Vol. 65, Issue 5

San Antonio

YDSA leads counter-protest to pro-life demonstrators

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

Members of UTSA’s chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) counter-protested several pro-life demonstrators in the Sombrilla Plaza this past Wednesday. The demonstrators frequent the UTSA campus and often display sev eral pieces of imagery around their table.

The Dean of Students and Vice Provost for Student Affairs, LT Robinson, described the process that outside organizations are encouraged to take when tabling on campus. “We recommend that groups from outside the university reserve common outdoor spaces for expression through Student Union Event Services but cannot require it,” Robinson said. “Additionally, we request an advance reservation to display exhibits to ensure that space is available but must remain viewpoint neutral on the content of their expression and their plans to arrive to campus.”

Kaeden Boudreaux, a cochair of YDSA, described the counter-protests of the demonstrators dating back to last semester and how YDSA coordinates their efforts.

“We as an organization began counter-protests last semester,” Boudreaux said. “We are openly and proudly proabortion; they have the right to be there, and we have the right to stand against anti-abortion groups who wish to protest the rights to basic healthcare. [So,] we organize people to come

out, and counter-protest [and we] provide resources to our members and [the public].”

Last semester, YDSA and several other organizations held a march through campus. The protest ended at the Rowdy Statue, where the group’s demands were read. While Boudreaux says the demands were given to university officials at the

of the general public are no longer required to be invited to campus to undertake these expressive activities at UTSA. However, the law does not mean that individuals may say whatever they wish, wherever they wish. UTSA may, and does, reasonably regulate the time, place and manner of expression to ensure that it

Additional attempted motor vehicle thefts reported on Main Campus

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Students were notified via email of more attempted motor vehicle thefts on Monday, Feb. 13. These reports come a week after four similar incidents were reported. “We have some very strong leads that are being actively pursued by our investigators. Additionally, patrols of parking lots have been heightened to deter any other attempted thefts,” UTSA Police Department Chief Stephanie Schoen-

born said in a statement to The Paisano.

The new incidents were reported in Resident Lot 4, Ximenes Lot and the East Campus Lot. These locations differ from those of the incidents reported a week earlier. On the other hand, the targeted vehicles still included Dodge Chargers and Chevrolet pickup trucks, along with Ford and GMC trucks. Report any additional information about the incidents or suspicious activity to UTSAPD at (210) 458-4911.

are unsure of UTSA’s plans to address them.

“To the best of my knowledge, UTSA has not put out any public support to reproductive health care,” Boudreaux said.

According to the Texas Education Code, Section 51.9315, “an institution of higher education shall ensure that the common outdoor areas of the institution’s campus are deemed traditional public forums.”

Therefore, the Sombrilla would be considered a public forum per this designation.

A note from the Office of the President further describes this matter.

“This designation means that any individual or group — even those not affiliated with UTSA — can engage in free speech activities on campus. Members

conversations with influential people’

SGA President speaks on increasing visibility, connecting with students and the upcoming election cycle

By

In an interview with The Paisano last week, Student Government Association (SGA) President Jasmin Paquet-Durand Ford reflected on the past year, recounting the organization’s triumphs, changes in its constitution and working to bridge the gap between the university and students.

“I would say overall, the past year has been wonderful. It has been challenging on a personal level [and] it [has] been challenging on an organizational level … but I am really proud of everyone in the organization,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

Visibility on Campus

ship is through tabling. The organization also co-hosted a watch party for the UT Austin vs. UTSA football game last semester. According to PaquetDurand Ford, this was a great way to connect with students in a more informal setting.

“[The watch party] was about creating that sense of community and belonging as we all come together and [saying] ‘Oh, by the way, we are student government,’ as an afternote,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

The organization’s liaisons have also been beneficial in keeping the organization informed about various departments or organizations at the university while also conveying information from SGA back to their respective departments and organizations.

“I think [social media] only goes so far, but for this generation, [in] today’s day and age, that is definitely one of the most effective ways for us to engage with students,” PaquetDurand Ford said. Elections and Student Voter Turnout Apart from day-to-day engagement, student voter turnout for SGA elections tends to be considerably low compared to the university’s total student population. A total of 744 students — 2.45% of the student body — participated in SGA’s spring elections last year.

See SGA on Page 2

In the wake of Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s top priority Senate Bills, UTSA’s Faculty Senate gathered to discuss academic freedom and tenure, among several other talking points.

This past Friday, Carlos Martinez from the Office of the President spoke to the group about Patrick’s proposed senate bills in the Texas Legislature and UTSA’s place in those discussions. In addition, UTSA has a representative, Jason Hassay, in the state capital that communicates on behalf of the university.

While faculty expressed their concerns and confusion about the university leadership’s silence on the proposed senate bills attacking critical race theory (CRT) and diversity, equity and inclusion ,

Martinez urged caution and to avoid speculation.

In speaking about the outcomes of bills and when they would be finalized, Martinez expressed that it is a process.

“We likely will not know the end result of this until the middle to the end of May,” Martinez said. “The strategy of ours is very thoughtful [and] deliberate.”

Martinez frequented the term “energizing the other side” when describing the discussions that might occur around the bills and their future outcomes.

“There will be an attempt to energize the other side,” Martinez said. “Be thoughtful and deliberate about how and when you respond.”

In her interview with The Paisano last year, PaquetDurand Ford expressed the desire to increase Student Government’s interaction with students.

Having joined SGA during the pandemic, when many of the organization’s operations were conducted online, Paquet-Durand Ford explained that coming back in person benefitted the organization’s visibility and engagement with students.

One of the ways that the organization has worked on increasing engagement under Paquet-Durand Ford’s leader-

Currently, SGA has several liaisons, including a student veterans association liaison, a student athletics liaison and a student disability liaison.

“They have done a lot in terms of bringing that infor mation to us and keeping us in the loop, and also [shar ing what we do] with their colleagues,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

Finally, the organiza tion has increased its social media presence over the last year.

‘Informal

Gauri Raje News Editor

“I would say overall, the past year has been wonderful”

‘This is deeply political and ideological’

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

Photo Courtesy of Jasmin Paquet-Durand Ford

Kylar Royer/The Paisano

Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies’ schedule announced

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Spring 2023 commencement ceremonies will occur on Saturday, May 20, at the Alamo-

The first ceremony for HCAP, COEHD, COS and the University College will take place at 2:30 p.m., followed by another ceremony at 7 p.m. for COLFA, the Alvarez College of Business and the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. The doctoral hooding ceremony will

UTSA

The UTSA Alumni Association will be hosting the 39th Annual Diploma Dash City Championship 5K on Saturday, Feb. 25. The race, which supports student scholarships, will begin at 8 a.m. at the Convocation Center and will include categories such as teams, UTSA students, UTSA departments and alumni chapter challenges. The event is open to everyone including students, staff, faculty, alumni, friends and even dogs.

Texas

On Thursday, Gov. Greg Abbott delivered the 2023 State Of The State Address in San Marcos. The speech included topics such as a proposed $15 billion to help cut property taxes, a $100 billion plan to build transportation infrastructure, a school choice program that would fund every public school for every student and potential pay increases for nursing home staff. Furthermore, Gov. Abbott introduced two emergency items — one to end COVID-19 restrictions and another for “education freedom.”

U.S.

After previously refusing to reach out for government backing, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been advised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that Ohio is not currently eligible for federal assistance. ABC News reports that in addition to FEMA, DeWine has reached out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health & Emergency Response Team and the CDC for support regarding the train derailments reported in East Palestine, Ohio in early February.

