The Paisano Volume 52 Issue 14 by The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

{SINCE 1981}

Volume 52

Issue 14

November 17 - December 11, 2015

UTSA On Friday, Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m. UTSA’s main campus will be turning on the holiday lights at the Paseo. This free event will include holiday decor (thanks to the University Center), concessions, caroling, a photo booth and live music. The event is open to all students and members of the campus community.

Mizzou student atheletes vow to boycott games, oust president

UTSA NAACP chapter stands in solidarity

Texas In a letter to President Barack Obama, Governor Greg Abott asked that Texas will not be part of any Syrian Refugee programs after the ISIS terrorist attack in Paris that killed over 120 people. Abbott stated that allowing refugees to enter the Lone Star State would endanger Texans because there is no way to check their backgrounds.

U.S. Students rallied Thursday across more than 100 university campuses to protest massive rates of student debt. The protestors called for free public college, debt cancellation and a minimum wage hike for campus workers. Organizers, in what has been dubbed the “Million Student March,” stated that “Education should be free. The United States is the richest country in the world, yet students have to take on crippling debt in order to get a college education.”

World In the past week, the world was rocked by the loss of human life. In Beirut, ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing; Mexico is bearing the brunt of one of human history’s worst hurricanes and an earthquake; Japan is reeling from an earthquake, too, one that registered on the Richter scale at a 9.0; Paris fell victim to a string of coordinated and simultaneous terror attacks and Afghanistan saw a round of suicide bombings.

Science A Portuguese research team is using a “neutron beam” to better understand molecular changes that occur when bone is burned. The hope for this experiment is to return shriveled burned bone back to its original dimensions, so archaeologists and forensic scientists can identify age and sex of burned specimen.

Photo Courtesy of the NAACP chapter at UTSA Vice President of UTSA’s NAACP chapter, Jessica Reyes, says she wants to “bring attention to the inconsistency found in the American justice system, especially when it comes to black Americans being killed by the police.” The group has held a public prayer and a moment of silence to demonstrate their solidarity with #ConcernedStudent1950.

Caroline Traylor News Editor

@CarolineTraylor news@paisano-online.com The 2014 police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. exacerbated racial tensions in the state and thrust the nearby University of Missouri (Mizzou) into the national spotlight. Recently, the institution has been surrounded by student protests, a hunger strike, the football team’s threats to boycott all practices and games and additional threats by faculty to stage a campus-wide walk-out all in an effort to fight systemic racism experienced by African American students. “These students are part of a rich legacy of protest on campuses. For generations, students have used campus space to organize against racism, imperialism, sexism, sexual assault and more,” said Dr. Kirsten Gardner, UTSA associate professor of history. According to some students, the flagshipcampus in Columbia, Mo. which is about 120 miles away from Ferguson - has been plagued with racially charged incidents, forcing black students to choose between their sense of safety or their education. Recently, a swastika smeared in feces was found on the wall of a dormitory, and black students were threatened on the anonymous posting app Yik Yak. Dr. John Reynolds, UTSA history professor, describes forums like Yik Yak as a venue for “insensitive comments to be voiced in the void.” The intimidating social media posts resulted in the arrest of a white 19 - year-

old male, in a town 90 miles away. Due to these incidents, some classes were canceled and many students decided to avoid campus. Many accused the university’s administration of being slow and ineffective in addressing African-American students’ concerns. Bigotry, however, is not isolated to Mizzou. Jessica Reyes, junior kinesiology major and vice president of UTSA’s NAACP chapter, can relate to the social media speech. Reyes recalls a time in the spring 2015 semester when her student organization held a “die-in” to raise awareness for the Mike Brown and Eric Garner cases. “We received more negative than positive feedback on many social media sites from UTSA students and alumni. We were called many discriminatory names and told things like, ‘This is why black people will never succeed in life, because they’re too busy laying on the ground rather than being in class.’” In Missouri, the student activist group Concerned Student 1950 (in homage to the year the university admitted its first black student) criticized Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin’s response to the plight of black students and drafted a list of demands they believed would alleviate racial hostility at the institution, including Loftin’s resignation. Reyes is inspired by Concerned Student 1950’s approach and their willingness “to stand together and push to be heard,” because universities “like to pretend racism doesn’t

“You’re going to have to stand up for what you believe in. I’m glad they stood up for change.” Jarveon Williams

Running back, UTSA Roadrunners exist… but the students in Missouri have shown we will not be ignored anymore,” she said. Another focal point of Concerned Student 1950 was its call for the resignation or termination of the university system’s President Tim Wolfe; before his ousting, Wolfe presided over the four institutions that comprised the University of Missouri System. Throughout the year, Loftin held town hall meetings, and he appointed a faculty committee to address the state of race relations on campus, but many students were not pleased with the pace of change. Dissatisfaction with Loftin climaxed at the homecoming parade. Protestors confronted the chancellor in his car during a parade, but he refused to address them. Frustration with Wolfe peaked when he responded to a student’s question with, “ Systemic oppression is because you don’t believe you have the equal opportunity for success.” In response, more than 30 Mizzou football players refused to participate in any practices or games until Wolfe and Loftin were ousted. Meanwhile, graduate student Jonathan Butler refused to eat until the two

men were removed from their positions. Ultimately, both administrators resigned causing many to wonder if students — or at least student athletes — have gained a new sense of empowerment. According to UTSA Department Chair and Professor of Political Science and Geography at UTSA, Dr. Daniel Engster, the football team’s involvment is the most distinctive element of the U. of Missouri protests — with money and visibility as key elements. — “College athletes can potentially have a huge impact on campus policies,” Engster said. “If other college sports teams decide to follow the lead of the U. of Missouri football team, it could lead to a new era of student activism, but with a very different style from the past.” According to the contract signed last November, if the Mizzou players boycotted and were forced to cancel their game against Brigham Young University (BYU), Mizzou would have been fined $1 million plus any attorney’s fees resulting from attempts to collect liquidated damages. Jarveon Williams, junior running back for the UTSA Roadrunners football team, agrees that student athletes have the potential to influence their peers on campus and supports the tactics the Tigers used. “If you want to be respected and show respect, too, you’re going to have to stand up for what you believe in. I’m glad they stood up for change,” Williams stated. Reynolds agrees that the

college athletes, “played a leading role in galvanizing opinion on campus.” However, Gardner is wary of attributing the student’s success entirely to the Tigers. While she explains that the football players provided a critical tipping point that empowered the protest, it was inspired by generations of students, activists, critical dialogue and scholarship years in the making. “That legacy is as much a part of this story as the successful coalition among students and the powerful strategies student athletes have included,” Gardner said. Reyes appreciates the ripple effect the Missouri student protests have caused across other universities nationwide, but said that the events only prove the need for activism. “We just want others to understand that we support black lives matter, not because all lives don’t matter, but because, in reality, black lives are not valued in society as much as white lives are,” she explained. Similarly, Reynolds said that white students should not place all responsibility on minority students to call out injustice, but he appreciates the openness of the dialogue. “Universities should be spaces where different opinions — sometimes hurtful and offensive ones — will be expressed, and that seems to be happening more today than in the past.”

