos finish college in six years, with the environment of higher education and affordability being the biggest hurdles to completion. Similar factors also haunt first-gen students and 56% do not earn a degree after six years. In reference to cost, the McKinsey Management Consulting Company released the following in 2020: “Unsurprisingly, there is some correlation between the net cost to attend an institution and the likelihood its students graduate within six years. Often, more expensive degrees are indicative of more selective schools with a higher proportion of college-ready students with strong academic performance, as well as higher levels of student support.” Increasing admission difficulty would require

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stricter requirements and reshape the environment on campus. The value of a UTSA education would inflate, reflecting the cost and magnifying the two conditions that currently affect graduation even more. When President Eighmy assumed office in 2017, he shared a goal of reaching a 70% graduation rate, which at the time was at an even lower 37% for six years. “We have a longer path to climb than others. We need to figure out quickly how to build on our momentum so that we can move the needle further than typically what other institutions have been doing,” Eighmy explained in an interview for the San Antonio Express-News. “We have a lot of work to do. There’s no point in blaming the CAP situation. It’s just a fact and data point we manage. We just need to move the needle more than we’re moving it.” Since then, there have been several steps to “move the needle.” Programs like the First to Go & Graduate and dozens of Hispanic organizations and scholarships such as the Bold Promise’s tuition and fee coverage attempt to alleviate the burdens of college to increase graduation. The university is not apathetic to students taking extended amounts of time t o graduate either: “UTSA expects students to graduate in a timely fashion and strongly encourages its undergraduates to set their goals to complete their baccalaureate degrees in four years, or if that is not feasible, not more than six years.” UTSA regularly shares its pride as a Hispanic Serving Institution, commitments to supporting first-gen students, efforts to reduce costs for everyone, and particularly the last six years of work. On its ‘A Vision for UTSA Strategic Plan’ website, four tables show the three metrics upon which its progress is being measured: Student Success, Research and Excellence. In 2023, UTSA set a target first-year retention rate of 81%, which they achieved by 95%. The six-year graduation rate goal was slightly above 49% and achieved by just under 94%. It is already at 91% progress of an 85% retention rate and 77.2% of the way to a 60% graduation rate by 2028. For more information about UTSA’s strategic plan, visit utsa.edu/strategicplan/.

Free study abroad program offered through USDA grant By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

Late last summer, a group of professors from UTSA and St. Philip’s College (SPC) were awarded the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Collaborative Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Education Grant. This grant, along with a partnership with a San Antonio non-profit called Terra Advocati, helped create the Coalition for Regenerative Ecologies and Agriculture (CREA). This program offers fully funded experiences to students of both institutions in the form of internships, fellowships and study-abroad opportunities. The grant was awarded to UTSA’s Dr. Amilia King-Kostelac, an assistant professor of practice in integrative biology, Dr. Kenneth Walker, an associate professor in English, Dr. Jennifer Smith, an assistant professor in integrative biology and Marissa Ramirez, a faculty member at SPC in Mexican American studies. “The CREA is designed to be a transdisciplinary project,” KingKostelac said. “That means that it is led by faculty that are coming from different areas of expertise, which include Mexican American studies and English communication and rhetoric, particularly in environmental communication, risk communication, urban ecology, wildlife diversity and a variety of other field work.” The study abroad program will run through the first five-week session in the summer. Students chosen to participate will first have a couple of weeks of preparation in San Antonio and then go to Veracruz, Mexico, for approximately four weeks. “[This program] provides [students at UTSA and SPC] with experiences that are both going to be relevant and help them get where they are going,” King-Kostelac said. Students will gain knowledge and skills in regenerative agriculture, the benefits of

regenerative agriculture related to wildlife biodiversity, community-engaged methodologies and field and digital methods. The CREA program is funded through the USDA Collaborative HSI Education Grant, which allows this study abroad program to be fully funded to the students who are chosen to participate. “There have historically been so many obstacles for the participation of students of color and working-class students in study abroad programs,” Ramirez said when asked about why the grant was needed. “We wanted to make sure that we can offer an opportunity for these students to participate in this type of program.” Participation requirements for students in this program include a 3.0 GPA, proof of being a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, 12 cumulative academic credits, a commitment to attending incountry exchanges, a commitment to producing and/ or contributing to research projects and enrolment as a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate student at UTSA or SPC. “[The program] is open to a really broad array of majors,” King-Kostelac said. Jenna Taylor/The Paisano “USDA is obviously an agricultural organization, but they do conceive agriculture as a very big tent, and so the acronym that I can tie this back to is they are looking to prepare students for careers FARNE, which stands for food, agriculture, natural resources and ecology.” “Environmental regeneration is the work of our generation,” Terra Advocati Executive Director Jess Mayes said. “There is so much to do and I think it is important to inspire students from every discipline, it is going to take engineers, it is going to take scientists, it is going to take data scientists, it is going to take people from across the board to be able to solve one of the largest problems that we have ever faced as a species.” Continue reading at paisano-online.com

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Texas gears up for primary voting season By Kara Lee Graphics Editor

As the voting season approaches, Texans are gearing up to participate in the upcoming primary elections. With early voting for the primary election kicking off on Feb. 20 and election day nearing March 5, here is a guide to what will be on the ballot. During this voting session, Texans will have the opportunity to vote for various important positions. In the San Antonio area, residents will cast their votes for one of Texas’ two U.S. Senate seats, U.S. House seats and multiple Bexar County offices. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who has held his position since 2018, will face off against nine Democratic candidates. Additionally, all Congress members are up for reelection, with two positions being state senators representing the San Antonio area. When early voting begins on March 5, San Antonio residents will vote on selecting representatives for key positions such as Bexar County Sheriff, Bexar County Tax Assessor-Collector and multiple commissioner seats. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates Texas oil and industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, uranium surface mining operations and judicial posts will determine the state’s most critical questions. Depending on their party affiliation, voters will encounter different ballot formats. Democrats and Republicans alike are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the candidates and their platforms. U.S. President (Democrat) Joe Biden: Former U.S. senator from Delaware who served as Vice President under Barack Obama. President Biden announced he would run for re-election on