World

It has been more than 12 days since a magnitude 7.8 earthquake rocked the countries of Turkey and Syria. As time goes on, the official death toll has continued to rise and has surpassed 46,000. More than 85,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed thus far.

State of the City— Week of 02/21/2023

take place on Wednesday, May 17, in the HEB Student Union Ballroom.

Graduating students will have the opportunity to learn about ordering graduation supplies and regalia for the ceremony, among other things, at GradFest, which will be held on three different dates:

• 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, March 6, 2023, in the Durango Building 1.124 –River Walk.

• 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023, in the H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms 1.100B.

• 10 am to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, in the H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms 1.100B.

More information about commencement can be found at https:// www.utsa.edu/commencement/.

Martinez recognized the freedom of speech within specific parameters of the law.

“You do not surrender your right to free speech and to petition your government as state employees,” Martinez said. “However, there are restrictions.”

Those restrictions include avoiding the exercising of free speech using a state resource such as email or UTSA letterhead. Additionally, Martinez urged that when expressing their viewpoint, it should come from a personal place.

“You really should not represent that you are representing UTSA,” Martinez said. “Only the president of the university and the board of regents can represent the university.”

Kerry Sinanan, assistant professor in the Department of English and chair of the Academic Freedom, Evaluation and Merit Committee, expressed the uncertainty of the guidelines put on to faculty.

“It is not very practically helpful for the situation that we are in right now and the job we are being asked to do as faculty,” Sinanan said.

Martinez returned to the point that no state resource can be used to support or oppose any legislative measure. Meanwhile, Rene Zenteno, the faculty senate’s chair, recognized the question’s importance.

Sonya Alemán, an associate professor in the Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies department, posed questions on UTSA’s plan and the “wait and see” approach being taken

Continued SGA

With the spring 2023 election cycle approaching, PaquetDurand Ford addressed this low turnout.

“We are always trying to get students to vote during our elections,” Paquet-Durand Ford said. “Every single year [we do] programming to try and increase student turnout in that voting process, and we learn from previous years, so we try [to] take that [and] adapt for the next year.”

A lot of the strategies mentioned above, like tabling and social media campaigns, are utilized to encourage students to vote. SGA also has an election commission, whose primary goals include increasing student turnout.

Changes to Constitution

The creation of an election commission is one of the changes that was made as a part of SGA’s new constitution, which was adopted in the spring of 2022. The process of drafting the constitution was undertaken by

by the university. Furthermore, Alemán asked what UTSA’s plans were for the academic offices and faculty affected by the proposed bills.

“I do not think it is wise to speculate,” Martinez said. “We have not seen any language whatsoever.”

Martinez reiterated the importance of UTSA’s work in creating a productive and supportive environment for faculty. He further argued against the “wait and see” approach, while recognizing some of the events happening in Florida’s education landscape.

Sinanan pushed back on his comments around speculation and posited that examples of the language could be seen through legislative bills passed in Florida and Georgia. She noted the passing of SB 3 — which targeted the teaching of CRT in public schools — as an example.

“It is not speculation; there’s a playbook to these bills,” Sinanan said. “This is deeply political and ideological.”

Sinanan would go on to urge the necessity of a plan of action.

“If the administration will not [have a plan], then we as the faculty senate need to have a plan for advocating,” Sinanan said.

Mary Dixson, a professor of instruction in the Department of Communication, presented a caution around thinking of faculty as “a monoculture socially and politically” ...

Read the full article at paisano-online.com

the members of SGA at the time and members of other organizations that SGA works closely with. A committee was formed to rewrite the constitution. What followed was several months of “collaborative, back and forth feedback [and] discussion,” engaging with the committee and members of SGA’s legislative and executive branches.

In the end, the final draft was signed off on by the Dean of Students — LT Robinson — and President Taylor Eighmy. Furthermore, according to Article XIII, Section 2 of the Constitution, titled “Ratification,” a new constitution is ratified upon approval of the 2/3 majority of the SGA General Assembly, Chief Student Affairs Officer of UTSA, simple majority approval of the UTSA student body and the UTSA President.

Paquet-Durand Ford explained that the reasoning behind the decision to undertake this long and tedious process boiled down to efficiency.

By Gauri Raje News Editor

The San Antonio City Council voted to place all six provisions of the Justice Charter on the May 6 election ballot under a “policy-focused measure” titled Proposition A. This will allow San Antonio residents to vote on measures like the decriminalization of marijuana and abortion and other local law enforcement reforms within city limits. Council members Manny Pelaez (D8), John Courage (D9) and Clayton Perry (D10), walked out and were not present when the measure was approved to signal their opposition.

San Antonio Airport officials unveiled a model for a new terminal at the San Antonio International Airport. A rendering of the new terminal includes “up to 17 gates, lengthy passenger departure and arrival lanes, spacious waiting areas and club lounges and a lushly landscaped, open-air courtyard,” the San Antonio Report explained. The plan is part of the $2.5 billion airport strategic development plan. Pre-construction projects will begin in 2024, and a target completion date of 2028 has been set.

The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office released video footage, witness accounts and 911 calls leading up to the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Andre “AJ” Hernandez by San Antonio police on June 3. All of this evidence was part of a written review that was presented to the Bexar County grand jury. The jury chose not to indict officer Stephen Ramos, who fired the shot that killed Hernandez. According to the San Antonio Express-

Under the new constitution, SGA has an expanded team with more positions in an effort to allocate duties that have remained unassigned so far. There was also an effort to equalize obligations and responsibilities allocated to positions. The roles of the Vice President and the Speaker of the Senate also changed under the new Constitution. Furthermore, the organization now has an internal affairs committee for attendance disputes and overseeing in-house elections among other things.

Bridging the Gap

As the SGA President PaquetDurand Ford is faced with the responsibility of accurately representing students to university officials.

“It is a constantly evolving process,” Paquet-Durand Ford said. “I am constantly re-evaluating how to ger better feedback and to communicate that effectively. One thing that I do not take lightly is the fact that I do have access to these in-

News, the DA’s review of the shooting states that Ramos had reason to believe that fellow officer Espinoza was outside his vehicle and threatened “with deadly force” as the red Toyota Corolla driven by Hernandez accelerated towards him. Body cam footage for Espinoza and dash cam footage from Espinoza and Ramos’ vehicles was released, but no body cam footage for Ramos was included. This footage shows that Espinoza pulled his leg back into the car before the red Toyota Corolla hit his police vehicle.

A University of Incarnate Word (UIW) track and field athlete has been accused of “kidnapping a 3-year-old child and stabbing his mother with a screwdriver,” KENS5 reports. The incident took place on Thursday, Feb. 16, in the northeast side of the city. The athlete, MyRajah Rankin, stabbed the mother as the latter tried to get a hold of her son. Rankin then carried the child away until a nearby man grabbed the child. Following this, Rankin ran and hid inside an apartment closet, where police found her and took her into custody. Rankin is jailed on bonds worth $150,000 total. Her initial court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 28.

Several shooting incidents were reported this week in San Antonio. One of these took place in the city’s Eastside after a fight at a bar escalated, spilling into the parking lot and leaving two men injured. Another incident occurred on Saturday, Feb. 18, when a friendly gathering turned into a “verbal altercation” that culminated in a 17-year-old being shot, NEWS4SA reported.

dividuals, and a lot of my work is informal conversations with influential people. Just sharing student experiences. I have to have my ear to the ground and have my thumb on the pulse of the student population.”

Given UTSA’s large student body, Paquet-Durand Ford acknowledged the difficulty of the process, adding that she ensures she is available to engage with students and listen to their experiences.

