Vol. 68, Issue 10

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Tsga and student organizations clash over funding issues

year in Little Rock, Arkansas. We go there

and it’s a bunch of workshops on how to better run our organization and how to be an effective leader and do effective fundraising campaigns. It’s going to be from June 14 to 16, I believe,” Clasen said. “But yeah, we have to register to go by April 30. And we’re not registered.”

“We might be able to fundraise enough to go because we’re doing a fundraiser for that. But like, we shouldn’t have to do that. We should be able to have the funds because we submitted the form and did everything like we’re supposed to,” Clasen said. “We were able to get it before, that’s how we paid for the last one.”

The Paisano spoke to the President of the Secular Student Alliance, Clara Clasen, about their issues with receiving their funds from the program.

“[Secular Student Alliance] had gone to the National Conference in June, right, and we’d submitted to the fund for that. I applied for the Leaderfund to reimburse us for that at the beginning of October, and it was approved on Dec. 6. So I asked, when can I expect the funds to go to our customer account, it was like a couple of weeks, then my withdrawal request gets denied,” Clasen said. “I’m asking why we got denied, and they’re [saying] the treasurer quit so [they’re] behind and [are] working on it. So I waited a while, and then I submitted another request that was still pending. It’s been pending for like the last month or so.”

Alongside the pending funds, the Secular Student Alliance has claimed that communication between them and the university has not been clear.

“I’ve emailed them since then, or when I’ve sent questions in I just get ignored. They don’t respond. The money was supposed to be [used] so that we can go to the conference here coming up in June, but the deadline to register for that is April 30,” Clasen said. “We don’t know if we’re gonna get some money in time to go to [our leadership conference].”

Every June, the Secular Student Alliance attends a leadership conference. Last year, they used money from the Leaderfund to pay for their trip, but this year they have doubts about whether they will be able to attend in time.

“[We attend a] leadership conference for the Secular Student Alliance every

With the ongoing complications, Clasen aired her frustrations with SGA and their promotion of Leaderfund.

“The SGA president spoke in front of a student body dress and he was like, ‘apply for the leaderfund. There’s money; all you have to do is apply,’ and I [thought] why are you even promoting it right now if you can’t even follow through with it,” said Clasen. “And then we’re talking about how we’re gonna get this big monument downtown. They’re talking about all this other stuff that they wanted to do, and it doesn’t seem so important compared to their other responsibilities.”

While the delay in payments is affecting the operations of the Secular Student Alliance, other student organizations have allegedly had the same problems.

“As far as I know, nobody’s gotten paid at all. Every organization I have come across I’ve asked them about it, and they’re like, ‘No, we haven’t gotten it either,’” Clasen said. “I talked to other organizations and they said they’re getting the same treatment, [for example] I talked to the President of Women in STEM.”

The Paisano also spoke with the President of Women in STEM (WIS) Megan Brown, on whether their organization has experienced similar issues with the Leaderfund. Brown expressed that WIS was deterred from applying for the Leaderfund because of the issues other organizations have had with it.

“We had considered it but hearing the difficulties that other student orgs were having deterred us. We are a relatively small student org still rebuilding. With this in mind, and hearing the stories from others, we were deterred from applying because we really cannot wait months to receive funds,” Brown said. “We already

waited almost two months for a withdrawal request for our cost center to help us cover funds for preparing for [Dia en la Sombrilla] and be able to provide programming for our members.”

Brown added that they have also experienced a lack of clarity about the Leaderfund. “I will say that in our experience when trying to understand what Leaderfund is and how to apply, it’s been relatively unclear. When asked for more clarification, we have just been directed back to the website, which is sort of unclear.”

While the Leaderfund is not necessarily a new endeavor, the issues began this academic year. The Paisano had the opportunity to speak with SGA President Zachary Nepote to hear what is happening behind the scenes.

“There has been administrative errors with the Leaderfund request, we had a turnover with our treasurer role. And so with a turnover of that role, the university had to assume those duties and get the paperwork processed,” Nepote said. “Apparently, it was processed improperly. We’ve been in contact with these organizations and we’ve expressed our apologies for this delay and bureaucratic error, but it just highlights what being in a student work is like. It takes time and takes patience, but we’re excited to get that money out and we hope that more [student organizations] apply.”

“We’re working with the director of the Student Involvement Center to clear up the holdup in the funds and get them out there,” Nepote stated. “It’s just you know, everything at universities is really bureaucratic and slow. The time frames are not as quick as we might see in the private sector, in other fields or even in our classes.”

The Paisano contacted the Student Involvement Center in an attempt to shed more light on the issues and what is being done to alleviate them, but they failed to comment.

Alongside the Leaderfund, student organizations have noted that they have been facing issues with BestFest fund disbursement as well.

Secular Student Alliance noted they were originally notified that funds would be available on Feb. 12, but when the time came their withdrawal request was denied by the university.

“Last semester, we raised funds at

BestFest. [We] sold tickets there at the festival, and they would take a certain number of tickets for which we’re selling right? So we raised $242, right, at best. So that was supposed to be deposited into our account center for [the] cost center account when they finished counting them. I was told that [it] took them most of the semester to finish, and they finished at the beginning of December. So they said after that it was supposed to just happen shortly after that you would be available. So it started getting to like, [the] middle of January, [so we] started asking ‘where are the funds?’ [because] they hadn’t been deposited yet. [They] were like ‘Oh, it’s coming’ or ‘we don’t have a specific date, but we’re working on it,’” Clasen said.

“So I’d submitted [a] balance and fees withdrawal [request] for the BestFest funds, and on February 1, they told me that they would be sending out a notice pretty soon and that it would have a specific date. So Student Activity sent out a newsletter stating that on February 12, everybody would get the funds in their accounts that are available for withdrawal. Well, they just left my withdrawal requests pending and [then it] got denied on March 25. For ‘insufficient funds.’”

She continued, “They owe Secular Student Alliance a total of $992 [between Leaderfund and BestFest funds] alone, so this is many thousands of dollars they are withholding from student organizations. When we inquire when we can expect the funds to be deposited in our cost center accounts we are ignored or outright lied to.”

WIS also reported having issues accessing funds that the organization helped raise during BestFest last semester.

“We did participate in BestFest. We have not received funds from that event,” said Brown. “We made a significant amount that could help us with improving some of our programs to attract more members. However, we’ve been forced to figure out alternative methods of funding.”

If students are a part of an organization and are having issues, they are encouraged to voice their concerns to SGA by completing the SGA General Feedback Form, or can reach out to the Paisano. To stay informed on Leaderfund and the ongoing story, refer to paisano-online. com.

Israel Exposition showcases nation’s heritage

By Faith Koaudio Staff Writer

On

“in honor of all the civilian lives lost in the war.” “Israelis and Palestinians are human beings and deserve peace. This starts with the rest of the world seeing humanity in all peoples,” continued the poster atop the candles titled “Light for Humanity.”

At the first booth, visitors were informed of the ethnic, religious, gender and sexual diversity in Israel and its government. The next booth shared the history of Israel, with stand-up posters covering recent history, including the Oct. 7, 2023, and Nova Music Festival attacks and the yellow ribbon “Bring Them Home” campaign in response to the taking of the hostages. The third booth discussed Israel’s military capabilities in detail.