April 25, 2023. President Biden’s campaign illustrates his most important policy priorities for a second term. He wants to make healthcare more accessible, protect Social Security, create a minimum tax for billionaires, solidify the right to an abortion, ban assault weapons and support voting rights. Dean Philips: U.S. representative from Minnesota announced his candidacy on Oct. 26, 2023. His campaign focuses on reducing living costs, improving community safety and making politics less divisive. U.S. President (Republican) Ryan L. Binkley: Co-founder of Create Church in Richardson, Texas, Binkley has criticized both Republicans and Democrats for being too partisan. The main focuses of his campaign are reducing the national debt, reducing healthcare costs, increasing border security and increasing community education engagement. Nikki Haley: Former South Carolina Governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. She presents herself as a staunch advocate for American interests globally and criticizes Trump’s leadership style as chaotic and divisive. Donald J. Trump: Trump will run again in 2024 after losing to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. He plans to overhaul the federal civil service, tighten immigration policies with mass deportations and ending birthright citizenship, abolish Obamacare and impose tougher trade measures on China. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

State of the City Week of 2/20

By Armin Suljovic Staff Writer Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay up-to-date on the happenings around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s topics range from historic earthquakes to an adult dancer accused of trafficking over a million dollars worth of cocaine. Earthquake strikes South Texas Residents in Falls City, a town just 40 miles from San Antonio, reported feeling the earthquake late at night on Feb. 17, around 12:30 a.m. The quake was reported to have a magnitude of 4.7, and even residents in San Antonio reported feeling it. A moderate earthquake like this one was strong enough to cause minor property damage to homes. Recently, there have been a series of minor earthquakes in the area in February alone, measuring between 3.2 and 3.5 in magnitude. Geologists speculate that nearby drilling sites are responsible for the influx. Father and daughter shot near Stone Oak On the northeast side, 43-year-old Joseph Hines was reported to have shot himself on Feb. 13. His 23-year-old daughter is currently in critical condition after also allegedly shooting herself. This is currently an ongoing investigation as local authorities work with a family member to piece together the story. Metro Health and SAPD earn certification The City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and Police Department have announced they are both better prepared for dealing with individuals with trauma. Both earned a Level 1 Foundational Trauma Informed Care Organizational Certification. SAPD is the first law enforcement agency in the nation to receive this informed care certification. SAPD and Metro Health recognized together the importance of creating a safe environment and hope to better serve the community. The City aims for all of its departments to be certified by 2026. Adult dancer accused of dealing $1.3 million in cocaine A 24-year-old San Antonio adult dancer, Gisselle Cabrera Rodriguez, has been arrested on charges of distributing 105 kilograms of cocaine, valued at $1.3 million. The FBI raided her apartment near The Shops at La Cantera, finding over two kilograms of cocaine and $45,000 in cash. Rodriguez, allegedly involved with cartel operatives, claimed to have been receiving five to 10 kilos of cocaine monthly from a Mexican source for the past several months, selling each kilo for $13,000. She listed her income sources as an adult dancer and owner/ operator of a trucking company. Despite pretrial services recommending her release on bond, the prosecution argued Rodriguez poses a flight risk due to family ties in Mexico, leading the judge to order her held without bond pending further review. Dustin Vickers/ The Paisano

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OpiNION Fund cultural graduations

UTSA offers no official position on status of cultural graduations

Editorial ast month, Texas witnessed the signing of the infamous Senate Bill 17 into law by Governor Greg Abbott. This controversial law would force all Texas Universities and colleges to shutter their diversity, equity and inclusion offices while prohibiting preferences based on race, ethnicity or nationality. While the immediate effects concerning admissions and university operations are concerning, SB 17 has other wide-ranging consequences that may fly under the radar of the public eye. One of these consequences may be the cancellation of cultural graduations at Texas Universities, including but not limited to the Lavender Graduation, GraduAsian, Latinx Graduation and Black Graduation. Concerns are already being raised at the University of Texas at Austin, where the closing of the UT Multicultural Engagement Center has led to the university’s complete defunding of cultural graduations. However, the UT Alumni Association Texas Exes has pledged to continue the tradition of cultural graduations.

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An end zone cannot end racism Commentary By Lauren Hernandez

Assistant Arts & Life Editor Last Sunday, Super Bowl LVIII was the mostwatched television show ever with 123 million viewers. Though the Kansas City Chiefs’ end zone declared the words “end racism,” dozens of Indigenous activists protested outside of the stadium. Rhonda LeValdo, the founder of Not In Our Honor, explained in an Associated Press article that “We weren’t even allowed to be Native American. We weren’t allowed to practice our culture. We weren’t allowed to wear our clothes, but it’s OK for Kansas City fans to bang a drum, to wear a headdress and then to act like they’re honoring us? That doesn’t make sense.” In 1963, the Dallas Texans of the American Football League moved to Kansas City with the help of their mayor, Harold Roe Bartle. Bartle, a non-native, had the nickname of “Chief” due to being the founder of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say, a Boy Scouts honor camping society. Since the ‘60s, the Chiefs’ promotion and advertising have been insensitive to the Native American community. Even the team’s website states that “much of the club’s early promotional activities relied heavily on imagery and messaging depicting American Indians in a racially insensitive fashion.” In the past, they have had a mascot named Warpaint, a Pinto horse ridden by a man in a feathered headdress. Only recently, just ahead of the 2020 season, the Chiefs prohibited fans from wearing face paint that appropriated Native American culture. Even so, the Chiefs’ fans still practice the “Tomahawk chop,” a chant where people swing their arms up and down. This tradition is not unique

to the Chiefs and has been seen at sports games for the last three decades. Oscar-nominated actress Lily Gladstone denounced this ritual, saying, “It’s a stark reminder of what Hollywood has done to us because the Tomahawk chop directly ties to the soundtracks of old Westerns where we were not playing ourselves, or if we were, we were merely backdrop actors.” Although Gladstone stated that “it’s not the name that bothers me,” many Indigenous activists beg to differ. Michael Spears, a Sicangu Lakota actor, explained, “People think they’re honoring us with these mascots and logos, but they’re mocking us.” Gaylene Crouser, executive director of no isa the Kansas City Indian a P he l/T Center, a non-profit that e rom F r provides health, welfare and ylo Ta cultural services to the Indigenous community, explained, “There’s no honor in you painting your face and putting on a costume and cosplaying our culture. The sheer entitlement of people outside our community telling us they’re honoring us is so incredibly frustrating.” Although the Chiefs launched the American Indian Community Working Group in 2014, which “serves as an advisor to the Kansas City Chiefs to promote an awareness and understanding of Native cultures and tribes in the region,” according to Crouser, this is a “PR stunt,” and none of the people in that group are involved in any of the organizations that serve the Native Americans in Kansas City. Unsurprisingly, Taylor Swift’s name has been roped into this conversation as well. Though she and many of her fans sport Chiefs jerseys, Indigenous activists have pointed out that she never participated in the Tomahawk chop during Super Bowl LVIII. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Gen Z’s favorite vice: nostalgic escapism Commentary