“I heavily rely on my team and organization also to expand [the] network of feedback that we are getting,” Paquet-Durand Ford said.

One of the most common ways for students to engage and get in touch with Paquet-Durand Ford or any of the other SGA members is through the organization’s general assemblies every other Thursday.

Read the full article at paisano-online.com

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

UTSA Courtesy Photo

Continued Faculty Senate

Editorial

No return to normalcy OPINION

Michigan State University returns to class one week after shooting

This week, students at Michigan State University (MSU) are being asked to return to class just seven days after a gunman shot eight people, killing three of their classmates and injuring the five others. According to an article from the BBC, the shooter — who had no previous affiliation with MSU — took his own life following a nearly four-hour manhunt conducted by police. While students were told to shelter in place, parents rushed to campus to ensure their kids were safe. Now, these students have to return to a place where they lived through what may have been one of the most traumatic experiences of their lives. While this story is tragic, it has become far too common on school campuses across the United States.

The student news publication at MSU, The State News, released an editorial following this tragedy on their campus. Titled “We’re not going to class on Monday,” the article echoes feelings expressed by many students and their families.

“This was our home. And it will never be the same,” they wrote.

Carelessness and its consequences

Commentary

By Malaki Lingg Assistant Web Editor

On Feb. 3, a catastrophic train derailment occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. The incident occurred when a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials was in transit from Madison, Illinois to Conway, Pennsylvania. The event was caused by a mechanical issue with one of the train’s axles, leading to 38 cars derailing, with 12 more being damaged in a fire.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board, there were 20 cars on the train carrying hazardous chemicals, 11 of which were damaged in the derailment. Due to the hazardous chemicals on board, such as vinyl chloride — a highly flammable chemical used to produce PVC plastics — many of the townsfolk within a one-mile radius were evacuated, and a controlled burning of the hazardous materials was conducted. During the controlled burning, the skies in East Palestine were reminiscent of an apocalyptic nightmare, with a growing fire and a rising plume of smoke. After everything, was this tragedy preventable?

According to Norfolk Southern, their accident rate has increased by 0.78% since 2019, all while making record-breaking operating profits at $3.2 billion in 2022. While a 0.78% increase seems minuscule, another Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous materials derailed in Detroit, Michigan, on Feb. 16 and a Union Pacific train derailed in Splendora, Texas, on Feb. 13.

During the Trump administration, Norfolk Southern and other railroad companies lobbied to repeal a law that would require the implementation of electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, due to the increase in costs to implement the systems. However, Norfolk Southern previously claimed, “ECP brakes have the potential to reduce train stopping distances by as much as 60 percent over conventional air brake systems” during their 2007 third-quarter report. Norfolk Southern has made their apparent disregard for safety clear as long as their profits remain high.

In September 2022, Railroad Workers United threatened a nationwide strike due to concerns with pay, staffing and working conditions. With neither side willing to budge, Congress used The Railway Labor Act to intervene. With Congress mediating, a deal was made, which ended up being unfavorable to the rail unions. In addition, no real changes were made in workplace safety, once again showing the blatant disregard for safety within the rail industry.

With crashes and derailments becoming more frequent, changes have to be made. The federal government must do what the rail industry will not by implementing safety regulations. Companies such as Norfolk Southern have made it apparent that they could care less if their freighter trains are hazards on the lines as long as profits stay high.

the trauma inflicted on the survivors or the homes that will never be the same in the aftermath of these events.

Kara Lee/The Paisano

According to the Gun Violence Archive, the United States has experienced 79 mass shootings less than two months into 2023. Yet, the nation often moves past them within days. If not, thoughts and prayers are sent, but no meaningful action is taken. As time passes, society becomes removed from the pain and feelings of those afflicted, until the next shooting occurs in our community or on our college campus. We do not see the families torn apart,

Colleges are a place of learning, a community of like-minded individuals excited to experience all the world has to offer. No student should go through their lives worried that their school might be next. As citizens, we must urge our elected officials to take action and install preventive measures to end the gun violence epidemic in the United States. We must never lose hope that an end to this violence is within reach. These shootings must never become normalized.

A verified list of fundraisers that will directly help the victims of the MSU shooting can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/michigan-stateshooting-help.

Find the contact information for your federal representative’s office at https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative and https://www. congress.gov/members/find-your-member.

Combating corporate climate change

Commentary

CO2 present in the atmosphere today was produced by humans. This is a world-altering volume. We need to do everything we can to reduce it before its impact can no longer be reversed.

Sam Wendorf Staff Writer

Pollution is a problem. Most people recognize that the greenhouse gasses we put out into the atmosphere hurt the environment. A great number of sources can be blamed for these greenhouse gasses, but there is some debate about where they come from and how best to deal with them.

There are many harmful humanproduced gasses, but the one people tend to talk about most is carbon dioxide (CO2). Since the 1870s, humans have produced approximately 2,000 billion tons of CO2, half of which are still around today. To put that into perspective, there are currently a little over 3,000 billion tons of CO2 in the atmosphere. A third of

Commentary

The solution is a matter of hot debate among environmentalists and large corporations. The argument boils down to three basic stances: corporations should reduce their carbon footprint by changing how they operate, consumers need to alter their lifestyles to lessen their day-to-day emissions or a mix of the two needs to be put into play.

While a mix of the two would be the most beneficial, the debate between consumers and corporations is paid a great deal of attention, especially by companies that produce a lot of greenhouse gasses, like car manufacturers, power plants and massproduction factories.

While these companies would like to make it seem as though ordinary people are responsible for global

“Only 100 companies produce over 70% of greenhouse gasses.”

climate change by pointing the finger at our overuse of cars or how much meat we consume, the objective fact is that these companies produce the vast majority of CO2 emissions. Only 100 companies currently produce over 70% of greenhouse gasses. These companies are more interested in money than in protecting the planet. Some, such as oil firms, have even gone so far as to block policies that would help fight against climate change. They do not care about the consequences of their business as long as it turns a profit.

See Environment on page 4

Texas is too needle happy

the past and has recently been brought back to the limelight during the events leading up to Fratta’s execution.

By Jake Mireles Opinion Editor

In the state of Texas, which has a reputation for being a small govern ment safe haven, serious governmen tal overreach is occurring. Ever since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, Texas has led the United States in state-sponsored executions, most of which utilize lethal injection. How ever, the government of Texas has recently come under scrutiny for being too needle-happy, and rightfully so.

According to an article from the Texas Tribune, this past January the state of Texas used an expired lethal injection to execute Robert Fratta, who was convicted of hiring two men to kill his wife following their divorce in 1994. Despite a contentious legal battle involving an Austin judge placing a temporary injunction on the execution due to the expired nature of the drugs, the Texas Supreme Court ultimately ruled against her. As a result, Fratta was promptly put to death using the expired cocktail. This practice has come under criticism in

The practice of extending the expiration dates on lethal injections is nothing new. Texas has long been criticized for this practice, including an incident in 2018 involving multiple doses of expired lethal injections.

Why is the state’s supply of lethal

the world, including in the US, began refusing to supply drugs for the injections — out of either opposition to the death penalty or concerns about having their products associated with executions.”

As Texas’ supply of lethal injections dwindled, they turned to compound pharmacies, which are “state-regulated agencies that mix their own drugs without federal oversight,” accord-

ing to the Texas Tribune. Even this was not a permanent solution to the supply issue, as the owners of these compound pharmacies soon came under heavy public scrutiny due to the nature of their product.