Representatives at the table shared the Israel Defense Forces’ inclusion of women, successful military campaigns in the area and the hightech aerial defense system, the Iron Dome. “What would it feel like to be under the threat of rocket attacks every day?” began an informational poster about the system. “The Iron Dome has the ability to anticipate threats headed towards open fields or populated areas — this reduces costs significantly. The United States has provided hundreds of millions of

dollars (exact number not known) in recent years to Israel in order to help maintain the Iron Dome system.”

Informative postcards bearing the flags of several countries, from Kenya to Japan, listed the many ways Israel has provided humanitarian aid in other countries, such as during natural disasters or to assist with chronic issues such as improving maternal health.

At the back center of the exposition, visitors could try authentic Israeli street food. A plate consisted of fries, hummus, falafel, a chickpea patty served on bread and Israeli salad, which was a combination of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and bell peppers. There were also imported chip-like snacks.

The following booth had visitors guess which inventions and products were of Israeli origin for a chance to win a USB stick or potted succulent. The last booth displayed celebrities of Jewish or Israeli origin and Israeli films and music that are popular within the country or that have found international success, such as Netta Barzilai’s “Toy.”

The Israel Expo is anticipated to return next year. More information about Hillel San Antonio is available on their website, hillelsa.org.

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

Courtesy of Women In STEM

Courtesy of Secular Student Alliance

Jake Mireles/The Paisano

The Little Runner, a new way to travel downtown

By Naydine De La Fuente Copyediting Coordinator

In an attempt to enhance accessibility on its expanding Downtown Campus, UTSA partnered with Centro San Antonio to launch The Little Runner. This new mode of transportation is a free, on-demand e-shuttle designed exclusively to facilitate student and staff mobility across Downtown Campus, Southwest Campus and San Pedro I. Commencing their operations on March 18, this new shuttle aims to support a sustainable future for downtown locations.

The shuttle runs

in operations areas by calling or texting 210-802-6610 or using the eCab mobile app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. To learn more about the shuttle’s hours of operation and its various pick-up locations, check out the Campus Services website.

on the new form of transportation.

“We are grateful to Centro San Antonio for their ongoing partnership and shared vision to support a thriving downtown,” Salazar said.

Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and on Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. To hitch a ride on The Little Runner, students, staff and even nonaffiliated UTSA personnel can wait at designated pick-up zones, represented by The Little Runner shuttle stop signs along the fixed route areas. People can also request a ride

Many UTSA personnel are very pleased with the new shuttle development. Individuals such as Veronica Salazar, executive vice president for business affairs and chief enterprise development officer, and Mary Hernandez, senior associate vice president for administration and operations, have voiced positive opinions

By Laynie Clark Editor-in-Chief

In compliance with the Clery Act, UTSA keeps a public daily crime log that houses all on-campus crimes. The log summarizes the case’s date, time, location, incident and current status. The crimes detailed below are taken directly from the crime log, showcasing the trends premiered during the first month of classes.

Sexual Assault

On Oct. 29, 2022, a sexual assault offense took place at Chapparal Village. The incident occurred at 10 p.m. but was not reported until March 22, 2024, at 2 p.m. The case is still active.

Stalking

A case of stalking took place on Main Campus on Jan. 3. The incident continued until Feb. 29 and was reported at 8:24 a.m. on March 22. The case was closed by exceptional means.

Harassment

On March 21, a case of harassment took place at the Bosque St. Building. The incident occurred from 9:36 to 9:51 p.m. and was reported

By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer

On Mar. 25, “UTSA and UT Health San Antonio officials welcomed the opening of the new facility located at UTSA Park West Campus.” The building is called UT Health at Kyle Seale Parkway and is a “five-story, 108,000-squarefoot medical facility delivering primary, specialty and surgical care.”

In 2021, UT Health San Antonio collaborated with UTSA to “advance their shared goal of creating a healthier society.” UT Health San Antonio became the “official healthcare partner for UTSA Athletics, providing student-athletes with access to the health science center’s distinguished physicians and clinicians for primary care, physical therapy and other specialties and for imaging and surgical services.”

The services and specialties that UT Health at Kyle Seale Parkway offers are “primary care, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapy, and urology services. Patients also have

“This is one way we are enhancing the campus experiences for our Roadrunners,” continued Hernandez. “By connecting our downtown locations and making it easy to travel from place to place we support the success and safety of our campus community.” This new e-shuttle is undergoing a pilot period until Saturday, Aug. 31. This will allow UTSA to receive information on The Little Runner’s use and ridership so the university can make proper decisions about long-term transportation needs between its downtown locations.

To learn more, refer to UTSA Today and Campus Services to stay up to date on transportation news surrounding The Little Runner.

3/20-3/31

SGA President Zachary Nepote reflects on presidency

By Malaki Lingg Web Edtior

As Spring Commencement approaches, students in senior standing at the University of Texas at San Antonio reflect on their academic journey, with Zachary Nepote, the Student Government Association (SGA) president, among them.

Nepote, who was elected as the SGA President in Spring 2023 for the 2023-24 academic year, has discussed the initiatives undertaken by the SGA during his tenure.

“This year, we got to interact with students more and understand their concerns. We hosted events that allowed for this type of feedback to be facilitated at our annual SGA Field Day, Trick or Treat the Paseo, our Open Educational Resource (OER) advocacy and outreach downtown town halls, and we’re gonna have one more today as well,” Nepote said.

initiative. That’s been an ongoing initiative for the past two years and this year we’re able to provide feedback to the appropriate university administration about the student worker experience and how the cost of living in San Antonio is rising. Fortunately, the president’s office decided to raise student worker wages. So that’s an explicit win for student workers, for the working class, for students at UTSA.”

He continued, “In terms of increasing student organization engagement, we were able to get a Leaderfund out there for student organizations to use. The Leaderfund is money in SGA that can be used for student organizations. So they can get reimbursed for the costs that are associated with putting on an event or something like that. We are continuously working to make it easier for student [organizations] to get that money upfront.”

immediately. The case is still active.

Indecent Assault

On March 18, an indecent assault took place on Main Campus. The incident happened at 12 a.m. and was reported on March 21 at 4:04 p.m. The case was closed by exceptional means.

Assaultive OffenseIntimidation

On Dec. 1, 2023, an assaultive offense involving intimidation took place at the John Peace Library. The offense started at 10:51 a.m. and lasted an entire 14 days; the incident was reported on March 21. The case was closed by exceptional means.

Harassment of a Public Servant

On March 25, harassment of a public servant took place at the Ximenes Ave Garage. Additionally, the same individual faced an offense with the possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. The incidents were reported at 8:33 p.m. and the arrest cleared the case.

Minor in Possession of Alcohol

Graffiti

On March 28, a graffiti case was reported at the Student Union Building. The incident took place at 9:38 p.m. and was reported immediately. The case is still active.

Criminal Mischief

On March 21, criminal mischief took place at the Biotechnology Sciences & Engineering Building. The incident occurred from 12:12 to 12:26 a.m. and was reported immediately. The case is still active.