By Nicholas Kingman

Assistant Opinion Editor One of the commercials that aired during Super Bowl LVIII caused quite the controversy within the hot political climate of this year. The sound of horns and a snare drum over a grainy background graced the American airwaves once again. In a gross display of American Values, a political action committee in support of their choice of president, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plastered his face over his slain uncle’s iconic “Vote for Kennedy” 1960 political ad. This was not merely a display of playing into the power and brand recognition of the Kennedy family’s stranglehold on the American political system; this was an easy and cheap way to play into America’s obsession with its bygone golden age. The propaganda of the feel-good carelessness that was the 20th century evokes not only hazy memories of its remnants but also envy from those who followed the time. Gen Z has a peculiar obsession with nostalgia; they cannot seem to get enough of it. Scroll across any of your social media, Instagram being best at this, and it will take no time for you to find some Zoomers decked out in fashion from the late 20th century doing a fit check over a

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popular track representative of the time. The bigger the record player, the bigger the fanatic of the vintage aesthetic. While there is nothing wrong with buying vintage clothes at Goodwill or picking up a pre-owned vinyl record of your favorite divorced dad band, the issue comes when nostalgia begins to impede the progress within popular culture. Brands that have spanned generations, such as Nike and Levi’s, abuse nostalgia as a cheap cop-out to stop innovating. The resurgence of the re-release has created an easy and cheap way for companies to create massive profit off an older design without having to put

Since the passing of SB 17 and the recent concerns about cultural graduations being raised at UT, the UTSA administration has yet to offer an official statement about the current status of cultural graduations for this upcoming commencement season. However, in a statement to The Paisano, Associate Vice President for Strategic Communications and External Affairs Joe Izbrand stated that “these celebrations are scheduled closer to commencement dates so, while there are conversations underway to explore the best way to meet the wishes of students, it will likely be several more weeks before we have information to share. Regardless, [UTSA] will be compliant with Senate Bill 17.” UTSA must take a more definitive stance on the status of cultural graduations. The concerns of students must be heard and addressed by the administration. As Roadrunners, we must advocate for the continuation of cultural graduations, whether it be through the university or in conjunction with the UTSA alumni organization. All graduating Roadrunners, present and future, deserve to take part in this extremely valuable tradition like those who came before them.

Bury the bones, not the lede Commentary By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) of 1990 protects the cultural patrimony of Indigenous peoples in the United States, facilitating the return of human remains, sacred objects, etc., to their proper owners from organizations that receive federal funding, such as museums and universities. Despite the law being over 30 years old, Indigenous groups across the country continue to fight for their rightful repatriation. The University of Texas at Austin holds the largest collection of Indigenous remains in the state, with over 2,000 remains held by their Texas Archaeological Research Lab (TARL). In comparison, UTSA holds less than 300 as of the end of 2022. The Miakan-Garza Band, a Native American group from Central Texas, first called for the return of three sets of ancient remains from TARL in 2016. After delays and much lobbying, UT denied their request in 2020 on the basis that there was no “culturally identifiable information” that connected the sets of human remains to the band. TARL released a statement declaring their support for the NAGPRA and insisted that they would cooperate with its instructions, but only if there was a sufficient basis for repatriating the remains. After their denial of the request, UT President Jay Hartzell wrote that the university would turn to the NAGPRA Review Committee for a recommendation that would “enable (UT) to offer the remains promptly for reburial.” To this day, the three sets of human remains remain in the hands of TARL. The Miakan-Garza Band has not given up, however, and continues to fight for the right to rebury their ancestors. They have held prayer walks at the UT campus, alongside various supporters, asking the university to reconsider its stance on the

time and effort into a new product. Looking at the cinema and media giants of Hollywood for example, “Top Gun” finally got its sequel after 36 years. Paramount made 124 million dollars on opening weekend alone from the three-decade-old intellectual property. Netflix’s hit show “Stranger Things” has been attributed to another generation’s obsession with 1980s American music and culture. Now, we even see presidential candidates lacking creativity and reusing successful slogans and adverts for their campaigns. As a generation and as a culture, we have fallen into the dangerous grips of

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matter. Their struggle to be taken seriously is only one example of a system that mistreats the country’s native peoples. The study of human remains is a key part of anthropology and its subfields studying the scientific and cultural evolution of humankind to understand its past and present. However, the field is problematic by its very nature, with an embarrassing history of ethnocentrism, White supremacy, grave robbing and all sorts of abuses against oppressed populations. It is of absolute importance that anthropologists put human decency and respect above their research interests and projects. Just because the field is not the swamp of racism and dehumanization it once was does not mean that it has achieved a haven in which it can conduct its scholarly inquiries without damage. TARL has the biggest collection of ancient human remains, and the Miakan-Garza people are asking for three sets to return their spirits to their mother, the Earth. The denial of this request is not only dismissive and disrespectful, it is greedy. While it may be an academic issue for some, for the Indigenous nations who have had their history treated like a commodity, it is a human rights issue – and it should be for everyone, too. To support the Miskan-Garza people, they ask that people write to President Hartzell and Fred Valdez, UT professor and director of TARL and ask them to keep their promise to return the remains.

stagnation. If the 20th century was known as the golden age of the West, the 21st century must be the crumbling of it. The prevalence of nostalgic escapism has created a lack of personal identity within our own time. We use these avenues to relieve our minds of our current troubled existence. But the more we neglect our current time, the more we as a generation lose in creating a precedent and identity in our time and place. Remember the past for what it is, and appreciate the songs and tomes from its survivors. As for the present, it is up to us to mold and cement our vision with the promise of a future dependent on the present for its foundation.