November 17 - December 11, 2015

NEWS

November 17 - December 11, 2015

Student Veterans Association wants veteran’s specific needs addressed, propose initiatives to better serve vets on campus Alyssa Gonzales News Assistant

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com With Camp Bullis, Randolph Air Force Base and San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC), San Antonio has always had a heavy military presence. UTSA houses a large veteran community; approximately 10 percent of the student population has some form of military affiliation. Given this large community, there is a need to integrate veterans into a student’s academic lifestyle. The Student’s Veteran Association (SVA) is a student-led organization that is designed to cater to any and all veteran needs, with plans to further serve those that have previously served. SVA focuses on being a “one-stop shop” for veterans that come with questions about financial assistance, academic help and counseling services, and propose initiatives to better serve the veterans on campus. President of SVA, Tyler Wynne, plans on creating a veteran-only orientation that is separate from the transfer-student orientation. “We want to get (the veterans) to have the opportunity to be face-toface with us. They have different needs and are at different points in their

lives, and our job is to get them in front of the right people,” Wynne said. “Veterans don’t want to be treated like kids coming from high school to college. They’ve been around the world, they’ve been screamed at and shot at, and so they’re a different group.” In addition to creating a veteran-exclusive orientation, Wynne is also hoping to create a center for veterans. The lounge area will be a gathering place for veterans to go and meet other veterans, as well as a place that will offer counseling and fiscal services. While the plans are in the preliminary stages, all departments involved agree that a dedicated Photo courtesy of Mark McClendon , UTSA veteran’s area is vital. Student veterans are honored at UTSA’s Celebrating America’s Military event last week. “When you are in the military and you go to a new base, go into this one building, everything into one spot you do an indoc. They walk down this hall and and have offices in the new give you a packet and say, get everything done. That’s space that once a week a ‘Here’s everything that kind of what we want to do,” representative from one you need to know, go do Wynne said. department comes and the your paperwork.’ Then you “We want to pull veterans can come and see

them.” SVA works with the President’s Office in order to ensure that the initiatives the organization is pursuing are both plausible and beneficial. Administrative Associate to the Director of Communications and Military Liaison, Rosemary Segura, explains the relationship her office has with SVA. “SVA seeks us out when they need advice. (Tyler) comes to us when he needs to know who to talk to about certain things or to create networks outside of campus,” Segura said. “They’re a very critical group that helps to integrate the veterans into the campus community and student body. Tyler and his team make those of us outside of that circle more aware of the issues that veterans are facing.” Director of Communications and Military Liaison, Elvira Jacquez, commented on her role in ensuring that both the President’s Office and SVA is meeting the needs of the veterans on campus. Multiple committees that Jacquez and Wynne are apart of — as the Veteran Services Advisory Committee (VSAC) and the Veteran Success on Campus (VSOC), are designed to have a select group of

people that are dedicated to specific aspects of veteran success. “We are constantly trying to find support and looking for things that the veterans want and need. Tyler will come to me saying that veterans need more help with career services, advising or they need a separate orientation, and then I try to give him the networks and resources that can help him with his initiatives,” Jacquez said. “SVA is so important because they are the voice of the veterans, and the louder the voice, the more support they will receive.” With a multitude of services that provide academic, social and fiscal counsel, it can be frustrating for veterans to receive appropriate assistance. SVA is a student organization with emphasis on improving the academic and social experience of veterans on campus and consolidating departmental services. “The goal of SVA is to pull together and provide access to all the veteran networks. Everybody on campus that is trying to deal with veterans at the student level knows they can come to me and then we try to put them in front of the veterans,” Wynne said. “(SVA) is kind of the bottleneck that everyone can go to, and we are always trying to get veterans in so they know what they have access to.”

Increase in CHL permits does not significantly decrease crime rates, study finds Marina Vences Staff Writer

@marina_vences news@paisano-online.com With events such as the 2012 Aurora Theater shooting during the premier of “The Dark Knight Rises” and the 2014 Sandy Hook school shooting, the U.S. has been focused on ways to reduce gun violence and prevent more mass shootings from happening. Congress has been working to write new legislation that addresses this problem while preserving citizens’ second amendment rights. Both sides of the gun

debate want the same thing— the ability to live in a safe, free and more protected society. Although they want to achieve them in very different ways, a recent study conducted by Texas A&M University looked at the number of Concealed Handgun carry licenses in relation to the changes of crime rates in certain states to find if the number of CHL owners had any affect on reducing crime or not. According to the study, the U.S. has the highest number of licensed gun-users out of any other country; there are 117 firearms for every

100 adult Americans. The closest in number to the U.S. is Switzerland, with 46 firearms for every 100 adults, and Finland, with 45 firearms per 100 adults. Firearms can mean a lot of things, but most of the time, the issue involves handguns—72 percent of firearm homicides involved a handgun, leading Congress and gun debaters to narrow their focus to civilians’ personal weapons. The study focuses specifically on four states in 2011 (Florida, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas) that had a high number of CHL gun owners and how

their crime rates changed from the time the states instituted concealed carry. Florida had the highest number of CHL owners at 1,278,246 — seven percent of the population. Pennsylvania followed with 872,227 owners — or seven percent of the population, while Texas came next with 789,048 — three percent of the population — and Michigan with 430,095 — four percent of the population. The states with more CHL owners haven’t necessarily seen a decrease in crime. Since adopting a concealed handgun carry

licensing law, Florida’s average arrest rate for murder has increased by .09 percent, while Pennsylvania’s rate has increased by .03 percent. Texas and Michigan have seen a decrease in their rates, down .11 percent and .43 percent respectively. Burglary arrest rates reveal a similar finding. On average, Florida decreased by 1.08 percent, Pennsylvania decreased by 1.49 percent, Texas decreased by 3.12 percent and Michigan decreased by .90 percent. Despite having the highest number of CHL

owners in the state, Florida had the second lowest rate decrease in burglary arrests, while Texas, having fewer CHL owners, saw the largest rate decrease. The study concluded that there is no connection between loosening gun laws or increasing the number of CHL permits with decreasing violence. With the U.S. having such high gun ownership and a high number of mass shootings, the problem is a difficult one with no clear answer.