Theft The crime log is dominated by theft. Four different cases of theft were reported from March 22 to March 31. The incidents took place at the John Peace Library, the Science & Engineering Building, Laurel Village Resident Hall and Bosque St. All four cases remain active.

To stay in the loop, visit UTSA’s Public Safety website.

On March 24, a minor was caught in possession of alcohol. The incident took place on Angelina Rd. and was reported at 10:12 p.m. The case was closed by exceptional means.

access to the latest diagnostic laboratory testing and convenient imaging services, including MRI, CT scan, X-ray and ultrasound.”

“Our continued partnership with UT Health allows us to provide world-class care to our Roadrunner community, especially to our studentathletes, coaches and staff who are competing at higher levels than ever before,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. “I’m immensely grateful to Dr. Henrich — whose vision and legacy will live on through his impactful work — his colleagues at UT Health and my colleagues at UTSA for continually collaborating to create new opportunities for wellbeing that make our university a great place to learn, work and discover.”

“This access to affordable and exemplary health care aligns closely with our efforts to enhance the campus experience and supports UTSA’s goal to be a great place to work,” UTSA Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer Veronica Salazar said. Not only will this facility

“Graduate student seminars, Ready Prize cabs, Mental Health First Aid training and then we will also be hosting the upcoming University Life Awards and Earth Day Festival on the 22 of April. But, in addition to hosting these traditional events, we held various seats on universitywide committees on issues relating to the student experience, such as your dining experience, parking, how the university invests strategic investment funds, and sustainability. This allowed us to insert unique student perspectives into policy conversations that impact students in unique ways.”

Regarding OER, Nepote highlighted successes in partnering with the library’s OER team and hosting faculty recognition events. He emphasized the importance of supporting faculty who create free textbooks to promote equity in education.

“Our advocacy and outreach for OER was also a success, we were able to partner with the library’s OER team and host a faculty recognition event. Faculty don’t get paid for creating these free textbooks, they just get their tenure and their salary. And so it’s really underappreciated,” Nepote said. “If we want more equity in our education, especially at a school that’s mostly working class, where students can’t afford textbooks, we have to support the faculty who are doing underappreciated work. And so we were able to partner with them for that event and also advocate for OER at the Provost level, at the University President level and also the past few semesters, SGA has been working to combat their low voter turnout. When asked about their plans to increase voter turnout, Nepote mentioned efforts to be more present in various events throughout the year and expressed confidence in improving voter turnout. has been working to increase our voter turnouts by being more present in a variety of events throughout the year but also through our candidate rally and candidate debate candidate seminar and so through our presence in these unique spaces that allows us to have these interactions with students and increase our voter turnout,”Nepote said. “I’m feeling very confident about voter turnout this year.”

and project provide care for the community, but it will also strengthen future educational possibilities. “The program aims to expand the availability of learning opportunities for UTSA students of all levels and programs of study.

Guided by its 10-year strategic plan, UTSA is working toward its goal of providing 75% of its students with handson learning opportunities by the time they graduate,” UTSA Director of Strategic Communications Brandie Yale said.

UT Health San Antonio stated, “We do everything it takes to support the health needs of our city and surrounding region through academics, research, patient care and service to the community. Stay informed on the latest news and events and discover how you can be a part of our mission to make lives better.”

To see the new UT Health facility at Kyle Seale Parkway, go to 7946 North Loop 1604 W or contact them at 210-4509000.

By Dustin Vickers Photo Editor

expect two new pedestrian bridges that will connect the existing parts of the Pearl to some of the new developments across downtown San Antonio. Both bridges aim to enhance the walkability of the downtown dining and shopping stores near the Pearl. The first bridge will connect the Pearl’s Hotel Emma and Cellars apartment building to a parking lot across the street, and the second bridge will connect Pullman Market to the developing Cooper Row apartment building.

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Miles Jones/The Paisano

Jake Mireles/The Paisano

More money, less excuses

SGA fails to disperse Leaderfund on time, blames bureaucratic error

When it comes to running a student organization, one thing that must be taken into account at all times is funding. Money talks, especially in today’s world, and student organizations hoping to establish a presence at UTSA are no exception.

To help alleviate the stress of securing funding for student organizations, the UTSA Student Government Association (SGA) operates the Leaderfund program. This program is designed to reimburse student organizations at the university for various operating costs they undertake. These costs can include those associated with hosting events, leadership training costs or costs related to learning opportunities for members or other students. All registered student organizations can be reimbursed up to $750 per academic school year and all funds are allocated at the discretion of SGA’s finance committee.

However, this semester, SGA has unsurprisingly run into multiple issues with the disbursement of Leaderfund money to student organizations. Multiple student organizations have reported that their withdrawal requests for Leaderfund funding have either been denied or left pending.

SGA President Zachary Nepote claims that with the SGA Treasurer position being vacant, the responsibility of dispersing the Leaderfund money was undertaken by the UTSA Student Involvement Center. However, there has been no clear timeline as to when the funds may be

Sugar daddy? Yes, please

By Maria Wence Staff Writer Commentary

Noah Willoughby/The Paisano

dispersed. This is a complete failure of communication for both SGA and the university.

The President of the Secular Student Alliance, Clara Clasen, reported problems with the organization’s request to withdraw funds to send officers from the group to a leadership conference this June. With the registration deadline approaching in April, and no answers in sight regarding the status of their funding, members of the Secular Student Alliance may miss out on this opportunity due to a bureaucratic slip-up.

Additionally, both the Secular Student Alliance and

Money, green little sheets of paper that few have in abundance and most have in scarcity. While having money is not everything, not having it is. The amount someone has in their bank account, their assets and their debt, can all be passed on from generation to generation and it can make or break someone. Those without money are often desperate for an opportunity to acquire more.

One of those opportunities presents itself in sugar dating. Best described as a relationship where an older, wealthier individual provides a young, broke “sugar baby” financial support. The sugar mommy or daddy can cover their baby’s living expenses or provide them with luxurious gifts in exchange for an intimate or platonic companionship.

There are more than three million college students in the U.S. who are considered “sugar babies” as they have succumbed to the broke college student archetype. These relationships are heavily stigmatized and often perceived as greedy gold diggers exploiting the woeful wealthy, or yet another instance of the rich taking advantage of the vulnerable lower class. With that being said, can they be considered ethical?

These relationships are never a sure thing due to the fleeting nature of money and the circumstances of the individuals involved. Oftentimes sugar parents are married and keep their sugar baby a secret from their partner, and it is common for sugar babies to sacrifice their dignity and self-respect to please their sugar parents and make enough money to get by. At any time, something could go wrong, such as a partner finding out or someone getting scammed or taken advantage of.

Despite most creating and agreeing to boundaries for the relationship, it is not unheard of for some to feel displeased with the established boundaries. Sugar parents may feel entitled to more intimacy from their sugar baby as their relationship continues. Additionally, how is a set list of requirements for companionship ever going to have the “right” price? Sugar babies can charge anywhere from $1,000 per month to $10,000 a month for their companionship, but it all depends on what the financially challenged sugar baby feels is suitable compensation for their services.