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OpiNION Racism is ruining Black pregnancies

The Paisano

Commentary

Editorial Board

By Taylor Fromel Contributor

their socioeconomic class or marital status. This is not something that happens to white women. Why is this? Because the existence of white women has never been threatened by preconceived notions and assumptions about their existence because of the color of their skin. This is just one example of the way society views and treats Black pregnant women and the differences women of color experience on a daily basis; it highlights the acceptance and normality of bias regarding race, gender and pregnancy not only in everyday life, but in less

common emotional and stressful situations, like labor and childbirth. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Malaki Lingg | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com Dustin Vickers | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Kara Lee | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor William Barnes | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Zach Geocaris | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com

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Staff Writer The United States Government provides multiple types of healthcare. There is Tricare, which is provided by the Department of Defense for enlisted personnel, Medicare which is for retired citizens and is provided jointly by the states and federal government and finally, there is Medicaid, which is a similar program to Medicare except it is for low-income, disabled and minor citizens. The arrangement in which our public healthcare system works is more exclusionary than beneficial. Public healthcare in the U.S. was first conceived by President Lyndon B. Johnson under the Great Society program on July 30, 1965. Before then, the concept of public healthcare had not existed in the U.S. In 2022, Medicare and Medicaid both separately covered 18% of the population, meanwhile private insurance covered a whopping 54.5%. One issue of Medicare/Medicaid is that states may choose to provide additional services such as home and community-based services and dental care. This makes the idea of a Canadian-like healthcare system more difficult to implement. In Canada, which employs a similar system, healthcare is provided solely by the provincial governments and the federal government is relatively uninvolved. The differences that set us apart, however, are that in Canada your provinciallyprovided healthcare, referred to as a “health insurance card,” still works in other provinces. In comparison, if people travel from New York to Texas, and

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Staff

Commentary

they have Medicaid or Medicare, they are not covered. Private insurance can cover people depending upon the plan chosen. Canada is not all perfect though, as many provinces refuse to treat people holding health insurance cards from Quebec due to the refusal to cover any rates other than their own. One idea that multiple countries use, including the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom, is fully-funded public healthcare. This concept is referred to as the single-payer system because only one person or group pays for the healthcare. The National Health Care for the Homeless Council describes it best, saying that, “single payer is simply a streamlined financing mechanism where one entity administers the health care funding and payments.” In the UK, this consists of paying the National Insurance Tax, which is essentially the yearly bill for healthcare except it is based on your income level. Canada has used this system since 1984 with the enactment of the Canada Health Act. In recent years, the U.S. has introduced a concept referred to as Medicare for All, which is a single-payer version of Medicare, however, it is not a mandatory concept to adopt. Both federally-provided and state-provided healthcare have their benefits and drawbacks, but state-provided healthcare is better for a litany of reasons. The first reason would be the political climate, which in recent years has gotten ever more heated, especially when incidents such as the repeal of Roe v. Wade occur.

Chloe Williams | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com

Riley Carroll | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

American healthcare needs reform By Andrew Dotson

Laynie Clark | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

Jake Mireles | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

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For many women, pregnancy is an extremely difficult and emotional time, physically and mentally. It can also be very confusing, as pregnancy can come with many complications and unexpected outcomes. Because of this, one would assume that society and the medical system in the United States would treat these women with respect and care, but for many women, specifically Black women, this is not the case. In the United States, racism is still very much in existence. It undermines almost everything in the country, from going out to eat at a restaurant to going to the hospital in life-threatening situations. While acts of discrimination targeting people of color have been widely reported, pregnant Black women are three times more likely to die when compared to their white counterparts. Over the past two years, the United States government has made it a point to show

their lack of enthusiasm when it comes to protecting the rights of women in the United States, demonstrated by the overturning of Roe V. Wade. This was a huge infringement on women’s rights in America, making it very clear that the Supreme Court is willing to sacrifice the lives of many women to uphold their own corrupted views of how the world should look. While the overturn was an act of discrimination against women of all races in the U.S., there is more to be acknowledged regarding Black women’s experiences. According to “Black Pregnant Women: ‘Get the Most Judgement’: A Qualitative Study on the Experiences of Black Woman at the Intersection of Race, Gender and Pregnancy,” Black pregnant women are said to experience heightened “racialized pregnancy stigma,” which in turn devalues Black motherhood. These women reported they were assumed to have low incomes, single marital status and multiple children despite

‘Another Brick in the Wall’

Commentary

By Marcela Montufar Soria

Mariana Ramos/The Paisano

Multimedia Editor James Madison High School in south Houston saw a massive student walkout on Feb. 8 after they implemented a complete cellphone ban, among other new rules. Under this rule, students are required to turn in their phones to the school when they arrive in the morning and get them back at the conclusion of the school day during their last class period. Madison students protested this ban as ‘unconstitutional,’ claiming that it made them feel like prisoners. In response to the walkout, school principal Edgar Contreras started suspending students. Madison High School implemented this ban after a series of fights, claiming that “cellphone video” is responsible. Students responded, quite correctly, that cellphones do not cause fights and that these altercations will continue despite their removal, just as they occurred before cellphones came into existence. At most, phones are there to capture the evidence and the facts of such violent encounters, which one would think school authorities could appreciate. Asking students to turn in their cellphones during class time is nothing new, with many teachers having a dropoff area at the front of their classrooms where students are required to put their phones. Edgewater High School in Orlando, Florida, implemented such a policy last year, asking students to leave their backpacks and phones at the front of their classrooms, taking only what is necessary for instruction to their desks. Principal Heather Kreider claims the results on students’ focus and mental health have been positive, and they may very well be. Having access to their cellphones at all times can be detrimental to people, especially minors, and limiting their use during instructional periods, within reason, can be a productive route for school districts to take. However, the absolute removal of them from students is unacceptable. For one, students have no guarantee that they will receive their property intact and unbreached. Two, the hunt for students who break this rule will lead to time taken away from teaching and suspensions, which do not protect education at all. Finally, taking away students’ access to their families is dangerous. One student from Madison High School complained that because of the ban, she was unaware that her mother was in the hospital. Being cut off from urgent news is not the only problem. As of Feb. 16, the United States has seen 12 school shootings in 2024. American youths not only have to cope with living in a country where they can be shot in their classrooms by schoolmates or strangers any day due to their government’s inability to protect them, but now their ability to communicate with their families during such moments is being threatened. With every cellphone locked up in an office comes the potential of robbing a child from calling for help or worse, saying goodbye to their parents. While it is very true that cellphones can be detrimental to the classroom environment and education, banning their use to the point of taking them away from people for hours is an irresponsible and wasteful abuse of authority.