Since then, Texas has managed to maintain its supply of lethal injections to match the number of executions they schedule by regularly extending the expiration date of the doses on hand. This practice has received heavy amounts of criticism, as defense lawyers claim that the expired drugs can cause “painful executions.”

It is extremely alarming that our government continues to administer a life-ending drug that is well past its shelf life. While the ethical ramifications surrounding the use of capital punishment remain ever-changing, the standards of state-sponsored execution must remain air-tight. So why is the state of Texas so insistent on administering capital punishment using expired drugs with no consideration of the consequences? The pain induced by these drugs was nothing short of cruel and unusual punishment at the hands of the government. Texas must end its violation of the rights of prisoners on death row and cease its use of expired lethal injections.

Gauri Raje /The Paisano

Commentary

OPINION

The Paisano

active against the insane amounts of pollution these companies produce for their own benefit. With every year, the cost of our deteriorating planet builds due to these greedy corporations. If these companies refuse to change, we will be the ones who have to pay the price.

Tragic tales of young talent

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

Music is art, pure and beautiful. It never takes and always gives. Behind all art is a brilliant artist honing their craft with every beat, stroke and design. The idea of tortured artists is not a new one. The most common example is Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, who famously cut off his own ear in 1888. And still today, tortured artists continue to struggle with mental health issues. It makes one wonder if the music industry even cares, because if a depressed artist is making beautiful music, would the same artist make similar music if they were happy? Across all genres of music, there are examples of talented musicians who died too young and likely did not receive the help they desperately needed.

many at the time, with many people remembering where they were when they found out. But was it really much of a surprise? The lyrical content of Cobain’s music talks about everything from drug abuse to committing suicide. It seems like those in the industry surrounding Cobain did not care about his mental health; they only cared about making a buck off of his talent. The greed of the music industry kills.

Drug abuse being normalized within the music industry has led to names like Mac Miller, Lil Peep and Juice WRLD all passing away due to drug overdoses. Lil Peep passed away from a fentanyl overdose due to taking laced Xanax. He was barely 20 years old. Mac Miller also passed away from a fentanyl overdose due to taking laced Xanax. He was 26. These artists made music with content about struggling with drug addiction, mental health and suicide. Their music has saved lives, and their names will forever be carried on by fans around the world, but at what cost? This trend of struggling artists finding success and still self-destructing is getting hard to watch.

Another reason record labels might not assist their artists in their

The U.S. has been the most obese nation on the planet for over two decades now. Food is pumped with unnecessary sugar and empty calories, the average lifestyle is more sedentary than active and seeing overweight people everywhere has become so normalized that we hardly notice it. Despite that normalcy, most people agree that this epidemic is deeply unhealthy. Therefore, we need to start paying more attention to diets and fitness.

Unfortunately, our approach to the obesity epidemic has been horrendous on many fronts. Diet industries and fad supplements promise quick weight loss only to disappoint their customers. Gym memberships can be expensive, and fitness influencers give the impression that a person needs to spend a lot of time exercising to be healthy. Some social movements even try to convince overweight people that they are already healthy. But the most harmful approaches may be toward child-

Editorial Board

Mason Hickok | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

Laynie Clark | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com and Gauri Raje | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

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

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

Luke Lawhorn | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com

Chloe Williams | Web and Social Editor Web@paisano-online.com and Socialmedia@paisano-online.com

Dustin Vickers | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com

Grace Robinson | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com

“The handling of artists’ estates by record labels has led to many deceased artists releasing posthumous music.”

Are weight loss shortcuts viable?

hood obesity. It is no surprise that in such an overweight country, children make up a fair portion of the statistics.

One in five children in the U.S. are overweight. That is well over five million young boys and girls who face health complications due to their weight. While obesity is a problem in adults, who have control of their own food and exercise choices, it develops into a much more extensive set of issues in

struggles, whatever they may be, is a cold, hard one: A song still makes money after the artist is dead. The handling of artists’ estates by record labels has led to many deceased artists releasing posthumous music. While this has resulted in good music being delivered to fans in cases like Mac Miller’s “Circles” and MF DOOM’s “Super What?,” it can also feel like a cash grab with no regard for the fans or the artist’s legacy. The culture surrounding hip-hop and rock has always had ties to drugs, and unless there is a cultural change, musicians will continue to feel pressured to fit into the tortured-artist mold that society expects. Drug abuse and mental health in the music industry needs to be addressed before more stars burn out in their prime. The music left behind by these artists is their gift to the world — and they get paid back with everything but happiness.

Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com

Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com

Genevieve Vega | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com

Luke DeMario | Buisness Manager Buisness@paisano-online.com

Staff

Grace Robinson/The Paisano

minors, since they are often not old enough to make these choices for themselves.

Parents should be feeding their children good food and encouraging them to play outside or participate in sports at school. It is their job to ensure their kid is happy, healthy and productive by helping them build good lifelong habits. Far from employing such time-tested techniques,

however, some parents are turning to shortcuts they can use to circumvent the attention they should be paying to their kids’ health and wellbeing.

One of these shortcuts is weightloss medication. Instead of controlling the portions of the food they give to their children, parents are putting them on medications like semaglutide — also known as Ozempic — which tricks the brain into thinking they are full. Why teach them to control how much they eat, a lesson that will help them throughout their lives, when you can medicate their hunger away? This is lazy parenting at its finest and sets up dangerous precedents for the future.

If a child is taught that they can depend on medications for problems that can and should be approached through discipline and good choices, what else will they try to change through unnecessary substances in the future? And if we teach the younger generations that healthy diets and exercise are unnecessary, how can we expect the obesity epidemic to improve?

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Diane Abdo | Advisor

Steven Kellman | Advisor

Jack Himelblau | Advisor

Stefanie Arias | Advisor

Sandy Norman | Advisor Sofia Garcia | Advisor

John Helton | Advisor Corey Franco | Advisor Imelda Robles | Advisor

into the atmosphere. The numbers are clear: corporations make a much bigger impact than consumers ever could. So instead of accusing the average man of ruining the world, these corporations need to focus on their own businesses. We must be outspoken and The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer. | Journalism | Writing | Photography | | Audio/Video Production | | Graphic Design | Magazine | Advertising | | Marketing | Podcasting | | Website Management | Social Media |

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ARTS & LIFE

‘Glass Onion:’

An

underwhelming sequel

A film to watch, but not rewatch Reviews

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

SPOILER-FREE

“Ladies and gentlemen, there has been a murder and the killer is in plain sight.”

In 2019, actor Daniel Craig had audiences on the edge of their seats in the American mystery “Knives Out.” Stacked with a stellar cast, “Knives Out” is a dark, dramatic mystery filled with family feuds and fraud that had fans begging for more. Fast forward three years and fans have been blessed with the newest film, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”

“Glass Onion” takes place in 2020, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Miles Bron — played by Edward Norton — is a wealthy playboy that invites his strung-out friends to an annual party; this year, the theme is murder mystery. To fit the theme, Bron also invites the world’s greatest detective: Benoit Blanc, portrayed by Craig. Blanc shows up to this high-dollar party in an appreciative mood but quickly finds himself immersed in what could be an actual murder mystery.

From the beginning, it is clear that director Rian Johnson wanted to go in a completely different direction with “Glass Onion” and leave “Knives Out” in his rearview mirror. Where the first film features gothic manors and forests buried in fog, the second film bathes its characters in beachy colors and private islands. The change in scenery is an immediately eye-catching difference that makes the audience feel hopeful for the rest of the film, though the same cannot be said for the characters.