Sugar relationships may seem like the key to resolving one’s financial troubles, but the pressures of satisfying a demanding sugar mommy or daddy and the need to make ends meet fade the thought of these relationships as being ethical.

Women in STEM also reported issues accessing funds the organizations helped raise during BestFest. Requests to withdraw this fund were allegedly denied, and both organizations have not received a date as to when they will be able to access these funds.

Student organizations at UTSA rely on funding from the university through SGA’s Leaderfund program to continue offering their essential services to students on campus. The fact that these organizations cannot access this funding due to SGA being unable to fill the treasurer position and having to shift the responsibility to the UTSA Student Involvement Center is a failure on SGA’s part. This vital position — essential to the function of SGA — should have been immediately filled after it was vacated. As students, we cannot let SGA fail our student organizations under the pretenses of a bureaucratic mistake. SGA needs to take action and ensure all student organizations can access the essential Leaderfund funding.

To voice your concerns about this pressing issue to SGA, complete the SGA General Feedback Form.

Reserved for a reason

Commentary

By Casey Lingle Contributor

We all know the pain of finding parking at, or even near, UTSA’s main campus.

The challenge can be difficult for healthy people, but it is often worse for those living with a disability who cannot find an adequate spot due to accessible lots being full.

Handicap or accessible parking spaces are ADA-marked parking spaces that are labeled with the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA). These spots are strictly reserved for individuals who have serious permanent or temporary physical disabilities, mobility issues and other conditions. Individuals with permanent disabilities use the blue placard or the ISA symbol on the license plate. A temporary disability is identified by a red placard.

Not only do the handicapped spots on campus fill up quickly, but they are often filled illegally.

For at least the last two semesters, finding parking has become more difficult for students who have serious physical disabilities. These students struggle to find accessible parking in designated handicapped spots due to many people filling them up illegally. This puts the health of those who rely on these specially marked spots at risk due to them being forced to park in less accessible spots that are farther away from their destination.

SGA General Feedback Form

temporary parking spots while waiting to pick up others. These spots are strictly for the use of people with disabilities.

In addition to illegally occupying handicapped spots, some students take advantage of these spaces to pick up others from campus. Unless someone is picking up an individual with a disability, handicapped spots do not serve as

As of Jan. 1, 2022, SB 792 is in effect. The law entailed numerous legal changes in Texas regarding disabled parking spaces and the requirements to park in these spots. DV-labeled plates, which indicate a disabled veteran, are a common sight in San Antonio due to the large population of service members, veterans and their families. Before the law went into effect, anyone who had DV plates was eligible to park in accessible parking spots. SB 792 changed the law to require anyone with a DV plate who wishes to park in accessible parking to also apply for a disabled parking placard or a new set of DV plates with the ISA. Some students incorrectly believe using a relative’s placard or vehicle with ISAlabeled plates is okay. Texas DMV states that it is illegal “to use the placard or plates for a disabled parking spot without the person with the disability in the vehicle. People who misuse disabled parking placards are subject to fines of up to $1,250 and/or up to 50 hours of community service.” Although it may be convenient for these students to use these spots to park close, others depend on these spots in order to safely navigate campus.

For the health and safety of others, please do not park in handicapped parking spaces if you are not legally allowed to do so. This is an ongoing issue and many students with disabilities struggle every day to find accessible parking to get to class without putting their health at risk.

Mohitha Ravikumar/The Paisano

‘The Kids Aren’t Alright’

Commentary By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 3 into law, a restrictive bill that bans children under 14 years old from having social media accounts and requires 14 and 15-year-olds to have parental approval before joining. In a statement, DeSantis cited mental health concerns as his motivation, expanding on the negative effects social media can have on children and teens. DeSantis has been criticized in the past for his overly conservative policies and his attacks on Florida’s school systems, warping academic agendas to fit his party’s views. It is possible that one of his motivations for this ban is to prevent young minds from encountering diverse ideas and communities online that would educate them in ways the

Florida school system cannot. However, that is mere speculation and the reasons DeSantis does cite are valid and well-supported. Like anything, social media is a double-edged sword. It is a way to connect people and cultures across the globe and can be entertaining and educational. It is also full of misinformation and manipulation. It stunts the emotional and intellectual growth of children and provides spaces for adults from all ends of the political spectrum to speak nonsense and manipulate the naive youth of America.

In May 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, issued an advisory that warned parents to take caution concerning their children’s use of social media. Although

Protect child actors

Taylor

The ethics of children in the entertainment industry has been a widely debated topic for as long as there have been child actors. An endless number of children have grown up in the acting industry, and there is a noticeable pattern of those children going on to experience devastating adult lives or going down extremely troubled paths. The treatment of child actors by entertainment industries has a significant impact on how these children develop mentally, emotionally, financially and physically.

The first instance of this starts with the firstever child actor in Hollywood, Jackie Coogan, who starred in Charlie Chaplin’s silent drama-comedy film “The Kid” in 1921.

Coogan had earned today’s equivalent of $50 million throughout his adolescent acting career, yet only received today’s equivalent of $2,000. This occurred because the child actor had no financial protections, meaning his parents owned his earnings and were legally allowed to spend it how they chose.

notably identifying MetroGoldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios co-founder Louis Mayer as one of the men who repeatedly assaulted and groped Garland while she was between the ages of 16 and 20.

Garland would continue her career by acting

he did not call for a ban, Dr. Murthy proposed meticulous regulations, including access limitation, citing online phenomena, such as violence, sexual content and harassment as threats to young people’s mental health. The advisory made a point to mention that poor mental health does not exist in a vacuum and the effects of social media on youths are often compounded by other circumstances of life.

DeSantis’ bill is a step in the right direction. However, it must be complemented by capable parenting and a functional school system that promotes good digital and media literacy to be of any use to America’s future. It would be ideal if children under the age of 14, or even 16 years old, were banned from holding social media accounts nationwide. This does not mean they could not consume content

through their parents’ or guardians’ accounts; merely that their time and content would be regulated and supervised. This is not an infringement of their rights but rather a protection of their mental and physical state. Enforcing these restrictions will prove to be difficult, considering that on agerestricted sites, children lie about their ages and often make accounts without their parents’ knowledge. Nevertheless, it is worth a try.

It is essential that people of all ages, not just children and teens, adopt healthy social media practices to ensure that society maximizes the good of this technology and minimizes the downsides. Other states must look to Florida, in this aspect alone, and closely examine the results of HB 3 to consider taking the same preventative measures.

had her first kiss on-screen with her 26-year-old co-star.

Shields recalls another situation in which she was shooting a sex scene for 1981’s “Endless Love” at only age 16. Shields alleged while on set, the director, Franco

“Meet Me in St. Louis.” Still, her career would continue to perpetuate her severe battles with addiction and depression.

In 1938, Coogan filed a lawsuit against his mother and stepfather, which prompted a law in California Legislation entitled the Coogan Act. This law protects minors’ earnings by requiring parents to have a certain amount of the earnings in a savings account, widely known as a Coogan Account.