November 17 - December 11, 2015

NEWS

Athletic fee increased from $120 to $240 with addition of UTSA football team, do students think it’s worth it? Quentin Hemphill Staff Writer

@quentinhemphill news@paisano-online.com The mandatory athletic fee for full-time UTSA students is $240 per semester. This is the second highest fee that students are required to pay. The highest overall fee is the “Automated Services Charge” ($300 per semester), which includes funding for the campus computers and network facilities for administrative, library and academic programs. The athletics fee provides partial funding for UTSA athletic programs, extends scholarships to athletes, increases the number of sports offered and directs funds to indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. The fee also allows UTSA students free admission to all regular season conference and nonconference sporting events held on campus and at the Alamodome. Before the addition of the football team, the fee for students was $120 dollars per semester. Currently, the fee is double what it was during the 2007-2008 school year. According to UTSA athletics’ official website, GoUTSA, in

September 2007, 4,602 of 28,533 enrolled UTSA students voted in a Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored online election, where 65.9 percent of those students voted in favor of the fee increase. The referendum authorized athletics fees to increase from a maximum of $120 per semester to a maximum of $240. This increase was phased in over several years between the school years of 2007-2008 and 2013 - 2014. When asked about how much revenue is garnered by the football team, Sports Information Director Kyle Stephens explained that there is no way to pinpoint an exact figure on the amount of revenue that the football team generates for the university. “There is no way to put an exact dollar figure on that,” Stephens said. “Ticket sales, donations, TV-contract payouts from the conference, value of media placements, increase in degree equity, etc. all contribute to athletics and essentially the university as a whole.” Despite the high fee, UTSA’s football team’s current record of 2-8 and the fact that UTSA is predominantly a research institution, some UTSA students are happy to have a team to cheer for.

UTSA senior communications major Juan Morales enjoys having a football team, as well as other sports teams, and he believes that the fee is reasonable as it builds a sense of community. “I am completely happy to have a team to support, as the football games and other athletic events provide yet another opportunity for students in the UTSA community to come together,” Morales explained. “I consider the fee as worthy, and I try to attend as many athletic events as possible, because unlike many other schools in Texas — thanks to the athletics fee — we are not charged any extra money to attend games.” UTSA junior business law major Anika Amin likes having a football team, also, but she feels that the athletic fee should be lowered and the funds transferred to other important areas. “I feel that the college football team has a really positive influence when students come together for tailgates and game day activities,” Amin said. “But the price of the fee should be lowered and spread throughout more important sections of the university, such as counseling, career and medical services; I feel that counseling and

Students honor victims of genocide in a weeklong series of events and Project Rehumanize Matt Frost Staff Writer

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com A woman who endured more pain than most have in a lifetime came to UTSA to share her story on Monday, Nov. 9. That woman, Holocaust survivor Rose Williams, spoke to students as part of Project Rehumanize, a project put on by students from the Honors Seminar: Holocaust and Genocide. The professor who teaches the course, UTSA History Professor Dr. Kolleen Guy, says, “Part of the objective of the class is to get the students to take what they learn and do something with it.” Guy continues, “I tell them that you don’t have to change the world, but you can try and change your little piece of it.” The students in the course came up with a series of events on campus to raise awareness of the events of genocide. The series, known as Project Rehumanize, aims to give a human face back to the millions affected by Genocide. Dr. Guy advised the students to start by focusing on the Holocaust, alleging that most people think they know something

about the Holocaust, and it is a good avenue to get people thinking about, and exploring the lesser known, episodes of genocide. The students contacted Williams, in order to have her give a speech at UTSA on her experiences in the Holocaust. Dr. Guy spoke about Rose’s speech, saying, “The idea behind the speech was to let the victims’ voices speak for themselves, and have people bear witness to that suffering.” After Williams’ speech on Monday, Nov. 9, the students arranged for Dr. Margaret Paxson, a researcher at the Berkley Center at Georgetown University, to give a lecture titled, “Conspiracy of Goodness: Legacies of Rescue and Resistance from the Holocaust.” This lecture, given last week in the University Center, showed how one can cease being a perpetrator, a bystander and a victim, instead becoming part of the solution. Paxson gave

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one example of this with the small French village known as La Chambonsur-Lignon that served as a refuge and safe haven for many Jews, especially children suffering persecution at the hands of the Nazis during World War II. The Holocaust Remembrance week events concluded Monday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. with the students showing the two-time Sundance award winning film, “Watchers of The Sky”, directed by Edet Belzberg, in the Mckinney Humanities building on Main Campus. The film follows the journey of Raphael Lemkin in his journey to raise awareness for Genocide. The film is inspired by Samantha Powers’ Pulitzer-Prize winning book, “A Problem from Hell.”

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career services can actually help in supporting and preparing students for the many different aspects of life,” Amin explained. “In terms of medical fees (which is $32.70), I think that it is so much more important because health is more significant than entertainment, which in this case would be football and other sports.”

According to Stephens, in comparison with peer schools, UTSA’s football team ranks third in Conference USA in average home attendance and have finished second in each of the last two years. In fact, according to GoUTSA, going into the 2015-2016 season, UTSA’s average home attendance was 27,576 people.

Although some students may criticize the athletic fees, the football team’s losing record and other things, many of them appreciate the intangible benefits the team gives the institution and enjoy coming together to cheer for their fellow “Runners.”

Today, the athletic fee is double what it was during the 2007-2008 school year, when 69.5 percent of students who voted were in favor of adding the football team.

Andrea Velgis, The Paisano

NEWS

November 17 - December 11, 2015

New policy to address diversity at each UT System institution, implemented in 2017 Alyssa Gonzales News Assistant

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com There is a significant disparity in the racial makeup between students and the faculty in the entire University of Texas System. According to the Fall 2014 Fact Book, 48.4 percent of UTSA’s student population is Hispanic, while only 17 percent of the faculty is Hispanic. Contrastingly, 59 percent of UTSA’s faculty is white, while only 27.6 percent of the student body is white. In an effort to increase the reflectiveness between students and faculty, Chancellor Bill McRaven will require a minority or woman candidate to be interviewed for every dean position or high-level faculty position until the final stage of selection. “It is very clear that we are not doing the job we ought to be doing in driving equal opportunity and fairness in our hiring and promotion processes. This is particularly disappointing because education is all about opportunity,” McRaven said. “While this (rule) will not guarantee women or minority hires—nor should it if a candidate is not qualified—it will put more

women and minorities in a position for the selection committee to recognize the great talents that may have heretofore gone unnoticed.” During a speech to the Board of Regents, McRaven explained that this rule