Online student discounts you should be taking advantage of

Spare Change

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

Amazon Prime Student — Six months free, then $7.49/month

If you are not a Spotify person or just want to catch up on any of Apple TV’s original shows, Apple partnered with UNiDays to provide a student discount. The original cost of each is $10.99 and $6.99 per month.

Apple Music and Apple TV+ — One month free, then $5.99/month

If you are not a Spotify person or just want to catch up on any of Apple TV’s original shows, Apple partnered with UNiDays to provide a student discount. The total cost of each comes out to $10.99 and $6.99 per month.

Groupon — Extra 25% off local deals for six months, then 15% off Groupon’s student program is free to join and provides an extra 25% off local deals. Current local Groupon deals include discounted bowling and movies, painting classes, oil changes, workout classes and more. After six months of 25% off, as long as you are still a student, you can still enjoy an extra 15% off.

Paramount+ — $3.75/month

With the Paramount+ student discount, students have access to Paramount’s essential monthly plan for 25% cheaper than the original amount. This includes all of their available shows, movies and access to live sports.

Spotify, Hulu and SHOWTIME — One month free, then $4.99/month

With this bundle, you get access to

Tuesday, Feb. 21:

“TSPE Proclamation Breakfast”

— 8 to 10:30 a.m., H-E-B Student Union Ballroom 1 and 2

“Volunteer at the Whataburger Resource Room (Spring Market)”

— 9 to 10 a.m., UTSA Whataburger Resource Room (SU 1.04.06, 1 UTSA Cir.) and UTSA Whataburger Resource Room (DB 1.306, 501 Cesar E Chavez Blvd.)

“Food Drive to Support the Roadrunner Pantry” — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Feb. 24, Undergraduate Studies Office (MB 3.108)

“COLFA Taco Tuesday” — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376)

“Rowdy Prize Cab” — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Main Campus starting at the Sombrilla Plaza

While “Glass Onion” follows the first film’s success in casting high-profile actors, their on-screen characters seemed like they were randomly thrown together without a stitch of genuine connection. The film details the backstory of each character, yet it still feels like something is missing. Despite Johnson’s attempt to nudge the audience in caring for the ensemble, one cannot help but feel like the cast is nothing more than a backdrop to Blanc’s place as the detective. It is upsetting to say, but “Glass

Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” was not the film that fans anticipated. Seeing as how it lacked depth and character connection, this film was unable to compete with the attention of the first film and therefore left fans feeling indifferent. While it deserves to be watched because of the funky setting and shocking plot twist, it is not a film that needs to be rewatched.

Morgan Francis/The Paisano

Central Plaza - Food Tabling 13

“Discover Your Strengths Workshop” — 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Business Bldg University Room (BB 2.06.04)

“Trivia Night” — 4 to 5:30 p.m., McKinney Humanities Building (MH 2.01.36)

“First-Year Experience SelfCare Date Night” — 4 to 6 p.m., McKinney Humanities Building Galleria Room (MH 2.01)

“Harm Reduction Training” — 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., H-E-B Student Union Nueces Room (HSU 2.216)

Friday, Feb. 24:

“Diploma Dash 2023” — 8 to 11:30 a.m., Convocation Center

“Zen Recovery” — 12 to 1 p.m., Recovery Center (JPL 4.02.08)

“Ping Pong Tournament Social”

Paramore is back without vengeance

Paramore releases their sixth studio album, ‘This is Why’ Reviews

By Lauren Hernandez Staff Writer

After five years, three-piece rock band Paramore has finally released their sixth studio album, “This is Why.” This album is not pop-punk’s long-awaited revival, nor is it Paramore’s magnum opus, but it is worth the listen. Coming in at a snappy 36 minutes, “This is Why” is a perfect listen for that sunny day when you are walking your cat, dog or ferret and are searching for something new and fun to jam out to.

second floor Group Spot B

“Healing After Trauma” — 1 to 2 p.m., Student Union Buckeye Room (SU 2.01.32)

Wednesday, Feb. 22:

“Fatal Vision- Cannabis and Driving” — 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Student Union Willow Room (SU 2.02.12)

“Amplifying Black Immigrant Voices” — 12 to 1 p.m., H-E-B Student Union Bexar (1.102)

“Campus Services Tabling-Parking Permit Design Contest” — 12 to 2 p.m., Sombrilla - South

“Coffee and Conversation” — 1 to 2 p.m., Student Union Mesquite Room (SU 2.01.24)

“Anxiety and Depression Toolkit” — 1 to 2 p.m., Student Union Magnolia Room (SU 2.01.30)

Thursday, Feb. 23:

“Pre-Medical Society BBQ Fundraiser” — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

“Child Seat Safety Check” — 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., St. Philip’s College (1801 Martin Luther King Dr.)

Sunday, Feb. 26:

“UTSA University Band” — 3 to 4 p.m., Recital Hall

Monday, Feb. 27:

“HCaP Student Success Center: Mellow Mondays” — 1 to 4 p.m., HCAP Student Success Center (MS 2.02.36)

“Tajweed Class” — 4 to 5 p.m., Student Union Anaqua Room (SU 2.03.08)

Tuesday, Feb. 28:

“Study Abroad Fair” — 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sombrilla - North

“Uno/Card Game Social” — 2:45 to 4:15 p.m., Student Union Ash Room (SU 2.03.06)

“SMART Recovery- Family and Friends” — 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Recovery Center (JPL 4.02.08)

Do not let the first track, or even the first half of this album, impair your judgment too much. Paramore is simply maturing, and their sound is evolving with them, even if it took them the first four tracks to prove this.

The opening song, “This is Why,” is okay. Reminiscent of lead singer Haley Williams’ solo album “Petals for Armor,” which was released during Paramore’s five-year hiatus, this track begins with a murmuring and intricate instrumental that builds up to a powerful, though unoriginal, chorus. Even though this song missed its mark, you can not deny that it is catchy and now this is the track that has remained in my head for days.

The next three tracks continue to sound like a three-piece band, and before I hear you say, “Well, they are a threepiece band,” or “What about their lineup changes?” It makes no difference. This is 2023, and the ability to make songs sound fuller and deeper has never been easier. I am disappointed because these first four songs are not close to Paramore’s best,

Continued Student Discounts

three services for less than a Starbucks coffee. The services individually cost $9.99, $7.99 and $10.99 a month, respectively. To access the discount, just enter your school email address.

StudentBeans

StudentBeans offers countless discount codes available for students. Helpful site exclusives include 50% off an annual Squarespace subscription — perfect for setting up your online portfolio. Other notable exclusive discounts include money off purchases at Princess Polly, Foot Locker, Crocs, Champs and Lulus.

UNiDAYS UNiDAYS is one of the best destinations for finding student discounts. The website highlights subscription options, discounts on apple products and money off your online purchases. Sign up for UNiDAYS and verify your student status to receive access to hundreds of discounts.

Wall Street Journal — $4 to $10/month

The Wall Street Journal offers two student discount options. For $4 a month, gain access to the student digital pack, including unlimited access to the WSJ website, app, podcasts and more. For an extra $6 a month, you can receive all the same access with an additional six-day home delivery and magazine subscription. Non-student subscriptions range from $9.75 to $12.50 a week.

You Need A Budget (YNAB) — One-year free YNAB’s main goal is to help you budget your money efficiently. The budgeting app connects to your bank, has real-time sync, creates reports and enables you to achieve your monetary goals. The app is free for college students for one year, then will switch to their regular price at that time. Claim on their website by providing proof of enrollment. College students are known for being broke, but this reputation does not mean we have to be careless with our money. Whether you are searching for a cheap way to watch your favorite shows or looking for something fun to do this weekend, remember it never hurts to ask for a student discount.