Read More Online The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer. 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 the UTSA Main Campus. 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 © 2024 The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus. Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions. Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

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arts & life Underground Rap Reigns Supreme

Black Smurf and IdontKnowJeffery set Studio 210 ablaze with raw energy By Michelle Segura Contributor

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Michelle Segura/The Paisano

Northwest San Antonio’s best-ranked living under $1,000

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Spare Change By Riley Carroll

Arts & Life Editor

n-campus dorms, off-campus student apartments and even rental home costs are skyrocketing. While San Antonio’s cost of living is nowhere close to the mini California prices that Austin suffers from, decent-quality apartments can be difficult to find, especially those under $1,000. Save for the apartments without enough reviews to be considered reliable, we have listed a few living options within five miles of the UTSA Main Campus that are rated above 4.5 stars on Google and are $1,000 per month or cheaper. Remember that Google reviews’ tenant satisfaction may not accurately reflect reality

because people who review apartment complexes most likely have an exceptional experience on either end of the extremity. Birdsong at Sonoma Ranch - 5.0 stars • “Three Bedroom Farmhouse (C2)” - three beds, 2.5 baths - $2,749 $916.33 per room • “Three Bedroom Farmhouse (C2b)” - three beds, 2.5 baths - $2,849 $949.66 per room. From the UTSA Main Campus, Birdsong at Sonoma Ranch is around 2.4 miles and a seven-minute drive away. The Overlook at The Rim - 4.9 stars • “OL2.1HC” - two beds, two baths $1,995 - $997.50 per room • “OL3.1” - three beds, two baths -

$2,892 - $964 per room “OL3.1A” - three beds, two baths $2,940 - $980 per room • “OL3.1HC” - three beds, two baths $2,860 - $953.30 per room From the UTSA Main Campus, The Overlook at The Rim is about 4.7 miles and an eight-minute drive away. Sienna Ridge Apartment Homes - 4.7 stars • “The Monterrey” - three beds, two baths - $2,095 - $698.33 per room • “The Mirsan” - two beds, two baths $1,855 - $927.50 per room • “The Augusta” - two beds, two baths - $1,670 - $835 per room Continue reading at paisano-online.com •

Local ways to celebrate Black History Month

Black-owned businesses to support for Black History Month

Cultura

SA Gems

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

By Haley Aguayo

Assistant Sports Editor San Antonio is a city widely perceived as a Latin city. While its name is Spanish, many different cultures, such as Black and African cultures, flourish in San Antonio. Between visits to art exhibits, shows, restaurants and stores, there are countless

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As February unfolds, the San Antonio and UTSA communities are ablaze with cultural richness and artistic expression as Black History Month is celebrated throughout the city. The communities have banded together to cultivate events to commemorate the progress made and progress to come. “Delita Martin: Her Temple of Everyday Familiars, A Retrospective” Running from Jan. 26 to March 22, worldrenowned printmaker Delita Martin’s work is being displayed at the UTSA Southwest Campus. Martin is famously known for her representation of Black women through complex portraits. The gallery is open Thursdays through Saturdays from 12 to 5 p.m. History and Heritage on the ITC Exhibit Floor The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures has preserved space on the ITC exhibit floor to honor African American Texan stories. Through an interactive digital component, the exhibit aims to open up modern-day dialogue about Black and multi-racial heritage in San Antonio. The exhibit floor is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursdays through Sundays. Honoring Black Feminists General Meeting On Feb. 20, the UTSA student organization Womxn in Leadership will be hosting a public discussion in the McKinney Humanities building. At the meeting, attendees will discuss everything from anti-racism to queer rights. In hopes of providing a safe space for all, the discussion’s goal is to have productive conversations and build meaningful connections. P.F. Roberts Texas Historical Marker Dedication In partnership with Frost Bank, UTSA will be hosting its signature event at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22.

Located at 610 Indianola Street, the event will honor P.F. Roberts and San Antonio’s rich cultural heritage. P.F. Roberts was a civil rights leader and business owner, so the event serves as a dedication to his work and the historical marker left in his remembrance. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

activities for people to celebrate different cultures. Here are some places where you can celebrate and support Black History Month. Shopping Organically Bath and Beauty • Vegan skincare • Products can be found at Target or through their website by the same name • Free shipping for orders over $100 Orange Noir Clothing brand • Products can be purchased through website of the same name Dunnswood • Upcycled furniture •Artist Darryl Dunn can be reached through his Instagram DM’s @dunnswood Industrious Interiors • Curated interior design • Cerissa Tate is an awardwinning interior designer who designs homes based on client wants and needs Arts and culture Inflatable movies and more • Inflatable screen set-up service • Screens can be set up both inside and outside • Contact email is carreliteservices@yahoo.com San Antonio African American Book Festival • Fifth annual book festival • Feb. 25 at the Second Baptist Community Center • The festival features over 60 Black authors San Antonio African American community archive & museum • Showing “A Raisin in the Sun” at the public theater of San Antonio • Located at 800 W. Ashby • Showings are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday McNay Art Exhibit • Prints by contemporary Black artists Continue reading at paisano-online.com

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Arts & life Unveiling Black womanhood in art

Printmaker Delita Martin’s work at the Southwest campus through Mar. 22 Arte de San Antonio By Samantha Ysaguirre Staff Writer

Delita Martin is an artist currently based in Huffman, Texas. She received a BFA in

drawing from Texas Southern University and an MFA in printmaking from Purdue University. Martin is known for inserting representations of Black women in her artwork in such a manner of complexity and rich and profuse narrative portraits that draw viewers to a new experience. She uses unexpected and evocative perspectives to highlight the hidden spirits of the everyday. Her projects have mostly been inspired by African A m e r i c a n women who are often ignored. “ T h e y are draped, submerged and bisected in blue; it is the color of the supreme goddess of many Afrocentric religions,” Guest Curator Aissatou Sidime-Blanton said. Many prints

represent women of color in traditional hair customs, jewelry and clothing. Even the colors used, such as the hues of orange and yellow, enhance the vibrancy of Afrocentric traditions. Various prints in the gallery follow a blue color scheme. However, one piece consists of text featuring a quote by Martin herself, which is described to be derived from the spirituality of water. “I rush to the Ocean’s e d g e , ” M a r t i n w r o t e . “Somebody told me. The Ocean could wash my blues away, carry them out to sea. After all, ain’t that how the water got its color?” Her latest exhibit, “Follow the Waters,” features 11 artworks in one room and another 10 of her works in another room. Half the exhibition is retrospective, from undergraduate and graduate, and half is new. Together, the exhibit contains 30 pieces of artwork. These pieces invite the audience to immerse themselves in a world where blue takes center stage, containing within its spiritual connections between the color blue and the spiritual element of water. Her following piece, “The Dinner Table” (2018), consists of a table, six chairs and 300 plates drawn in litho crayon. Martin decided to create an homage to her community after “The Dinner Party” (1974-79) was viewed as problematic, with few women of color. In her piece, Chicago created a table with 39 place settings, large decorative plates and table runners to honor famous women throughout history. However, in over one year, Martin photographed 300 different women and

girls and drew their portraits on individual white ceramic plates that were found and donated. She specifically picked pieces with history and spirit. To keep their stories circulating, the dishes are shown with a table for viewers to sit and meditate on. Another of her works is “Six Persimmons,” which is from 2019 and works with acrylic, charcoal, decorative papers, hand stitching and relief print. Martin

has the women and girls gaze serenely while seated or standing. In “Six Persimmons,” they float in face-to-face intimacy that recalls twins in utero at play. Continue reading at paisano-online.com