“It is very clear that we are not doing the job we ought to be doing in driving equal opportunity and fairness in our hiring and promotion processes.” Former Admiral William McRaven

Chancellor of the Univeristy of Texas System would allow the faculty and staff to better represent the

diverse student population. McRaven stated, “Making sure our faculty and staff reflect the changing look of Texas is not just about fairness, it’s also about effectiveness. We need faculty, administrators and campus leaders who understand the people they’re serving, who come from the same kinds of places.” McRaven also noted that the gender pay gap is significantly lower than the national average and that he intends to completely eliminate it within the next five years by mandating every UT branch to submit their plan to action. Junior political science major and officer of the Undergraduate Political Science Association Diana Davila says, “The next five years seem a little ambitious. The root causes of wage gaps are diverse and I think there are structural causes as well as interpersonal or individual issues that contribute to the wage gap. I can see (wage gaps closing) for the smaller branches, but not for the big ones like UT or UTSA.” The chancellor also plans to address the world issue of leadership by requiring every student within the UT system to take an upper and lower division

Fabian DeSoto, The Paisano To honor the 129 that lost their lives during the Friday, Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris, France, UTSA’s Main Campus monument entry sign illuminates France’s national colors: red, white and blue.

course that focuses solely on how to plan, build teams, communicate and understand the importance of ethical behavior within the next several years. Erika Benjamin, a senior political science major as well as the public relations officer of the Undergraduate Political Science Association, believes that the course will add value to the UT System’s core curriculum. “This course would be a valuable tool for the students to ensure that

they understand the true meaning of being an excellent leader and receiving advanced skills for teamwork,” Benjamin said. The goal of these initiatives is to build a “team of teams” that has the skills necessary to address the pressing problems of the world. “No one knows exactly what the future will hold, but we are betting on the men and women of Texas to shape their future in ways never before seen in higher education,” McRaven said

to the Board of Regents. “This university system will dream big and we will act with unparalleled boldness.”

OPINION November 17 - December 11, 2015 {The Paisano} Students, athletes fight for equality 6

Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Lopez

Managing Editor: Mia Cabello

News Editor:

Caroline Traylor

Arts & Life Editor: Brayden Boren

Sports Editor:

Shabazz I. Dawkins

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini

Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas

Interim Photo Editor: Fabian De Soto

Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha

Distribution Manager: Patrick Martinez

Senior Copy Editor: Kate Kramer Marketing Director: Randi Gilmore Advertising and Marketing Liason: Jenelle Duff

{Assistants} Kat Joseph, Anelia Gomez-Cordova, Claudia Jimenez, Annette Barraza, Christopher Breakell, Alex Birnel, Brady Phelps, Andrea Velgis, Alyssa Gonzales, Urub Khawaja, Allison Gayda, Diego Ramirez

{Staff} Robert Avila, Robert Allen, Gaige Davila, Matthew Frost, Marina Vences, Quentin Hemphill, Adrian Bermudez, Sonia Mata, Cindy Hurtado, Madeline Harper, Samuel Tak, Brian Nacu, Ryan High

{Contributors} Jacob De Hoyos, Matthew Gil, Sushmita Gorantala, Justice Lovin, Johnee Jasso, Amanda Camacho, Darryl Sherrod, Miles Boyle

Editorial At the University of Missouri, real change happened — but only when loss of university revenue was threatened. Missouri student activist groups brought to light racial tensions at the institution. However, events apexed when the Mizzou football team threatened to boycott all football related activities until the chancellor of the state’s flagship university resigned or was terminated

by the university Board of Curators. On Monday, Nov. 9, the resignation of University of Missouri System President Tim Wolfe and Chancellor of the Columbia campus R. Bowen Loftin prompted a rare occurrence in civil rights conflicts: the protestors won. But whether the university submitted to student demands because they valued their concerns or because they hit them where

Photo Poll

Ian Bates Senior, anthropology

“I would define terrorism as actions used to spread discourse and cause mayhem against a group or groups of people.”

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Red Madden, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo

“I would think of terrorism as any attack on someone that is against any belief system.” Courtney Holliday Junior, English

Nicole Scheiner Graduate Student, philosophy

San Antonio, TX 78249

Justice Lovin Staff Writer

Is culture a commodity? Not exclusively and it shouldn’t be. Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa all have important historical and cultural origins which we can draw from as we construct the narrative of our own lives. But instead there are other stories that are told for us, and we’re buying them up. Apple versus Android, PlayStation versus Xbox; in too many cases people are incorporating products that lack any

real substance into their selfconcept. It is important to remember that there’s more to life than material things. Take clothing for instance, it’s true that fashion is a form of self-expression and there are definite personality differences between a person who makes an effort to be fashionable and one who doesn’t. Fashion is not the clothes one buys though, but the aesthetic principles that underlie the choices an individual makes. Which is to say that basketball shorts are as much a fashion choice as dress pants and that they should be differentiated by the reasons for choosing and not the status conveyed by their cost. Another notable example of this trend is in electronics. The only differences between the old iPhone and the new one are the name and the price tag, aside from that they are functionally identical. But people line up

to spend hundreds of dollars, for what? If only difference is the name then that can be the only reason—it’s a status symbol. In this case as in the case of clothing possessions are acting as a replacement for personality or else they’re making no notable addition to an already developed personality, but in both cases the cost far exceeds any benefit. People are not their clothes, their phone or their car; they are the choices they make. As actors we have a responsibility for our actions and it is necessary to examine and understand them. In the end, it is a suicide of character to give up control of your own narrative to corporations into whose interest you do not figure, which is all of them. No matter how convenient it is to conform to ready-made stories, it is far better to live deliberately and maybe with a little less stuff and a little more self.

Join The Paisano! start the semester off write

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“Terrorism is an attack against a country.” Rebecca Perez Freshman, biomedical engineering

Send letters to: editor@paisano-online.com

Commentary

“Terrorism would be to engage in warfare with people who may not know that there is a fight at all.”

Suite 101

Letters must be fewer than 400 words and include the writer’s name, classification or title and telephone number. The Paisano reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Capitalism haunts Christmas present

Anthony Villanueva Senior, biology

{Advisory Board}

{Letters to the Editor}

I’ll just sit here by Christopher Breakell

“Terrorism is where the objective is striking fear and anguish into the mind of a group of people to implement ones ideology or group ideology onto another culture to oppress them and create chaos.”

Adrian Lopez Senior, communication

14526 Roadrunner Way

influence and power is disconcerting; this time, in this particular instance, the group with coercing power brought about positive change — but this may not always be the case. One faction shouldn’t matter more than another; student voices should matter equally, regardless of how much revenue they generate for the university.