Continued Paramore

and though Williams’ vocals truly rock, they do not disguise these songs’ lack of emotion. If catchy radio hits were the goal with these tracks, maybe Paramore got what they wanted with their simple guitar, drum riffs and generic pop-punk sound, but I expected better. However, the album picks up from here because next up we have one of my favorite tracks, “Big Man, Little Dignity.” In all of the previous songs on “This is Why,” Paramore stripped back their sound and went for a more pop approach, similar to their 2017 album

“After Laughter.” “Big Man, Little Dignity” finally showcases how mature Paramore can be. With simple drums and a rhythm guitar reminiscent of Interpol, along with some LCD Soundsystem-type synth moments, this song definitely showcases what Paramore has to offer for rock ‘n’ roll.

We are over halfway through the album now and the tracks remain solid from here on out.

“You First” is strong and good, great even. It sounds like something from MGMT or even

The Killers, and it continues to draw inspiration from Paramore’s earlier work. “Figure 8” features some abstract and clashing guitar and drum rhythms that even out to more of a midwest emo-type sound, similar to that of Tigers Jaw or Tiny Moving Parts.

After these solid tracks, Paramore probably realized they should calm down a little and add something more melancholy. “Liar” showcases a slower and more romantic vibe, encouraged by a lead guitar that sounds almost like a harp and some pretty fantastic drum fills. The lyrics of this track are strong too, with the chorus repeating the line, “Love is not an easy thing, but I’m not ashamed of it.” But despite these details, this song does not contribute anything new to the band’s discography.

The final two songs of this 36-minute endeavor finally got my head banging, once again proving why Paramore will be remembered in musical history. These songs have a full, raw and almost ethereal sound. “Crave” finally features guitar with some heavy effects, similar to shoegaze and dream pop bands like Blue Smiley or even Men I Trust. “Thick Skull” ends the album on a high note. There is not much to say about this final track except that it rocks. These two songs are the culmination of everything Paramore has to offer. They combine Parmore’s entire discography with heavier and more mature components that are just sensational.

“This is Why” is definitely an adventure. With quite a few lows and some tremendous highs, this album shows that Paramore can still rock while being inventive and experimental with their sound.

Arts & Life

Spreading ‘luv’ in San Antonio

Co-headliners JID and Smino sell out the Aztec Theatre

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

Rappers JID and Smino brought their sold-out co-headlining show to San Antonio on Feb. 15. With both artists coming out of 2022 highly successful, the “Luv is 4ever Tour” gave them the opportunity to shine in front of a “luving” crowd at the Aztec Theatre.

“I came all the way from Atlanta to f—k with y’all tonight. Is that cool?” asked the tour’s opening act, SwaVay. For his entire 20-minute set, he brought loads of exciting energy. Promoting his debut album, “ALMETHA’S SON,” his flows on songs like “GO SHORTY” and “KICK DOOR” had the fans jumping with their hands up high. The crowd likely had never heard any of his songs beforehand, but by the end of his performance, the rapper surely had 1,500 new fans as he remarked, “I think this [is] my favorite motherf—kin’ city on this tour.”

Alternating who opens and closes the show at each city, the San Antonio stop had Atlanta rapper JID come out first. Making his return to the Alamo City after three years, he is now touring “The Forever Story,” considered to be the album of the year for not just many rap fans but many music fans in general. Given that it was the “Luv is 4ever Tour,” JID’s motto was to “spread love and have a good f—kin’ time.”

He kicked off his performance with great energy with older

songs like “NEVER” and “Off da Zoinkys” before jumping into songs from his latest record that got the crowd pumped, like “Raydar” and “Dance Now.” Every song had terrifically unique elements added to them, thanks to two inverted heartshaped screens that showed various videos, graphics and unique lighting elements throughout. There was also a fantastic addition of a live band, with both a drummer and a keytar player, which is about the most unexpected instrument you could ever see played at a hip-hop show.

This led to the slower stretch of the show, which also felt like the most meaningful part of the show for JID. He sang songs like “Bruddanem” and “Sistanem” with such powerful emotion that everyone in the crowd could experience every rapid-fire lyric he spit on stage. The most powerful of them all was “Kody Blu 31,” where the crowd waved along with JID, joining him in chanting the lyric “swang on, swang on.” One of the best rappers you could ever see live, JID is able to flawlessly switch up his flows at any given moment, especially on the high-energy tracks he ended his set with. With each song building more excitement for the next, it was a nonstop ride in the crowd hearing “Off Deez,” “Surround Sound” and “151 Rum.” It all built up to “Stick,” the Dreamville rage anthem that sent the Aztec The-

atre into a complete mosh pit frenzy, and culminated with a crazed keytar and drum solo that proved JID’s status as one of the elite performers in the rap game right now.

Ending the night was the other tour headliner, St. Louis rapper, Smino. His backup singer and DJ assisted in introducing the artist as he ran out on stage to the song “KLINK,” immediately getting the crowd jumping. Then, after playing another banger in “Rice & Gravy,” Smino made sure that San Antonio was ready to party.

Touring his latest record, “Luv 4 Rent,” his music is known for fusing hip-hop with funk and soul influences, as well as going from punchy rap verses to smooth melodic flows. He brought those abilities to tracks like “Z4L,” “Matinee” and “Wild Irish Roses,” with the latter eliciting the loudest singalong of the night that brought a smile to Smino’s face. He also had everyone put their lights up for “90 Proof,” showing his emotional side in his performance of the track.

He shared the heart-shaped screens that JID used by incorporating inventive uses of them throughout, synchronizing the lighting of the hearts with the beats of his music. The rapper also constantly kept the crowd engaged, doing lots of calland-response with his lyrics and getting everyone to wave their hands in the sky. He had a fun moment where he split the crowd into the “Ratchet Right” side and the “Legendary

Left” side and had them both cheering loudly before everyone began repeating the chant “SMINO.”

With the night coming to a close, Smino performed “Louphoria,” tapping into an alternative-indie side with moody lighting and displays that showed a psychedelic outline of the rapper as he performed. The rapper wrapped up with “No Ls,” a song that perfectly captures his style. It starts as a hard-hitting banger and shifts into smooth rap flows that the crowd loved, with Smino remarking, “San Antonio, y’all look so beautiful.”

Both of these remarkably talented artists brought incredible love to their sets, and it was truly felt in the crowd the entire night. Lots of heart signs were thrown up by both the artists and all the fans, and it was fitting for the concert to take place just after Valentine’s Day. It was a great feeling to take away from a show.

Cesar Soto/The Paisano

‘Refined Reflections into the Formidable’

Men finish second, women fourth in C-USA Indoor Championships

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. –

UTSA competed in the Conference USA Indoor Championships Feb. 18-19, with the men finishing second overall and the women fourth.

The men totaled 136 points, making it the programs highest total in C-USA Indoor Championship history, and third-most ever in a conference indoor meet. The Roadrunners were 23 points behind Charlotte, who won the conference with 159 points.

Mike Roth led the team with 20.5 points in three events. The Canada native chipped in two gold medals of the men’s five total, also having claimed silver in the 200 meters.

Roth, alongside Noah Rhodes, Logan Masters and Dennis Phillips won the 4x400m relay with a time

UTSA baseball wins opening series against Tarleton State 2-1

By Rylan Renteria Contributor

SAN ANTONIO — The reigning Conference USA runner-ups won their first two games of the regular season against Tarleton State at Roadrunner Field.