However, the Coogan Act did not apply to all child actors; it only applied to minors with court-approved contracts, which the majority of child actors were not applicable. This loophole within the law left many child actors vulnerable to the mishandling of their wages.

Not only does Hollywood have a long history of financial abuse toward child actors, but there is also a long history of emotional, mental and physical abuse of these children. Another example is Judy Garland, the 16-year-old actress who played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.

Garland’s biographer alleged that Garland faced sexual harassment and sexual assault by many men in Hollywood,

Garland’s mother started having her daughter take uppers and downers by the age of 10 to “keep her energy up while performing on stage,” and the dependency worsened as MGM Studios would make sure Garland was medicated to maintain the intense schedule. At age 47, Garland died in 1969 of an accidental barbiturate overdose.

Brooke Shields is another child actor who failed tremendously in Hollywood and the film industry. In the Hulu two-part docuseries “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields,” Shields retells her experiences of being heavily sexualized and exploited as a child by the industry.

Shields, born in 1965, began her acting career at just 11 months old when her mother auditioned her for a soap commercial. By 1978, Shields was hired for the leading role in the Paramount Pictures film “Pretty Baby” at age 11. In this film, Shields played a 12-yearold prostitute who was raised in a brothel. During filming, Shields

Zeffirelli, “grabbed [her] toe and kept twisting it, so [she] had a look of ecstasy.”

Although Shields is one of the few child actors who has gone on to have a successful adult career and raise two daughters, the Hulu documentary highlights the life-long effects of Shields’ treatment as a child actor.

Fast forwarding to March

2024, Discovery released a fourpart docuseries called “Quiet On Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV,” in which Nickelodeon stars from the 90s to mid-2000s share their experiences working in a toxic work environment.

“Quiet on Set” highlights the inappropriate behavior that child actors and other adults working on the set of popular Nickelodeon television shows

such as “iCarly,” “Victorious,” “Zoey 101,” “All That,” “Drake and Josh,” “The Amanda Show” and “Sam and Cat,” had to face at the hands of writer and producer, Dan Schneider. Schneider faces several allegations throughout the documentary, including gender discrimination, racism and intentionally putting sexual jokes and innuendos in his shows for children to act out. One example of many was “The Amanda Show,” in which a 13-year-old Amanda had to play a character by the name of “Penelope Taynt.” Schneider denies most of these allegations in a statement shown at the end of the episode, “a standards and practices group read and ultimately approved every script, and programming executives reviewed and approved all episodes.” Another shocking secret revealed on the “Quiet on Set” documentary was the three crew members who faced charges for the sexual abuse of children. One of these crew members was Brian Peck, a dialogue coach on the set of multiple Nickelodeon shows. Peck was charged in 2003 with 11 counts of lewd acts with a minor between the ages of 14 and 15. In the documentary it was revealed for the first time by Drake Bell that he was the minor Peck abused.

Though Peck was a registered sex offender and faced 16-months in prison, he went on to work for the Disney Channel in 2006-2007 as a dialogue coach on the set of “The Suite Life of Zach and Cody.”

There are many more Judy Garlands, Jackie Coogans, Brooke Shieldses and Drake Bells in this entertainment industry who deserve a chance to live healthy, untraumatized childhoods. The continued outpour of stories of trauma and abuse from child actors leads back to one question: who is protecting them? If not protected by their parents, the law, their agents or other adults on set, how could it possibly be ethical to continue employing child actors?

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

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Monarchs glow art show

‘Bioluminescence: Lights In Play’

In the darkness, it began. The lights were dimmed and across the plentiful crowd, vibrant neon necklaces, shining pet ears and glow sticks illuminated the park’s dome as everyone eagerly waited. Around, an ensemble of percussionists projected critterlike sounds as music into the air. This was “Bioluminescence: Light In Play.” On March 23, at Confluence Park, a performance of glow-in-the-dark insects and animals was put on by URBAN-15 as the closing show of the San Antonio Nature and Art Series. It was a night of immersive music, innovative dance and inspired wardrobe, which furthered the awareness of bioluminescent insects and animals the foundations had hoped to bring.

For some, the impressive instrumental ambiance surely caused the hairs at the back of one’s neck to stand as mimicking echos of insects chattering, wings bumbling and legs rubbing vibrated in their ears. For others, it was easy for them to imagine themselves on a calming retreat in nature. Either way, the precision and resemblance of the musical ensemble to the glowing creatures of the night led the audience to take part in a transportive experience. The music performed was titled “Bioluminescence.” It was composed by Music and Media Director, George Cisneros, who composed the following songs:

“Rumba Luz,” “Within the Center of Memory, ” “Enle, A Tribute” and “The Fireflies”. The wardrobe featured in the performance was colorful and mesmerizing to watch.

Diverse variations of patterns

were designed on the wings of monarch costumes. All of them were radiant blue butterflies. Also among them was a centerpiece costume similar to a jellyfish dancing among them, changing into an array of different colors from blue, to green, to red and many others. The dancers, known as URBAN-15, used their wings, flapping them and twirling around as they danced. The costumes were created and crafted by Creative Director, Catherin Cisneros.

The one con of this performance came into play in the aspects of dance. While the music was enchanting, the

dancers gave an extremely underwhelming performance. For the majority of it, they marched in a circle, waving their wings to the beat, but that is not necessarily where things went south. The entire choreography looked as if the group practiced only once before the event and then just went on for the show. It seemed a bit disorganized and repetitive. However, it was the perfect event for a night out with family or friends. For those who were not looking for anything too serious to focus on, it was easy to simply grab a drink and a snack and watch for a good time. For those who

have an interest in the specifics of bioluminescent creatures or little critters and animals, the San Antonio River Foundation is a great organization to support, with many events to encourage learning about nature. But with all the creative efforts poured into making this performance happen, through the art of music, design and dance it is true that this is more than a niche. It is a presentation meant to provide fun and knowledge for anyone who participates. By the end of the night, “Bioluminescence: Lights In Play” was a fun experience.

The best Mexican restaurant you’ve never heard of

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

Located on the west side of San Antonio, Leticia’s Mexican Restaurant has been serving customers since 1994 when owner Juan Trevino opened it. A relatively new staple within the local community, the restaurant has been renowned for its unique flavor and homestyle Tex-Mex food. Whether it is street tacos, enchilada combinations, carne guisada plates or simply breakfast tacos, Leticia’s has continued to produce incredible food that few restaurants have been able to match. Though countless

Mexican restaurants occupy Alamo City, there are none as memorable nor as delicious as Leticia’s.

“It’s honestly one of the best taco spots in San Antonio,” says long-time customer John Guerra.

“Personally my favorite thing to get there is the cheese enchilada plate.”

Offering a variety of breakfast and lunch deals, Leticia’s specializes in homemade TexMex combination plates. Their refried beans and rice match perfectly with nearly every food choice, whether crispy tacos, carne guisada or authentic puffy

tacos. With a new special every day, the restaurant consistently provides high-quality food all at an extremely affordable price.

Starting out at as low as seven dollars for a plate, customers easily get a spectacular value for their money.