According to The Oxford Dictionary, “terrorism,” is defined as: The use of violence and intimidation in the pursuit of political aims.

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demonstrations, even subjecting his body to a hunger strike, while several other student activist groups followed suit by organizing sit-ins, rallies, and the interruption of the annual homecoming parade. Yet, Loftin and Wolfe acknowledged none of these outcries until the Mizzou football team became involved in the protests. To give one aspect of the student body so much

Define terrorism without using the word “terror”?

“Terrorism is committing actions in order to halt the profession of a group whether it be social or technological.”

Diane Abdo

it hurt: their pocketbook is still at large. If the Tigers were forced to forfeit one game alone it would have cost the university over $1 million in revenue. In fact, the forfeited football game would have cost more than the former Chancellor Loftin’s annual salary — over $450,000. The majority of student protests fell on deaf ears — Mizzou Graduate student Jonathan Butler led student

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7 OPINION CUP CONTROVERSY

November 17 - December 11, 2015

Hashtags for humanity Commentary

Diego Ramirez

Distribution Manger’s Assistant We send our sincerest thoughts and prayers using, “#PrayFor”, then go on with our day. Some of us watch the news, then tweet here and there about current events like when politicians partake in a heated political argument on Twitter. By tweeting a universal hashtag, we have contributed at the minimum by letting others know that “France, we are with you.” On our timeline, we’ll read heartwarming and tear-shedding tweets about change and hope for a better world. Later, we’ll probably tweet the same message, believing we helped fix the world. The next day, we wake up, the Kardashians forget to eat breakfast and the media

Commentary goes berserk. The pattern does not fail, we forget about what’s outside our million dollar bubble as soon as the relevancy diminishes. The sad truth is that there will be another major act of disparity. Perhaps against our own nation, or a neighboring one, and we’ll find ourselves asking the same question once again: “Where is the change?” The heartbreaking truth is that a tweet does not save the world and it certainly does not terminate terroristic threats. However, there’s always hope. The tweets help, go viral, everyone now knows, blasé blah and we all connect via trending hashtags. The problem is our nonstop short attention span. Our tweets are endearing like hot chocolate for XMAS, however they do not fix a thing, furthermore, they do nothing but inform. What we’re missing is that next step: initiative. This goal is probable through us, society and popular sovereignty, figuratively speaking. We have the masses in our hands with the ability and access to make just about anything go viral. Sometimes we forget how much power we

actually have to make a change. We control what we receive based on our satisfaction, remarkably parallel to the law of supply and demand. To extend our activism, there’s an alternative to the ordinary “retweet-to-support” form of activism: The World Cup. The World Cup is one of the few events that brings the globe together. Everyone comes together to support their nation or neighboring countries in exchange to see them win. It’s truly a euphoric event. Everything and everyone is in unity. Not to mention the World Cup receives millions of views, far more than any other televised event, and is the perfect medium to take the tweets to another level. This is an opportunity to mark a bigger impact on racism and terrorism. Reach the masses through advertisers and official representatives of the World Cup. There is a fine line but a huge step between twitter activism and activism with a purpose. Take initiative, grab attention and get your word out: that’s a change.

Gaige Davila Staff Writer

Having communicated Starbucks’ highly anticipated holiday-themed cups gave American consumers a letdown this month, igniting a controversy behind its new minimalist design. Starbucks is now receiving retaliation from those who believe that the coffee-shop chain is pursuing a politically correct agenda against the monopoly Christmas has on the holiday-season consumer market. Do these allegations hold any validity, or is

it just a fervor of misinformed nostalgia that gives people an excuse to rile themselves? A Google search to past Starbucks holiday cups since the early 2000’s shows these cups to be of generic winter or holiday themes. There is not a single cup that has the word “Christmas” printed on it. Not one. The pragmatic side of social-media caught wind of this and combated with the quickly trending #ItsJustACup, mocking the offended with correlating cup drawings, condescending wit, and other unmentionable forms of ridicule. Theses solid-red Starbucks coffee cups are another example of a nauseating back-and-forth of the extent of political correctness. It’s apparent that American society is putting its nostalgia on

a pedestal, even those of disposable drink-ware, as facets of their personalities. To a certain degree, I couldn’t agree more. But it’s also dealing with another animal of the human condition entirely: conflict. This “controversy” is an excuse to vehemently display opinions against one another on the basis of having voices heard and nothing more. As the trend passes, the passion follows suit, where urges for “ranting” are fulfilled until the next “controversy” occurs. As this debacle indubitably dies down, we must remember that these follies are unavoidable. The only plausible thing for those who aren’t engulfed in the majority of crass blowhards, is to sit back and watch the fire fly.

A Tier-one-of-a- The real beast in the deep: Phytoplankton kind Christmas Guest Commentary Colton Hveem

Satire

Staff Writer

The Student Government Association’s (SGA) 7th annual student tuitionfunded private invitationonly Christmas party was announced to be held Saturday, Dec 5. Special invites will go out to President Romo, Councilman Nirenberg, prospective students with high GPA’s and the university’s notable alumni and donors. The 500-invitee event will be held at an undisclosed concert venue next to the Alamodome, and will not be open to any currently enrolled tuition paying students at UTSA who do not receive an invitation. “180 Million Christmas Lights” is this year’s theme for the event, selected to celebrate the $180 million raised in UTSA’s first ever capital campaign. 180 million Christmas lights will outfit a 300-foot tree, topped by a two story aluminum-andneon star. The tree has been announced as a legacy project to be featured as a staple for the once a year event. The SGA has allocated the remainder of its student-budget for the event – excluding what had already been used to fund their retreat, a ghost tour, as well as production of a slow motion video of officers jumping in front of the roadrunner statue. “We are excited to network underneath the mistletoe in the 7th anniversary of our event,” announced the SGA in its orange-and-blue laminated invitation. “We would like to thank the university and ourselves for doing such an outstanding

job for UTSA students,” stated the organization who had been elected by fewer than 5% of the student population. “We will continue to provide students with open discussion forums and selfesteem boosting life awards.” Members of the SGA will be able to add “Christmas party planner” and “eggnog associate” to their already deep resumes, as the event will feature both an extremely competitive whiteelephant exchange as well as a 600-gallon eggnog tank. An additional $2 will be added to student’s tuition and fees next year due to a shortage of President Romo’s favorite peppermint and yule log flavored bluebell ice cream and the extra revenue will fund a back-up 50-foot chocolate fountain after the short-circuit involved in last year’s luke-warm milkchocolate disaster. The $2 will also help purchase an additional 24 scantrons for SGA’s only genuinely helpful student-assisting event – scantron give-away during finals. Students registered for next semester can begin voting for next year’s Christmas party theme on ASAP, the result of which won’t befit them in any real way. The two themes for next year are a toss-up between “A Tier-oneof-a-kind Christmas” and “The CAP student that stole Christmas.” UTSA encourages its 30,000 student benefactors to watch the event on Dec 5 online in a live-stream twitter feed as well as to purchase the thousands of unsold homecoming t-shirts, which have been flipped-inside out and re-branded to depict the events 180 million light tree. Students are also encouraged to check out the SGA’s firstever student government address “By Students for Students” released earlier for students in September, which has currently been viewed by a little under 400 people, presumably students.