Samantha Ysaguirre/The Paisano

Kayla McCutcheon/The Paisano

‘Beetlejuice’ shakes the Majestic Theatre

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

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Reviews

‘One love, one heart, one destiny,’ no plot ‘Bob Marley: One Love’: lackluster at best Reviews By Lauren Hernandez

Assistant Arts & Life Editor

aspects of his career are reduced to a montage before the end credits. Moments such as Marley inviting two opposing political party

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leaders on stage during the “One Love Peace Concert” should have been a primary focus of the film, not recording sessions or flashbacks with little substance. “One Love” was a fine movie with a soundtrack and performances that were destined to be spectacular. But in the end, the film will not be remarked upon as substantial because it took the wrong approach in telling the story of one of the most influential musicians in the world, highlighting Marley’s music and spirituality, but not his activism.

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A director can never go wrong with a biopic about a musician, because they know they are getting at least one thing right — the soundtrack. The newest biopic to hit theaters was “Bob Marley: One Love.” Though the music and performances from leads Kingsley Ben-Adir and Lashana Lynch were great, the film itself reduced Marley’s enormous legacy to a film that left out the majority of his life and political activism. “One Love” primarily focuses on Marley’s life from 1976, when an assassination attempt almost ended it, to 1978, when Marley and his band The Wailers recorded their ninth studio album, “Exodus,” and returned to Jamaica for the “One Love Peace Concert.” Along with scenes of recording this album and fantastic recreations of Marley’s live performances that feature his eccentric dancing and performance style, “One Love” spliced in scenes of Marley’s adolescence throughout the film. Telling the majority of Marley’s life through cryptic flashbacks was a poor choice and provided little information about how Marley became the spiritual legend he remains today. The film did a great job of highlighting how Marley’s Rastafarian spirituality and Jamaican culture influenced his music, which inspired the world. This spirituality

played into Ben-Adir’s dialogue, and quotes like “My life is not important to me. My life is for people. That I can be beneficial to a people,” were truly moving and illustrated Marley’s spirit. Another thing “One Love” got right was Marley’s stage presence and style. An article in GQ explains that the musician’s Rastafarian faith provided him with a “profound sense of self. He knew who he was and what he was supposed to do and that spunky individuality spilled right over into his fashion sense,” which was showcased in “One Love” from Marley’s fitted suits to fitted jeans to stunning dreadlocks. Additionally, Lashana Lynch’s role as Rita Marley was enormously impactful in the film. She tied Marley to his roots and childhood and made him realize that family had to be prioritized over music. During several scenes, Marley turns to violence, hitting Rita and throwing one of his closest friends to the floor. These scenes were important, showing a side of Marley that does not necessarily mesh with his spirituality but makes him seem human through his errors. Towards the end of the film, as Marley is grappling with his cancer diagnosis, Rita tells him, “Sometimes, the messenger has to become the message.” Although the live performances and recording sessions of “Exodus” show Marley becoming this message, many critical political

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sports UTSA SplitS opening series against UT-Arlington

Inconsistency robs baseball team of first series win By Rylan Renteria

Distribution Manager

Rylan Renteria and Lauro Martinez/The Paisano

he 2023 campaign saw the Roadrunners earn their first national ranking in program history. Despite a late-season collapse, there was plenty of optimism for the 2024 season. In the 2024 season’s opening weekend, UTSA captured two wins across four total games against the UT-Arlington Mavericks at Roadrunner Field. “We’ve got a lot to work on,” head coach Pat Hallmark said. “No real surprises, we are who we thought we were.” Opening night saw freshman pitcher Robert Orloski get the start on the mound for the ‘Runners. A solo shot in the first inning from opposing second baseman Ryan Black was an unfortunate sign of things to come for UTSA’s rotation. Finding themselves in a nine-run hole entering the bottom of the fifth inning, UTSA rallied to make it a two-score game by the eighth inning. The comeback fell just short as the ‘Runners dropped game one 10-9. A day two doubleheader provided favorable results for UTSA. After allowing 10 runs in the season opener, the Roadrunner rotation was able to rebound. Senior outfielder Caleb Hill got the Roadrunners started with an RBI double. Shortly after, junior utility player James Taussig knocked an RBI single past the second baseman to bring two runners home. The offense continued to pile on, the rotation would hold steady and UTSA cruised to a 7-2 win. In a showdown of arms, game three was capped off in walk-off fashion. Junior infielder Hector Rodriguez put the ‘Runners

on the board first with a shot past third base to grab his first RBI of the season. Junior infielder Jordan Medellin was able to tie it up for the Mavericks in the top of the fifth. Three and a half scoreless innings later, sophomore outfielder Aiden Baumann was brought in to take the final at-bat of regulation. Facing a full count, Baumman slapped one down the right field line and the winning runner trotted to the plate with ease. Celebration commenced as UTSA won 2-1. “I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, I couldn’t do that without him,” Baumann said. “The ball placement and everything like that, for that to happen just like it did, that wasn’t me.” To close out the series UTSA dropped the final game, settling for a split. Both squads were able to plate runners in the second inning. A solo homerun from Mavericks junior catcher Parker Airhart gave UT-Arlington a short-lived lead. The Roadrunner offense responded almost immediately with an RBI double from senior utility player Ty Tilson to tie the match at 1-1. The Mavericks scored twice in the top of the sixth before the ‘Runners responded with two scores of their own courtesy of junior infielder Matt King and senior infielder Alexander Olivo. The Mavericks were able to drive in two more scores late to win 5-4. A less-than-ideal opening series sends the Roadrunners right back to work to prepare for their first road test of the season. “We are going to face better pitching, that’s the part that concerns me. We just have to improve,” Hallmark said. UTSA will next face Tarleton State at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Tarleton Baseball Complex.