The Roadrunners defeated the Texans 3-2 to open the 2023 season on Friday, Feb. 17.

Pitcher Luke Malone started on the mound and pitched seven scoreless innings. The Roadrunners ran into trouble at the top of the ninth as Tarelton scored two runs due to an error by shortstop Matt King. Pitcher Simon Miller was able to get out of the top of the inning with the ‘Runners only down by one.

In the bottom of the ninth, Tarleton State pitcher Jake Burcham walked the next two batters setting up Leyton Barry to play hero, and that is exactly what he did. Barry battled with Burcham as he hit several foul tips. Eventually, Barry drove one into deep center field and brought the two baserunners home.

The crowd erupted, and the team celebrated as they survived what could have been a disastrous opener. After the walk-off, Barry commented on his thoughts at the plate as he hit the gamewinner.

“They brought one of their best pitchers out there, so it was a long at-bat,” Barry said. “I fouled off a lot of pitches with two strikes, so I felt like what well, see the I would be and that’s what happened.”

UTSA had a more complete game on Saturday, winning 13-6. UTSA

as Tarleton State scored two runs early in the first inning. UTSA got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with an RBI double

from Garrett Poston to bring it within one.

In the bottom of the second, Shane Sirdashney brought in two runners to take the lead. Tarleton responded with a home run to tie the game at 3-3.

King homered to right field, bringing in two baserunners, and Antonio Valdez stole home to give the ‘Runners a three-point lead. In the bottom of the sixth, UTSA put the game out of reach as King, Valdez, Barry, Sammy Diaz and Tye Odom all hit RBIs to make the score 11-3.

Tarleton State scored three more runs to avoid the run rule, though UTSA cruised to the 13-6 victory.

Coach Pat Hallmark says the key to the three straight wins will be the defense. need to just throw strikes and play defense,” Hallmark said. “We have been throwing strikes, so hopefully, we can play a little better defense.”

the final game of UTSA’s three-game home series against Tarleton State, the Roadrunners found themselves in a hole early as they were down by as much as three scores going into the fifth inning. single from Antonio Valdez and an errant throw by Tarleton State allowed Caleb Hill to get UTSA’s first points of the match. In the bottom of the eighth, UTSA rallied and scored four points to tie the game at five all and send the game to extra innings thanks to contributions from Barry, King, Hill and Valdez. In extra innings, no runs were scored until the top of the 12th, where Tarleton State tacked on two points to give the Texans the lead. UTSA had an opportunity to tie it up or take the lead but were unable to score as they suffered their first loss of the season 7-5; however, even with this loss, UTSA takes the series win vs. Tarleton State 2-1. UTSA looks ahead to their singlegame matchup against the University of Houston at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Roadrunner Field.

MBB: Roadrunners snap 11-game skid with win over Rice

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

HOUSTON – A full team effort prevailed in Houston, as the Roadrunners picked up their first road win of the season, defeating Rice 84-79 on Thursday evening in Tudor Fieldhouse.

John Buggs III led all scorers with 23 points, shooting 8 for 10 from the field and 5 for 7 from beyond the arc.

Josh Farmer added 18 points off the bench while also shooting 8 for 10 from the floor in UTSA’s second conference victory this season. Rice managed to climb out of their 13-point deficit and trail the Roadrunners 79-77 with a minute left in the fourth quarter. Cameron Sheffield made a 3-pointer with one minute remaining in the game.

Japhet Medor missed a layup on UTSA’s next possession to give the Owls another chance at completing the comeback. Rice guard Mekhi Mason missed a layup on the other end, in which DJ Richards grabbed the rebound. Richards was then intentionally fouled and forced to go to the free-throw line.

After missing the first free throw, Richards made the second to give the ‘Runners a 3-point lead. Medor made two pairs of free throws to ice the game and claim the 84-79 victory.

The JUCO transfer finished Thursday’s game with 14 points. Medor is currently the team’s leader in points per game with 12.9. Jacob Germany was the fourth Roadrunner in double-figure scoring with 16 points

while also snagging eight rebounds. Germany is currently third in Conference USA in average rebounds per game with 8.0. Rice (16-10, 7-8 C-USA) finds themselves fifth in the league standings.

The Roadrunners currently have a 2-14 C-USA record and are 8-19 overall, finding themselves at the bottom of the conference standings. Thursday night’s triumph is the first victory for UTSA since the 75-72 win over Middle Tennessee on Jan. 5.

The ‘Runners are now 12-9 all-time against Rice.

UTSA will look to add another win as they face UAB at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18.

of 3:12.45. The final relay was UTSA’s first conference victory in the event since 2014.

Roth also broke the school record in the 400m dash with a time of 46.42. The record-setting continued in the 200m dash, where the sophomore clocked a 21.09 which would land him runner-up in the event and No. 2 all-time in the event in UTSA history.

Jack Turner claimed his third career C-USA Indoor heptathalon title. His 5,794 points in the event broke the conference record set by Scott Filip of Rice in 2015.

Turner extended the Roadrunners streak of four consecutive seasons of winning the event.

Jamuel Miller won the triple jump in back-to-back seasons for the ‘Runners. Miller leaped a 15.63m (51-3.5) in the fifth round to claim the gold over teammate Gabriel Binion who finished with a jump of 15.52m (50-11), earning him the silver medal.

UTSA’s second place finish adds to nine straight top-three finishes as the conference meet.

This week’s matchups

Photos Courtesy of Conference USA

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Women’s basketball victorious in three of five against Rice

By Haley Aguayo Contributor

SAN ANTONIO — UTSA

women’s basketball claimed the third victory in five contests, beating Rice 66-53 Thursday evening in the Convocation Center. With the win over Rice (17-7, 8-7 C-USA) and FAU’s loss to Middle Tennessee, the Roadrunners moved up to ninth in the conference standings, currently with a 5-10 league record and 7-17 overall.

UTSA jumped out to an early 10-0 lead. Forward Jordyn Jenkins wasted no time getting UTSA on the scoreboard with a field goal from the paint. Elyssa Coleman followed her teammate’s lead with another field goal. Jenkins and Coleman each made layups to get the 8-0 lead, causing an Owls timeout.

The Roadrunners ran a stout defense that kept Rice from scoring during the game’s first four minutes.

UTSA led by 17 points after the first quarter. Jenkins had 10 points.

The Roadrunners led by as many as 20 points in the second quarter.

The Owls went on a 13-3 run, though Sidney Love made a shot with four seconds remaining to head into halftime up by 12 points.

The Roadrunners outscored Rice 18-13 in the final quarter to claim the 13-point victory.

Head Coach Karen Aston credited the high camaraderie of the team to the support they receive from the fans and believes that a new group of fans has come to support the women at every game.

“The difference for our win

today was the aggressiveness of our guards,” Aston said. “I appreciate players stepping up; we lost two point guards in the span of four days. I think we did an admirable job with how quickly we had to adjust to that.”

Jenkins agreed that “the aggressiveness of our guards helped us win.” Next, the women will face off against UAB. The game will tip-off at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, in Bartow Arena.

C-USA 5-10

basketball falls short on possible second-straight win

Men’s

By Luke Lawhorn

Sports Editor

SAN ANTONIO – UTSA

men’s basketball near upset win against UAB fell short down the stretch, losing 83-78 on Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center.

The Roadrunners had four players in double-figure scoring in looks of their second straight win. Japhet Medor led the ‘Runners in scoring with 22 points.

“I was proud of our focus, our preparation, our rebounding, our toughness,” coach Steve Henson said. “The game was on the line, they made plays, and we didn’t.”