For many years now, story-telling has been a prominent aspect of various human cultures of humanity. Amongst the tales and legends persists a fascination with the mysterious nature of the dark ocean depths. Dangerous, mythical creatures like the Kraken, Loch Ness Monster, Moby Dick and Jaws have, and continue to, captivate minds. Yet, a far more dangerous creature has evaded these notions while spreading throughout the entirety of the oceans, phytoplankton. These little critters exist at the bottom of the food chain, a predator to nothing

#QUENTIPS

Robert Avila

UTSA student

and prey to everything that deems them delectable. This is the aquatic food web’s primary producer, feeding organisms ranging in size from massive whales to the microscopic. The aquatic life that doesn’t directly feed on phytoplankton, preys on organisms that do. So far, so scary. Although tiny, the mass number of phytoplankton is what makes them so dangerous. Life, in all forms, is overwhelmingly dependent on these dedicated providers, and climate change has targeted this vulnerable population — a key component to bringing chaos to our planet. According to National Geographic News, along with the aquatic food chain heavily relying on this source of nutrition, scientists suggest phytoplankton

provide about 50 percent of the world’s oxygen supply. Other scientists propose up to 85 percent of earth’s oxygen comes from this sole provider. Either way, if you like to breathe, phytoplankton is owed some appreciation. The manner in which oxygen is produced by our little organisms is photosynthesis, a process that uses energy from the sun and other surrounding nutrients to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. Unfortunately, our friends are under some extreme heat, quite literally. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), since 1955, over 90 percent of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gasses has been stored in the ocean. Pair this with aquatic nutrients

suffering from ocean pollution, and you have an environment unfit for the thriving of our naturally altruistic phytoplankton. Researchers at Canada’s Dalhousie University found that the phytoplankton population has already suffered some major casualties, with a global population declining 40 percent since 1950. This decline in the ocean’s most abundant food source echoes throughout the entirety of the food web, all the way to us humans who find a seafood dish delightful. Of all the proposed beasts that linger in the ocean, this little organism ought to be feared the most. For without the continued large-scale presence of phytoplankton, severe global consequences are likely to follow.

Every student could use some tips to get them through the end of the semester. From ways to avoid the stress of finals week, surviving the holiday season with family to maneuvering post- graduation life, here are some #quentips to change your life for the better.

1 2 3 4

This holiday season, avoid talking politics with your ideologically different family members. Unless you enjoy being a part of irrational and heated arguments that lead to bad vibes and dirty looks at the dinner table.

Freshmen, if you plan on moving to any of the student housing apartments off campus, know that if you ask for a clean roommate, you’ll get a messy roommate. And if you ask for a messy roommate, you’ll definitely get a messy roommate.

Be realistic, seniors. Do not quit your current place of employment right after graduation because you think that your new degree is going to automatically land you a position at your dream job.

Prepare for your final exams by going out with friends and eating lots of junk food. It will make you feel so much happier once you look at the exam reviews and realize that you have not been paying attention the entire semester. Follow @QuentinHemphill for more #Quentips

November 17 - December 11, 2015

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ARTS & LIFE

Arts & Life Events Calendar: Thursday 11/19 2 p.m. Tuition & Fees Open Forum

This Thursday, join SGA for an open forum on Tuition and Fees. The Board of Regents will be accepting tuition and fees proposals for the upcoming year, so come on down and voice your opinions. Both president Romo and Members of the Tuition and Fees Committee will be present. The forum will take place in the University Center’s Denman Room. Food will be provided while it lasts.

Thursday 11/19 7 p.m. Poetry Reading UTSA students participating in professor David Vance’s Graduate Poetry Workshop will be doing a live Poetry Reading. The reading will benefit the Sagebrush Review, UTSA’s literary journal. Come on to hear the live reading and walk out with a couple of books. If you can’t make it, shop online; a small percentage of every purchase will be donated to the Sagebrush Review. The reading will take place at the Barnes & Noble at La Cantera.

November 17 - December 11, 2015

Wu r s t f e s t

Festival celebrates German history, beer and bratwurst

Johnee Jasso Contributing Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com Since 1961, Wurstfest has been honoring German culture in New Braunfels. Wursfest is a non-profit corporation that promotes local commerce and preserves community heritage. Its annual festival brings visitors from around the country to raise money for community projects. Originally named “Sausage Festival,” this 10-day affair provides the best local foods and drinks, including pork schnitzel, sauerkraut, strudel and the “wurst taco.” Dr. Ed A. Grist established the annual festival in a small town with no idea how successful it would become. In 54 years, Wurstfest has drawn crowds of hundreds of thousands, welcomed many great performers, including Die Froehliche Dorfmusik and Grammy Award Winner Jimmy Sturr and his Orchestra, and has even gained attention from ABC’s Good Morning America. This year, Wurstfest

“I love the music, the food and the drinks. I feel like I’m back at Oktoberfest in Munich.” Christian Gonzales Wurstfest tourist

Johnee Jasso, The Paisano Located near the headwaters of the beautiful Comal River in New Braunfels, Wurstfest celebrates German culture and is full of Texas fun! Attendees enjoyed good food, music, exciting carnival rides and games, German, Texan, and domestic beer and the finest in Alpine and Bavarian entertainment.

kicked off on Friday, Nov. 6 and ended Sunday, Nov. 15. The German festival hosted 41 booths for local venders, including a Marketplatz and a Stelzenplatz for food vendors and a Biergarten for drinks—with over 30 craft beers. This year, bands such as Jodie Mikula Orchestra and The Europa Band attended. If that isn’t enough, a carnival was split on both ends of the park. “I can’t even begin to express how impressed I am with this place,” Wursfest

tourist Christian Gonzales explains. “I love the music, the food and the drinks. I feel like I’m back at Oktoberfest in Munich.” The Marketplatz contained over 30 booths with the most delicious food you’ve ever tasted. From sausage-on-a-stick to apple strudel, local venders have come to bring the best food in town. Connected to the Marketplatz is the Biergarten – home to 55 types of brew, from Domestic Bud Light to Oktoberfestbier straight

from Germany. In between the two is the Wursthalle, a spot for attendees to sing and dance with one another as they enjoy live music. The Seven Dutchmen Orchestra, for example, is a brass band that specializes in polka music, waltzes and, yes, the chicken dance. In the center of the festival is Das Grosse Zelt, which is hard to miss. Das Grosse Zelt, or the big tent, is an open tent with a stage for live entertainment overseeing over at least 30

long Oktoberfest benches for folks to gather, drink, and socialize. It is always packed, and the music can be heard from the entrance of the festival. And for parents with kids, the Kinderhalle includes a Circle Arts theatre and a carnival with a grand Ferris wheel that allows you to look over the entire festival. Even when the beer is flowing, Wurstfest is an attraction for all ages and is one of Texas’ best annual festivals.