Strong finish in Houston Can the Roadrunners overcome leads to first two wins of the season themselves? By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

UTSA softball spent the weekend at the Houston Classic, playing five games at Cougar Softball Stadium at the University of Houston. The ‘Runners went 2-3 in the tournament, winning their first two games of the season. The Roadrunners had a slow start to the season, losing every game in the Texas State Tournament in San Marcos last weekend. This slow start drifted its way into Houston, which caused them to lose the first three games, playing one game each against the Cougars, Northwestern State and Nicholls State. The first two losses had some positives. Camryn Robillard shone in the first game, hitting two home runs and driving in three RBIs. Jamie Gilbert struck out eight and threw a complete game in the second loss. Game three, however, had nothing positive about it. Throughout the three losses, the Roadrunners only mustered up 12 hits and held the same amount of runners left on base. They were outscored 25-4 because of the lack of offense. Gilbert was the only light the Roadrunners saw in the circle. Kenzi Schultz pitched five innings in two games and saw 11 runs cross the plate under her name. The bullpen was similar, giving up nine total runs. The defense was not much help either, allowing seven errors on the field. The last two games of the tournament proved to be the first two wins of the season, with one win against Northwestern State in the fourth game of the weekend and one against the University of Massachusetts in the fifth. Robillard showed up again in the fourth game with a tremendous box score of one home run, one double and three RBIs. The bats were able to get six hits, which was the first game of the series the Roadrunners surpassed four. They went for a perfect fielding percentage with zero errors as well, which helped the pitching staff who could not stay in the circle for more than one

inning. Iliana Saucedo came to the rescue in the fifth and struck out four in the final three innings, holding Northwestern to zero runs and two hits. Gilbert once again shone in the fifth game by throwing a complete game, striking out 10 batters and only allowing two earned runs, putting her ERA at 2.49 for the season. The bats did not show up with the Roadrunners as they only scored three runs, but the pitching and flawless defense held the opposing team enough to grab the win. The Roadrunners finished off the tournament strong with two wins and many

positives to look forward to in the future which include the hot bat of Robillard with four home runs already this season, Jaylen Prichard posting a .320 batting average and Gilbert being the star of the pitching squad. While all this is great, there are still major problems to work out, like the rest of the pitching room, who are posting a 4.63 ERA, and the defense, w h i c h already has 13 errors. Vann Stuedeman’s first year as UTSA’s head softball coach finally had a number other than zero to fill the win column, and with 11 new players, that number will start to go up as the games go by. This team has much to look forward to. UTSA will face Southeastern Louisiana at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Davis Diamond in College Station as they compete in the Texas A&M Invitational.

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

Losing its fifth consecutive game, UTSA men’s basketball now sits with a disappointing 2-10 American Athletic Conference record. While the story has been much of the same for this year’s Roadrunners, frustrations have grown as the team nears the end of league play. Struggling to create and maintain leads in games, the ‘Runners have come up short countless times this season. Whether it is sloppy starts or lack of discipline, the team has consistently let fans down all year. While UTSA has come close to pulling off miraculous upsets over ranked teams such as Florida Atlantic and Memphis, their lack of direction and focus has ultimately cost them numerous games this 2024 season. Forcing FAU into a home overtime thriller, the team found themselves committing crucial

fouls and turnovers to effectively end the game. The same could be seen when the Roadrunners took Memphis into overtime, where a foul on a 3-point make would seal the deal for a Tigers victory. Averaging 18 fouls per game, it is no secret that UTSA has had trouble staying disciplined on the defensive end. Often, the team commits crucial fouls after important defensive possessions or in the final minutes of a competitive ballgame. A problem that has plagued the ‘Runners all season, foul discipline has continuously cost the team multiple upset victories. Though the lack of discipline has consistently held UTSA from reaching its full potential, it is minuscule compared to the team’s slow starts in nearly every ballgame this season. Countless times, the ‘Runners have dug themselves in deep first-half holes. Shooting poor percentages from the floor, giving up large scoring runs and going on long stretches without points, the team fails to secure comfortable halftime leads in most games. 1-6 in their last seven games, the team has only managed to secure a halftime lead in just one contest. While players and coaches have voiced frustrations about slow starts, little has been done to improve the first-half struggles. In turn, the team has effectively played from behind in nearly every second half this season. An incredibly hindering factor, it has been the biggest problem plaguing the ‘Runners all season. With just five games left in the regular season, UTSA hopes to finish on a high note heading into the AAC tournament. Second to last place in the conference standings, the team will need to make drastic improvements to their discipline and sloppy starts if they hope to make it far in the tournament championship. Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

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sports UTSA men’s soccer club prevails

By Maria Wence Contributor

The UTSA’s men’s club soccer team formed back in 1988, simply due to there not being an NCAA men’s team to play on. Since then, it has been established as a self-run club, created by the players where they found the means and passion to play. Despite its Division I status, UTSA does not have an official men’s soccer team. Just like other club teams, UTSA provides minimal funding to the team. Transportation and equipment are usually supplied and paid for by participants and volunteers. Being outside of the athletics program at UTSA, the club faces many obstacles. For all sports, to play efficiently and consistently, funding is key. The team receives little funding from the school each year. “We get some funding from the school, that keeps getting reduced every year,” team leadership member Colin Harper said. As a result, many of the players pay out of pocket to afford the necessary means for the club with transportation and fees at the beginning of the season, including a try-out fee. Without much help from the school itself, it becomes harder for the players to obtain funding, increasing the fear in the players of disbanding the club. Despite this, they prevail. The team is currently led by volunteer head coach Mason Rankin, president of the club Marc Garcia and vice

president Luca Barrio. The team hosts tryouts at the start of every semester, typically after the first or second week of school. Around 30 players are selected for the club, decided by the head coach and returning members, but only 22 make it onto the playing roster. The people playing can vary as players can work their way into the starting lineup. The club is put into various leagues each semester, where their schedule is decided by that specific league. Members of the leadership team will reach out to other universities club teams to schedule matches. Along with the scarcity of funding comes the shortage of awareness of the club team. Many students are unaware of the team and as a result, more damage is done to the team when it comes to its continuation. Without more men each year coming out to the tryouts, they lose numbers and struggle to keep the club going. This has not kept the men from playing, though. The team meets every Monday and Wednesday to practice at the campus rec fields. Here they run drills, decide on players’ positions, and most of all, bond over their shared appreciation for the beautiful game that is soccer. Supporters can check their Instagram to keep up with the action and see when they play next.

Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

Super Bowl LVIII Mahomes has overtaken Brady as the G.O.A.T.