Though the restaurant’s specials have received huge praise from customers, it is their buttery soft tortillas and homemade breakfast tacos that truly make them stand out. Included with almost every meal free of charge, Leticia’s tortillas are hands down some of the best in San Antonio. Combining

the incredible flour creations with their various breakfast ingredients, the restaurant has truly mastered the art of the breakfast taco. Their four-dollar three-taco deal is one of the most affordable yet delicious meals the restaurant has to offer.

Once finished eating, Leticia’s customers are soon greeted with countless dessert options and candies. Listed and displayed at the front counter, the establishment almost always has something sweet that everybody can enjoy. With freshly made desserts every day, Leticia’s specializes in tasty cakes and

crunchy sugary treats. Whether it is a heavenly slice of a tres leches cake or a stack of sugar-filled buñuelos, the restaurant never ceases to carry flavorsome treats.

Operating for 30 years, Leticia’s has continued to be one of the best Mexican restaurants in all of San Antonio. Their combination of delicious food, countless sweets and affordable prices has made them incredibly appealing to those looking for an authentic Tex-Mex flavor and taste. A true embodiment of a San Antonio gem, Leticia’s Mexican restaurant never fails to deliver a memorable experience.

Photos courtesy of URBAN-15

Arte de San Antonio

By Bria Collins Staff Writer

SA Gems

Logan Martinez/The Paisano

By Kara Lee Graphics Editor

new location shows the store’s significant expansion, offering a wider selection of comics, collectibles and a dedicated gaming area.

The store gives off a warehouse-like feel, yet all the walls are adorned with posters and memorabilia. It is filled to the brim with trading cards, posters,

Arts & Life

Another impressive selection are the statues in the display cases, which feature many cool characters from Marvel and DC.

Upon entering, visitors are greeted by massive, to-scale statues of Hulk, Harley Quinn, Deadpool, Wonder Woman, Darth Vader and Storm. Display cases line the walls, showcasing Pokémon cards and extremely rare comic books, ensuring

Celebrating and advocating for Autism awareness

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

World Autism Awareness

Day was created by the United Nations General Assembly in 2007 and was deemed to be acknowledged every year on April 2. This day was created to affirm and promote the full realization of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for people who have autism.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that affect social, behavioral and communicative skills along with many other aspects of life. ASD is different in everybody, and it was not until 2013 that the American Psychiatric Association recognized autism as a spectrum disorder. This means it encompasses many other diagnoses. The diversity under the ASD umbrella makes this disability one of the most affluent in the community, but also one of the hardest ones to understand.

Film and television are great ways for people who have not been around the disability to gain awareness, however, there is one caveat. Many films only show certain types of autism, which can lead to a narrow view

of the disability. Everyone who wants to learn about it must always keep their mind open to the idea that ASDs are unique to everyone.

One type of ASD that the media likes to use is savant, which can be defined as a learned person in one

savants in media are Dr. Sean Murphy in “The Good Doctor” and Sheldon Cooper in “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon.”

Savants are not always the case when it comes to the disability. A film adaptation that shows another side of autism

The best examples of ASD in media do not come from sitcoms or dramas but from the Netflix reality dating show, “Love on the Spectrum”. This series shows people who have

particular thing. For example, in “Rain Man,” starring Dustin Hoffman, Hoffman’s character, Raymond Babbitt, is portrayed as a savant because he is very good at remembering numbers like baseball players’ dates and stats. Other examples of

is “What Is Eating Gilbert Grape,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. DiCaprio’s character, Arnie Grape, has a more severe form of ASD, one in which he has difficulty controlling his emotions or behaviors based on social surroundings and cues.

ways it affects people and the broad array of knowledge needed to interact with people who have the disability. In the examples of ASD in the media above, the disability is seen through the public eye, but that is, again, not always the case. ASD affects one in 36 people and in many of those who have the diagnosis, it is not so clearly seen. Actors like Daryl Hannah from “Steel Magnolias,” Anthony Hopkins from “Silence of the Lambs” and Dan Aykroyd from “Ghostbusters” have all been diagnosed with a form of ASD. Also, Hole vocalist Courtney Love, football player Joe Barksdale and Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk have been diagnosed. The point is that in many cases, the disability is not easily seen and many people with ASD have been successful.

World Autism Awareness Day has been celebrated for 17 years and it has since evolved from just raising awareness to appreciating and accepting people with autism and their contributions to society. This day helps establish that there is a person behind an ASD diagnosis and that it is not just a disability.

SA

Alex Dewees/The Paisano

Kara Lee/The Paisano Mariana Ramos/The Paisano

Kara Lee/The Paisano

Caroline Puckett/The Paisano

Roadrunners collect first series win of the season

UTSA routes Memphis for two wins

sports

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

UTSA Softball faced off against the University of Memphis Tigers in a three-game American Athletic Conference series this past weekend. The Roadrunners won two of the three, dropping the final game of the weekend. The ‘Runners collected 16 runs overall, leading them to their first series win in over a year.

“Anytime you can get a series victory is huge,” coach Vann Stuedeman said. “Especially in our league. It is a very, very skilled softball league. Everybody in our league is really good and talented and to take a series from anybody is huge and feels great.”

“We’re finally flipping the page,” freshman right fielder Taryn Madlock added. “We are totally forgetting about last year. This is a new team with a new coaching staff, so we’re

excited to start the new chapter of this new year and see what’s to come.”

In the first game, senior catcher Taylor Jensen broke open the scoring in the fifth inning with an RBI double to knock in three runs.

“My approach was to get it on the ground in a hole somewhere so that we could score one or two runs because it was getting late in the game,” Jensen said about her critical at-bat.

“Just trying to break up the 0-0 score.”

UTSA scored two more in the sixth on a wild pitch and an RBI single from Madlock. Senior pitcher Jamie Gilbert pitched a complete game and finished with seven innings pitched, five hits allowed, two strikeouts and zero earned runs. The Roadrunners defeated the Tigers 5-0.

The second game saw UTSA collect 12 hits. Madlock had two plate appearances where she had two hits including an RBI, finishing the game with a perfect batting average. One of those hits was her first bird bomb of the season

and the first of her career as a Roadrunner.

“It was very good to finally figure things out and I’m excited for the rest of the season,” Madlock said.

Junior second base Jaylen Prichard collected two hits and three RBI, while Jensen had three hits and two RBI. Sophomore starting pitcher Reagan Smith threw a complete game, only allowing four hits, one earned run and administered zero walks as UTSA routed Memphis 11-1.

“That was [Smith’s] best outing that she’s had, in my opinion, in her career,” Stuedeman said. “She set the tone early through strikes. We’ve been really working on not walking people and hitting people… she got out there, was confident, was hitting spots and I feel like she set the table for us to have a good game.”

In the final game of the series, the Tigers held UTSA to only four hits and two runs. The Roadrunners scored their first run in the fifth off a homerun from sophomore center fielder

6 things to know about UTSA’s top men’s double

By Jake Mireles Opinion Editor

Following their win against the visiting No. 62 Oregon Ducks men’s tennis duo, The Paisano sat down with UTSA men’s tennis duo Jackson Ross and Garrett Skelly. Ross and Skelly — both Texas natives — have had an amazing breakout season, extending their win total to nine following their match against Oregon. Here are six things you should know about UTSA’s men’s tennis double.