Friday 11/20 6 p.m. Paseo Light Up It’s a winter wonderland right at the tip of your fingers! Join the celebration and see the Paseo Light Up with tons of light, a brand new tradition at the UC. Present will be student performers, treats, music and more. Don’t miss the celebration for winter season and the cold weather that is finally approaching!

Photo Courtesy of Rida Malik

Friday 11/20 6 p.m. Battle of the Bands Join Rowdy Radio this Friday and rock out in the Battle of the Bands. Fulcrum Lake, Farewell to Arms, Lissette Marie and Aquarium Sounds are some of the bands featured in this great night for all ages. The event will start at 6 p.m. and will take place at Josabi’s Live Music Bar (1700 TX-16). Tickets are $10 prior to 5 p.m. on Thursday and $15 at the door.

UTSA talks Islam and mass media Kevin Prichard Contributing Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com UTSA’s Muslim Student Association hosted a panel featuring Sana Saeed, a nonfiction writer and humorist for Al-Jazeera Plus, a news network that reports on humanitarian and political issues around the world. For Friday’s panel, however, she came representing herself. Saeed discussed how media has depicted Muslims in recent years and what they have been doing in response to these characterizations. One topic Saeed discussed was the idea that certain “cartoonish” characterizations of

Muslims, depicting them as backward and oppressive to women, have existed for centuries, but these characterizations persist due to sensationalist stories from media corporations. The media, according to Saeed, is “not an innocent bystander.” It actively cultivates vitriol against Muslims within the American psyche. By preying on extant visions of Muslims in people’s minds through sensationalism and fearmongering, media corporations boost their own profits, causing the Muslim community to suffer as a result. Saeed discussed three examples of sensationalized stories that have had detrimental effects on the Muslim community, despite

being pure fiction. One of them, which Saeed dubbed “the epitome of collective media stupidity,” involved a group of teenage Tunisian girls willingly traveling to Syria as sex slaves for ISIS and returning home pregnant and HIV-positive. This story, originally found on an extremist right-wing blog, was completely false but was portrayed as true in both Middle-Eastern and Western news media. Stories such as these, through both mainstream media and social media platforms, create “systemic institutional racism” against Muslims, leading to an “extremely marginalizing atmosphere” where Muslims become afraid to speak out. Additionally, these stories and their generalizations

about Muslims can have negative effects on the Muslim community; from armed protests in front of mosques to the recent antisharia bills passed in several states. Muslims all over the United States are being actively persecuted simply for being Muslim. However, one way some Muslims have included themselves into narratives is through humor— specifically through memes. This last Ramadan featured an assortment of memes explaining what the Islamic holy month is and isn’t in a humorous format. These forms of humor and other narratives have sparked discussion about Islam within the Muslim community, which Saeed believes is ultimately

beneficial. In the Q&A afterward, when asked if there are other ways Muslims could counter these images of themselves on social media, Saeed explained that the best thing to do is not to waste time responding to every criticism, saying that “reactionary politics will eat you alive.” Furthermore, when asked how Muslims could get politically engaged without playing into stereotypes, she suggested that Muslims engage openly with candidates by listing the concerns of the Muslim community, and by becoming politically involved through protest, if necessary.

ARTS & LIFE

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ARTS & LIFE

November 17 - December 11, 2015

‘Conversations’ Pop-up art exhibition displays gender communication

Christopher Breakell Arts & Life Assistant @ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com

Communication can come easily and naturally, joking with a friend over text and sitting around a table with close friends. Other times, trying to voice your thoughts on a debated subject or personal issue becomes stressful or uncomfortable. The transition from free-flowing speech to contemplative stutter can come abruptly due to the setting or context of the exchange. “Conversations,” a two-week pop-up art exhibition at French and Michigan gallery, focuses on how communication is experienced, thought about and altered due to gender. Scott A. Sherer, curator of the exhibition and an Associate Professor of Art History at UTSA, explains in a curatorial statement, “This exhibition, Conversations, presents the underlying character of the exercise of women’s unvoiced private thoughts, intimate discussion, routine presentation and dramatic declaration.” The exhibition was organized in a partnership with Planned Parenthood South Texas, and a portion of the sales from the exhibition will be donated to the organization. Six San Antonio artists have work featured in the show, each approaching the experience and effects of conversation through a different media and

Christopher Breakell, The Paisano “Conversations,” the art exhibition currently showing at the French & Michigan art gallery, explores the underlying character of women’s unvoiced private thoughts, intimate discussions, routine presentations, and dramatic declarations.

perspective. Sherer explains that built into the show is the “paradox that words convey information and argument imprecisely with multiple ways we can interpret them and with multiple affects.” Janelle Esparza highlights this paradox, creating 10 small wood plaques that display mirrors etched with oddly paired words, like “Normal risk,” “Competent fear” and “Needy protest.” These phrases reflect back on the viewer as they try to determine their meaning, and they display how

the value of a word can be dramatically altered depending on the context in which it is given. This idea is continued in the works of Julia Barbosa Landois. In her print titled “She’s a mom,” the word mom is prominently placed in front of an assortment of nouns, dramatically affecting their connotation. The list begins with the commonly used phrase “mom jeans” and progresses into the less common “mom sex,” “mom boobs” and “mom surgery.” “Sex and boobs,” words that often turn a head in

conversation, are softened by the simple three-letter word, and even the objective word ‘surgery’ almost becomes less frightening. Landois’ work captures one of the main themes of the exhibition. Curator Scott Sherer was interested in “how our bodies are the vehicles for representing information and meaning.” Once people are thought about as mothers, the way our society interprets their life is greatly influenced by their new role. Not only can language be altered by words we choose,

but also the medium in which it is presented. In “Steep,” artist Libby Rowe prints out text message conversations and hangs them in long, vertical strips from the ceiling attached to a bag of tea. Some of the messages are purely functional, such as trying to finalize plans or picking out new furniture; however, some of the conversations are filled with hefty paragraphs discussing intimate and important events of people’s lives. Unlike the personal experience of sharing tea with a friend, filled with