UTSA (8-20, 2-15 C-USA) led by one with under four minutes to play against the Blazers (20-8, 11-6).

UAB made a layup along with a foul shot to take a 73-71 lead with under three minutes to play.

Blazers’ Jordan Walker made a layup to go up four points.

Medor pulled up for three at the top of the key, drilling the shot and bringing UTSA back within one point.

After Walker made two free throws, the 5-foot-11 senior made a 3-pointer of his own to put UAB up 80-74, their largest lead in the afternoon.

Medor made a pair of free throws to shorten the deficit to four points.

Jacob Germany was sent

to the line with 27.3 seconds remaining. The Oklahoma native went 2 for 2, though UTSA still trailed 80-78.

Walker was sent to the freethrow line, making the first shot and missing the second.

John Buggs III had a step-back three to tie the game, though the shot was just short, falling incomplete on their near-upset win.

Buggs III and DJ Richards each had 14 points in Saturday’s loss. Germany added 11 points with six rebounds off the bench.

“We put ourselves in position, and the game got away from us,” Henson said. “I’m disappointed.”

UTSA came out with fire in the first half. The Roadrunners led 11-0 while holding UAB 0 for 6 from the field and 0 for 2 from three.

Richards made the first field goal of the game. The Blazers were forced to call a timeout after UTSA built a 9-0 lead.

Buggs III blocked a Blazer layup and managed to grab the ball on the fastbreak. Buggs III passed ahead to Medor for an open layup to cap off the explosive start.

UAB scored 13 unanswered points in their quest to regain the lead. The two teams had four lead changes and five ties in the first half.

Just a kid from Akron

Commentary

By Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

Isaiah Addo-Ankrah came off the bench and tied the game at 21 with a 3-pointer. Off a missed second UAB free throw, Medor grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast, making a layup and regaining the lead.

Sabally drove the ball baseline, drawing defenders in the paint and kicking it to open Medor for three. Medor led the two teams with 13 first-half points.

Buggs III and Richards made back-to-back threes for the Roadrunners to open the second half.

Buggs III received an inbounds pass at the top of the key. The JUCO transfer did not hesitate to pull and make the 3-pointer.

On the next possession, Richards dribbled up the court and banked in a deep three to bump the lead to 11.

Three straight UTSA turnovers resulted in a 9-0 run for the Blazers to trail by a point in the second half.

Germany and Medor each made layups to go up 69-62 with 6:09 to play.

The Roadrunners play their final two road games of the regular season in the next week.

UTSA will face FAU at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, at FAU Arena.

In a culmination of his storied career, LeBron James embodied greatness when he hit a fadeaway jumper to cement his status as the NBA’s all-time scoring leader. The record, previously held by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was once considered unbreakable. On Feb. 7, James proved this sentiment wrong as he amazed spectators and 3.7 million viewers at home. Moments like these can be found anywhere in James’ 20-year career. From overcoming a 3-1 deficit in the 2016 NBA Finals to “Lebronto,” James defies logic. At 38, he continues to perform at an elevated level, thanks to his diet and strict regimen. James’ ceiling is limitless, and he knows it, showing it off for the world to see every night. His feats can make it hard to imagine how far he has come.

A highly-touted basketball prospect in high school, James was electric on the court, drawing national attention. By age 17, the Akron, Ohio native was dubbed “The Chosen One” by Sports Illustrated. This nickname brought a lot of expectations for the young teen with comparisons to greats like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Drafted first overall, James was expected to carry the weight of the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Man I’m just a kid from Akron Ohio! [I] can’t believe a lot of the things that happen to me. My own…,” James said in a 2014 tweet about his collaboration

San Antonio Brahmas lose XFL opener in sellout crowd

By Luke Lawhorn, Rylan Renteria

of Sunday’s game, though unique rules from the XFL gave the Battlehawks opportunities for the comeback win.

“In a normal NFL game, college game, you think the game is pretty much over,” Brahmas quarterback Jack Coan said. “But with the new rules, the game is a lot more exciting and I think that’s the way it should be.”

“We just got to get used to these new rules and finish the game out strong.”

The Brahmas led 6-3 early in the fourth quarter.

San Antonio put together a 10-play scoring drive to extend its lead. Coan found wide-open Fred Brown for 18 yards on third and 10. Coan threw to Deon Yelder for 17 yards to put the ball inside the Battlehawks’ 4-yard went back to Brown in the back left on the endzone for a 4-yard touchdown. The Brahmas failed their 1-point rush attempt, still leading 12-3.

Running back Brian Hill broke loose up the middle for a 40-yard rush for St. Louis. The Brahmas defense forced a missed 43-yard field goal from the Battlehawks, awarding themselves the ball at the 25-yard line.

Brahmas kicker Parker Romo hit a 48yard field goal to extend the Brahmas lead, 15-3, with 3:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback AJ McCarron responded with an 8-play drive to score a touchdown for St. Louis late in the quarter. The Battlehawks utilized the XFL’s 3-point conversion rule with a pass from McCarron to Austin Proehl from the 10-yard line to trail 15-12.

While football normally would have an onside kick, the XFL uses a fourth and 15 play where the offense must get the 15 yards to maintain offensive possession.

The Battlehawks successfully converted the 15 yards with a pass to Proehl. St. Louis marched down the field, scoring a touchdown with 16 seconds remaining. McCarron found Proehl in the endzone for the 14-yard score.

Despite the Brahmas falling 0-1 after the season opener, the San Antonio football fans supported the hometown team with a sellout

with Sprite. As a result of his talent and court vision, James has earned countless opportunities and endorsements, leading to him becoming a billionaire. Even with these accomplishments, nothing can replace Akron.

“People always say, ‘You’re going back home.’ But I tell people all the time, ‘I’m not from Cleveland,’” James told The Los Angeles Times.

Even though he helped Cleveland win a Larry O’Brien trophy, nothing can ever replace Akron in his heart. In 2018, James opened I Promise School, an elementary school targeted toward at-risk youth in Akron. James is devoted to assisting the community he came from because he was once in their shoes. For him, helping those kids is an extension of his vision for his hometown.

“There’s no disrespect to Cleveland. But, when you’re from Akron, you’re not from Cleveland. This is where I’m from.”

James is one of a kind, displaying grace on the court while dominating opponents. His level of achievement in basketball makes him what he is: a legend. To truly acknowledge his greatness, one must remember his journey to becoming the man he is today. Feb. 7 will forever be engraved in NBA lore, but James will always be the kid from Akron.

crowd of 24,245 people.

“I knew the fans in San Antonio were just supportive in general,” Brahmas coach Hines Ward said. “Their passion about their teams, they’re going to come out and show their support. I’m just thankful to be the head coach here in San Antonio.”

Sunday’s game against the Battlehawks was the first of a 10-game schedule for the Brahmas.

“It’s just one game,” Ward said.

Parker Romo made the first points in San Antonio Brahmas history with a 43-yard field goal.

The Battlehawks tied the game in the second quarter with a 32-yard field goal from Donald Hageman.

Coan completed a pass to Jalen Tolliver for a 19-yard gain. Coan then rushed for six yards to the St. Louis 11-yard line.

Romo hit his second field goal of the afternoon, from 29 yards out, giving the Brahmas the 6-3 lead.

San Antonio will play on the road for its upcoming three games. Next, the Brahmas will face the Orlando Guardians at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, at Camping World Stadium.

SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Brahmas lost their season-opener to the St. Louis Battlehawks 18-15 Sunday afternoon in the Alamodome.

Andrew Christianson/The Paisano