Q. When did you start playing tennis? Was there a certain figure in your life that pushed you to further your career in tennis?

Skelly: “I started when I was about six. None of my family or anyone played tennis growing up, but I just loved it so much and I wanted to take it as far as I could.”

Ross: “For me, I started when I was six years old. I was in a bunch of those summer camps with a bunch of different sports and tennis just kind of stuck. I think the reason it stuck is that I really liked the competition part of it. I was competing in other sports, basketball, football, golf, but tennis for some reason, I enjoyed the competition a lot more because it was individual. For me, to push me into a college career it was mainly my coach Micheal Castillo (head coach of Fit HP Tennis Academy). He pushed me huge into going the college route and really pushed me to go further there.”

Q. Did you get to choose your doubles partner, or was it assigned?

Skelly: “I preferred to play with [Ross], plus we’ve known each other at least before college, so we kind of had a little bit of a better feeling about each other.”

Ross: “It was kind of matched up by the coach. I think when I came here, I wanted to play with [Skelly] because we’re both from Texas, and I didn’t really put thought into playing with anyone else actually.”

Q. One hand or two and why?

Skelly: “Two hand. I think it’s a lot easier actually, it’s more stable.”

Ross: “Two hand. I started playing left-handed, and then my coach switched me to right-hand because he thought it would be easier to coach, which if you know anything about tennis, starting playing left handed, you have an advantage. I dread that decision every day of my life.”

Q. How is your friendship off the court?

Skelly: “We’re very close off the court. We’re both from Texas, we can connect on a different level than some of the other guys. It proves in our playing and our chemistry on the court too.”

Q. Do you have a favorite pre/post-game meal?

Ross: “Yeah, we go to this Mexican spot off Babcock after every match. When we start having this home stint of like eight or nine matches at home, we’ll go to this taqueria and we will order too much food and it’s great.”

Q. Do you get the same order every time?

Skelly: “I mix it up.”

Ross: “I get the same thing every time. I get five tacos al pastor with a plate of barbacoa.”

Q. What do you think winning the AAC Championship would do for the team?

Skelly: “I think it would be huge going into a new conference. We had a great year last year, this year we are finding momentum

By Rylan Renteria Distribution Manager

Following a first-round exit in the American Athletic Conference tournament, leading scorers Christian Tucker and Jordan IvyCurry announced on social media that they would enter the transfer portal. An 11-13 record in 2023-24 was the third consecutive season the team finished with a sub .350 win percentage. Despite the disappointing season, Ivy-Curry and Tucker both knotted career years. Ivy-Curry led the team in points with 17.1, while Tucker led in assists with 169.

Ivy-Curry

and

Madi Hays, who kept up the competitiveness to the end.

“A lot of it stems from the way that I grew up,” Hays said. “I grew up with two big brothers and it was always competitive in my household. Our culture [at UTSA] is a lot better than it has been, so it’s not a difficult task to do when you’ve got 27 other girls right behind you doing the exact same thing and that is having your back completely 110% of the time.”

Gilbert started the game in the circle and went three innings giving up five hits and five earned runs, making her season ERA 4.42. Smith was called on relief to throw the rest of the game, giving up four hits and zero earned runs, lowering her season ERA to 6.44. The Roadrunners were bested by the Tigers 8-2. UTSA will face off against Lamar at 4 p.m. Tuesday at LU Softball Complex in Beaumont.

now. I think winning the conference would be just huge for the team, especially the team next year to know that we’re going to be consistently a good team.”

Ross: “It would create so much positive noise not only for our team, but for the university as well. I know tennis is not on the forefront of a lot of people’s minds in most universities, but even for a team like us who’s had an incredible season last year, like a record-breaking year, and we come this year and we go to a new, tougher conference and we’re able to win that conference. I think it would help our university but also help the team massively. And hopefully, we’re able to help future guys to believe that they can win and believe that they can make a push in a tougher conference because it’s definitely tougher than last year’s conference.”

The duo’s next match will be against Rice University at 1 p.m. Saturday at the UTSA Tennis Center.

Now, with two large holes on the roster, what is next for the Roadrunners?

New head coach Austin Claunch will likely be working the portal heavy this offseason. Coming from a higher tier program like Alabama and still having deep Texas recruiting ties will only aid Claunch in his rebuilding efforts.

UTSA

A

Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

Rylan

Courtesy of UTSA Athletics

Brahmas capture first UFL win over Defenders

Defense holds Defenders scoreless in season opener

By Nicholas Kingman Assistant Opinion Editor

Despite being 76 years old and having over 50 years of coaching experience, San Antonio Brahmas head coach Wade Phillips still has a couple miles left in his tank.

The former NFL coach had his team ready in the season opener, with the Brahmas handling the D.C. Defenders 27-12 on Easter Sunday at the Alamodome. With the new cast of characters under new management, the Brahmas were the biggest unknown in the new league.

“Our first challenge was to play well at home, I thought we did that,” Phillips said. “Home crowd helped us certainly. We were the biggest underdog in the league; had a bit of a chip on our shoulder.”

On their opening drive, Brahmas quarterback Chase Garbers threw a pass to running back Anthony McFarland, who took it 28 yards to the house. Two possessions later and on the Defenders’ four, Garbers pitched the ball to receiver Jontre Kirklin to punch in the score, bringing the Brahmas lead 14-3.

With 14 seconds left in the half and lined up for a field goal, San Antonio caught the Defenders off guard with a fake field goal. Punter Brad Wing, who was in the shotgun, found center Alex Mollette up the middle for a 40-yard touchdown, pulling off the rare bigman touchdown. The Brahmas went into the break with a commanding 20-9 lead after the failed two-point try.

“We practiced it 10, 15 times and never completed it,” Wing said. “I wasn’t even

supposed to throw the ball to [Mollette].”

With the Defenders looking to score their first touchdown of the game, D.C. quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw an interception to cornerback Darius Phillips on the Brahmas 6-yard line. The 90-yard return set up a Garbers five-yard touchdown run for the game’s final points.

The Brahmas defense created pressure, making it difficult for Ta’amu to go through his reads. The Defenders struggled all afternoon to capitalize on red zone situations, with San Antonio holding D.C. to field goals. The only scoring threat for the Defenders was kicker Matthew McCrane, who went 4 for 4.

“We had a lot of pressure on the quarterback, a lot of hits on the quarterback,” Phillips said. “They had to throw a lot of quick passes rather than throwing it downfield.”

Garbers, making his first professional start, ended the afternoon with 158 yards, two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground.

Kirklin seemed to always be open, leading the Brahmas receivers in receptions with eight for 61 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, San Antonio played as a Phillips defense does, sacking Ta’amu four times, forcing one fumble and one interception.

“Jontre is a great player, I learned that early on in camp,” Garbers said. “A defense like D.C., you have to take stuff underneath and Jontre happened to be the guy at the time.”