In just 6 seasons, Mahomes became the greatest quarterback ever By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

Kara Lee/The Paisano

When Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl while playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by beating Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs three seasons ago, there was no doubt who the greatest football player to ever do it was. Winning more Lombardi Trophies than any NFL franchise, having played over two decades of football and being at the top of nearly every statistical category, Brady walked away from the sport with every football fan saying he was the G.O.A.T., almost assuredly after beating Mahomes twice in the postseason en route to winning two of his seven Super Bowls. And even if Mahomes –– or anyone, for that matter –– could catch Brady, it would take years and probably an equal number of championships. Right? Wrong. Since walking off the field in the 31-9 loss to Brady in Super Bowl LV, Mahomes has covered enough ground to not just make the G.O.A.T. conversation entertaining, but now wondering how far he’s surpassed Brady. From the macro view, it may seem unfair to even compare the two. For starters, Mahomes just finished his seventh season, less than a third of Brady’s 23. Brady’s longevity also boosts the record books, along with the aforementioned fact that he is 2-0 against Mahomes in the playoffs. But in the micro, Mahomes’ has already shown why he is the greatest. Coincidentally, both quarterbacks played just one game in their first season, so we can scratch those. In six seasons as a starter, Mahomes has racked up three Super Bowl trophies with three Super Bowl MVPs, two regular season MVPs, six Pro Bowl selections and a three-time All-Pro. In Brady’s first six seasons as a starter, he matched Mahomes’ three Super Bowls, but won the MVP of those games twice, never winning a regular season MVP award, being named to the Pro Bowl three times, and was an All-Pro once. Not only has Mahomes had a better career thus far, but he was also the key piece on the team, while the defense often led Brady and his offense. After winning his third ring in Feb. 2005 against Philidelphia, Brady didn’t win his fourth until Feb. 2015 against Seattle. Does

anyone think Mahomes will go more than half that time without a ring, especially since he has only missed the Super Bowl entirely twice ever? Mahomes has shown he can win in multiple ways. In his breakout 2018 season, he won the MVP and was a first-team All-Pro, leading his team to the No.1 seed in the playoffs, losing in overtime in the AFC Championship Game. He rebounded his second season by winning the whole thing and won two more Super Bowls in the 2022 and 2023 seasons with defensive-led teams and having mediocre at best offenses. On the other hand, Brady his early seasons were led by his defense, and was just tasked to not give the game away. In fairness, Brady did what he was asked and led his team to three championships in four seasons. But now that Mahomes has gone to four Super Bowls in six seasons while making the conference title game in every single one of his years, he’s on a trajectory that has never been seen. Sure, Brady has four more rings than Mahomes. But is that what makes someone the greatest? In every year of Mahomes’ career, he has undoubtedly been the best quarterback on the planet and is the last player you want with the ball in his hands if he’s facing your team, even if there’s just 13 seconds on the clock –– just ask Buffalo fans. Mahomes also doesn’t get blown out. Including the playoffs, Mahomes has only lost four total games by 10 or more points as a starter. In the postseason, he raises his level of play to an even higher level. The sixth-year starter is 5-2 when trailing by 10 or more points in the playoffs; the rest of history is 8-55 in such games. And with the Super Bowl win two Sundays ago, Mahomes is third all-time in playoff wins with 15, while Brady is first with 35. Mahomes is undoubtedly ahead of pace in catching Brady in numbers and still has another decade to play if we’re being pessimistic. If Mahomes retired tomorrow, he would be in the top three in most people’s all-timers lists, despite playing a fraction of the time. But with the best start to any NFL career ever and passing the eye test as the most talented quarterback we’ve seen, it’s not too early to start proclaiming Mahomes as the greatest footballer of all time.

Make way for NFL’s international pathway By Haley Aguayo

Assistant Sports Editor Firstly, there is the game. Two teams who had overcome adversity and hate throughout their season and the road to success as they finally battle head-on for their shot at the Lombardi Trophy in the biggest football game of the year. Secondly, there are the commercials. Some brands have thrived on marketing during the Super Bowl and have even created traditions out of it. Budweiser’s memorable Clydesdales and little labrador puppy are engraved in seasoned Super Bowl watchers’ brains for eternity. The NFL is just another company that has taken the opportunity to market themselves during their own broadcast through memorable commercials as well. From sacking during a gala, kids carrying a football across the country, to advertising women in football, this year’s commercial highlighted the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program (IPP). The IPP program began in 2017 as a means to give athletes from around the world an opportunity to play in the NFL. In an effort to encourage the growth of the program throughout the NFL, each team has been given an additional spot on their practice roster that is to be reserved for an international player. While this program does give international

players an opportunity to play in the NFL, it does come with requirements. There are international players that retain their citizenship in countries aside from the U.S. Players must have two years of American high school experience or must complete it while in the program. Since 2017, many players have benefitted from this program. Australian born Samoan Jordan Mailata, who plays as an offensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, was drafted in 2018 and won a Super Bowl ring with them during his first season. Mailata still retains both Australian and New Zealand citizenship. The idea for this commercial came from British Nigerian Osi Umenyiora’s success as a two-time Super Bowl champion when he played for the New York Giants alongside Eli Manning. Last season there were a total of 18 international players in the NFL. The NFL just announced 11 additional athletes that will be joining teams in the NFL for the 2024 season. “It doesn’t matter where you’re born, as long as you’re born to play,” Umenyiora said, giving hope to young athletes across the globe.

How do refs get selected to work the Super Bowl? By Michael Rios Contributor

You might not realize it, but referees play a much bigger role in the Super Bowl than you think. They are responsible for calling penalties that could kill a play on offense and defense. Referees also have to make sure they make the right call. Last year in Super Bowl LVII, referee Carl Cheffers called the defensive holding call on Eagles cornerback James Bradberry that ultimately set up the game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs. But, how exactly do referees get selected to make calls in these historical games? Referees and officials selected for the Super Bowl must have enough experience calling games in the NFL, needing to be an official for at least five seasons. They also have to be one of the top officials to work the Super Bowl. The NFL grades all of the officials and they choose the ones with the highest grades to work not only in the Super Bowl but all playoff games as well. There is also a crew of alternate officials just in case one were to get injured or leave unexpectedly. It is not just the people in the zebra outfits,

though. The line judge, umpire, down judge, side judge, field judge, back judge and the replay official all get different grades based on their experience and performances in the regular season. In short, the referees and officials who are the best at their job get selected to work the Super Bowl. The NFL likes to choose officials who have been in the league for over five seasons and have worked playoff games but haven’t gotten the chance to work the Super Bowl to allow more officials to do so. Some officials could work for over a decade and not get to work the Super Bowl, while another official who has worked for half the time could get a shot at the Super Bowl, it is all based on performance. Once these officials get selected for the Super Bowl, they all have to make sure they are disciplined with the penalties they choose to call during the game so that they are not the main discussion over the teams that are playing.