The Brahmas will face the Memphis Showboats at 11 p.m. Saturday at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

Golfers gear up for the Valero Texas Open

By Alessandra Avila Assistant News Editor

The Valero Texas Open, a professional golf tournament a part of the PGA TOUR, is right around the corner, with the tournament taking place from this Thursday to Sunday. The course stretches a distance of 7,435 yards out, making this weekend an interesting match as the field will feature some big-time players hitting the course. With bets and predictions sparking the internet, here are some predictions for the 2024 VTO.

But first, introducing the course and its importance is key to how it all came about.

The VTO is the third-oldest PGA TOUR event, the sixth-oldest professional golf tournament globally and the longest to be hosted in the same city. The competition commemorated its 100th anniversary in 2022. Among the greatest names in golf history, the list includes some of the greatest names in the sport: Corey Conners, the winner in 2019 and 2023, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Justin Leonard, Zach Johnson, Adam Scott, Jimmy Walker, Jordan Spieth and so on. Among PGA TOUR competitions, this tournament has raised the most money for charity since Valero took over as title sponsor in 2002. In conjunction with its Champions for Charity and Benefit for Children programs, the VTO has given more than $232 million to several charities.

Following are the names and their current ranking for this season from Kens 5. Rory McIlroy (second), Max Homa (seventh), Matt Fitzpatrick (ninth), Brian Harman (10th), Ludvig Aberg (11th), Tommy Fleetwood (12th) and lastly Collin Morikawa (14th). There are more committing to the VTO each day, such as Spieth and Matt Kuchar. You can keep up to date on the countdown and even the players committing on the VTO’s Instagram @valerotxopen. All of these players play for the PGA and have had quite a great standing.

When thinking of some predictions of what will play out during the VTO, a lot can depict how the players will play, including driving length. However, this challenge has very little to do with the likelihood of succeeding in this course. Pros that have demonstrated they can succeed include Spieth, Ryan Moore, Brandt Snedeker and Kevin Streelman based on their current tournament, Valspar championship.

One distinctive feature is the wind. It is noteworthy to observe that the course layout was created with the wind in mind, with uphill holes playing naturally downwind and downhill holes playing against the wind. This has essentially eliminated the bombers’ major advantage.

Furthermore, in the VTO San Antonio era of the competition, McIlroy is slated to make his third start. His best result came in 2013 when he finished runner-up. The 24time PGA TOUR winner has won six times overall since his last start at the VTO in 2022, including the 2022 TOUR Championship and his third FedExCup Championship. His most recent victory came this past Sunday at the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Homa will be starting in San Antonio for the first time since 2019. Since then, he has won six times, moving up to the seventh spot in the world rankings for players. This week at Torrey Pine, Homa is defending his most recent PGA TOUR Championship. With that being said, expect nothing but a great championship this year.

Notable San Antonio Missions players who play for the MLB

By Michael Rios Staff Writer

The San Antonio Missions have been home to producing some of the best talents in baseball since its birth. With the MLB season underway, here are some of the famous baseball players the Missions have helped develop over the decades.

5. Corbin Burnes, pitcher Burnes spent most of his 2019 season on the Missions before becoming a full-time starter with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. A year after becoming an official starter, he went on to win the National League Cy Young Award in 2021 with an ERA of 2.43. He notched a win-loss record of 115, was named All-MLB First Team and earned an All-Star selection. After spending four seasons with the Brewers, Burnes was eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles on Feb 1. With a career win-loss record of 45-27, he looks to win more games for his new team this season.

4. Fernando Tatis Jr., outfielder

Prior to making his debut in March of 2019, Tatis Jr. played three seasons in the minor leagues, playing two of them with the Missions. During his time in San Antonio, he was named an All-Star in 2017 and 2018. He was also named Player of the Month in May 2018. Since entering the big leagues in 2019, Tatis Jr. has won the Silver Slugger Award in 2020 and 2021. He was named a National League All-Star in 2021 and won the Gold and Platinum Glove this past season.

3. Pedro Martínez, pitcher Hall of Fame pitcher Martínez spent his summer in 1991 pitching for the Missions

Should there be an age limit in the NCAA?

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

It’s that time of year when fans of the NCAA March Madness Tournament watch a jam-packed 67 games in a three-week stretch, from Blue Blood programs to every kind of directional school imaginable.

The top echelon of college basketball has the typical teams such as Duke, Kentucky, UConn, Kansas and North Carolina, among others, that always seem to bring in young 18- and 19-year-olds year after year. The same can be said for the powerhouses in college football where Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas are the usual suspects at the top of the team recruiting ranks every year. Because of these programs’ standard talent composite, it’s become normal to see the still teenagers play significant minutes in the year’s biggest games.

However, many teams in the NCAA Tournament, along with most CFB programs, have their rosters filled with typical 1824 year olds, with mostly the older players getting the minutes. Even UTSA’s own former quarterback, Frank Harris, played until he was 24 years old. The seven-year player was credited for a big chunk of the Roadrunners success, since his experience often paved the way down the stretches of games to wins. This is seen more often in March Madness,

of Fame in 2015, and had his jersey retired by the Red Sox in 2015 as well.

2. Trea Turner, infielder The shortstop played for the Missions for just a couple of months before being traded to the Washington Nationals and eventually being called up in August of 2015. During his time with the Missions, Turner was named an All-Star. Since being called up, Turner has won the Lou Brock Base Stealing Championship with the Nationals and Dodgers and helped the Nationals win a World Series. He was named a two-time All-Star with the Dodgers and Nationals, he was named Silver Slugger for the Dodgers and played in the World Baseball Classic last March where Team USA met Team Japan in the final. Turner currently plays for the Philadelphia Phillies.

1. Devin Williams, pitcher Williams spent a little more than a month with the Missions in 2019 before being called up to pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020. He won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2020. Since then, Williams has been one of the toughest pitchers to hit against in the pros. His changeup, which he calls “The Airbender,” is one of the nastiest pitches in baseball, and is one of the reasons why he has gained two All-Star selections. His pitching also helped win close games for Team USA during the World Baseball Classic. After an outstanding run during the WBC, he was named All-MLB Second Team.

MarylinTerrazas/ThePaisano

playing in the local recreational leagues, every division was compiled by age groups, from 6U, to 8U, 10U, and so on. It is completely appropriate for athletes ages 18-24 to be on the same court and fields together, especially for younger players who aspire to make it to the argument is that it’s unfair for the younger players to match up against a morephysically developed player, how do they think it will work once the player gets drafted into the NBA, WNBA or NFL? Of course, not every player gets that opportunity since only a percent or two of NCAA athletes make it to the next level. And even if that’s not the goal for all college athletes, shouldn’t that be the benchmark since it’s all about competition?

It’s just like when the really skilled 10-yearold moved up to 12U or even 14U because he or she was better than those in their age group. That’s just life. the outlier 25, 30, or even 60-year-olds who make an NCAA roster? They are simply taking up the opportunity of getting a degree while participating in athletics. It takes away from the name of college sports to withhold someone from making a team just because of their age. If they are good enough to walk on a football or basketball team, they deserve to do what they can when their number is called.

Rylan Renteria/The Paisano