emotive expressions and body language, text messages innately prescribe a rigid structure that contrasts the intimacy and fluidly of thoughts and feelings. Artist Anabel ToribioMartinez has several oil paintings and works on paper displayed in the exhibition. The couple that appears in her painting “Interference,” shown sunken into a couch and completely invested in their phones, presents an often familiar situation: people choosing to engage with the interface of their phone instead of their significant other. Phrased in this way, “Interference” displays an unfortunate new phenomenon of our society, but this couple may not be purposely avoiding each other, just looking for another outlet to make a connection. “Rumination,” one of Toribio-Martinez’ watercolor pieces in the show, reverses this situation. The cellphones have been put away, and the woman stares at her absent-minded partner. A bright red string flows over the achromatic figures, coming to a chaotic tangle between their heads. Toribio-Martinez’s domestic scenes reflect on the constructs and barriers to communication in a gendered relationship, and how even in the comfort of a person’s home, communication is still influenced by gender. “Conversations” is free and open to the public at the French & Michigan art gallery (115 Michigan Ave.) until Nov. 21.

12 {Sports Events} Tuesday, Nov. 17 UTSA basketball (away) The men’s basketball team will travel to Omaha, Nebraska to take on the Creighton Abrams.

Friday, Nov. 20 UTSA volleyball (home) UTSA plays FIU at noon to kick off the Conference USA Volleyball Tournament, held this year at the Convocation Center.

Saturday, Nov. 21 UTSA basketball (away) The women’s team will travel to Abilene to face Abilene Christian at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday.

UTSA football (home) The Roadrunners will be seeking their first home win of the season when they take on division rival Rice at 6:00 p.m. in the Alamodome.

UTSA basketball (away) The men’s team will play the Southern Utah Thunderbirds.

Monday, Nov. 23 UTSA basketball (away) The men’s team will play Central Arkansas at the Men Who Speak Up Main Event in Las Vegas.

November 17 - December 11, 2015

UTSA captures win in OT thriller UTSA FOOTBALL Adrian Bermudez Staff Writer @bermudezmedia sports@paisano-online.com

Placekicker Daniel Portillo drilled a 22-yard field goal to edge UTSA past the Charlotte 49ers last Saturday, 30-27, earning the Roadrunners their second victory of the year. UTSA exorcised a demon with the win; of their eight losses, four have been decided by a one-score margin. “We’ve been on the ropes the last few weeks, but the guys hung in. Our guys never give up,” Head Coach Larry Coker commented after the game. After a dismal first half produced only 83 total yards of offense, UTSA opened the third quarter with a 91yard drive to tie the game at seven apiece. Running back Jarveon Williams fueled the drive with a 68-yard rush downfield. His 181 yards rushing broke his previous singlegame school record of 170. He scored on a 24-yard

PLAYER PROFILE @shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com

Thursday, Nov. 12 UTSA volleyball W, 3-2 at Southern Miss

Friday, Nov. 13 UTSA basketball (men) L, 64-76 at Loyola

Saturday, Nov. 14 UTSA football W, 30-27 at Charlotte

UTSA volleyball L, 0-3 at North Texas

touchdown run the following possession. “Coach chewed us out (at halftime) and we came out in the second half and drove it down their throat,” said Williams about the change of pace after halftime. When Coker talked to his running back about the record-setting day, Williams simply replied, “Coach, I just want to win.” Both teams combined for 34 points in a fast-paced 3rd quarter, and UTSA trailed by one point (21-20) entering the final fifteen minutes. Charlotte placekicker Blake Brewer then made a 41yard field goal to extend the lead to four. On third and 10 with eight minutes left to play, UTSA quarterback Dalton Sturm scrambled to his right and delivered a 26yard touchdown strike to Aaron Grubb, giving the Roadrunners a 27-24 lead. Charlotte scored a 37-yard field goal on their next possession to force the game into overtime. Charlotte took the open-

Jason Miczek, The Charlotte Observer

ing overtime possession straight downfield and got all but ten feet from scoring a touchdown. On second and goal from the threeyard line, safety Nate Gaines intercepted Charlotte quarterback Matt Johnson in the endzone to give UTSA a chance for the victory. After driving 75 yards to the Charlotte 5-yard line,

Portillo was called out to kick his very first game winner. Following the win, he called the moment “surreal.” Sturm displayed true grit and resiliency by passing for 133 yards and two touchdowns after throwing three first-half interceptions. His athletic ability when maneuvering out of pressure is unquestionable, and al-

though the sophomore still lacks sufficient experience, he is fearless in his decision-making. Coker said he was “very impressed” with Sturm’s mental toughness. UTSA’s hard hat defense stopped Charlotte on five of their first six drives and forced two turnovers. The unit also recorded four sacks, two of which came from defensive end Jason Neill. Safety Duke Wheeler set a school record with 11 solo tackles. The win snapped the season’s second four-game losing streak. “One of our better flights home, I’ll put it that way,” Coker said about the team’s mood after the game. UTSA Football won’t be flying anymore as they’re slated to play their final two games against Rice and Middle Tennessee in the Alamodome over the next two Saturdays. The Roadrunners have yet to win a game at home this season.

Morgan embracing role as leader Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editor

{Recent Results}

SPORTS

UTSA senior David Morgan II has evolved since his freshman season into someone with NFL-level ability and arguably the best player that UTSA can boast. At 6’4”, 260 pounds, Morgan has the type of elite size that excites scouts and terrifies opposing defenses. Hailing from Marble Falls, Texas, Morgan came to UTSA with second-team All-State honors after a stellar senior season where he caught 68 passes for 1,251 yards. Now as a senior for the Roadrunners, Morgan is currently the leading receiver, having pulled in 39 receptions for 456 receiving yards and four touchdowns so far this season. His designation as the team’s top receiver is made even more impressive when one realizes that Morgan plays tight end — not wide receiver — for the struggling Roadrunners. Coming off of an overtime win against Charlotte where Morgan was uncharacteristically quiet (one catch for six yards), the senior proved that even on a statistically down night, his presence as a leader is very valuable to this team. “Before we went out there in overtime, I told them, ‘This is a spot we’ve been in so many times, let’s come

out with the victory,’” Morgan said. “We made a couple of big plays down the stretch and got the win.” The Roadrunners’ grit against Charlotte led them to a much needed victory, moving them to 2-8. Despite the lofty loss column, Morgan maintains that the team’s record is not indicative of its character. “Our losses don’t define us,” Morgan said. “We have a lot of young guys, so a lot of this stuff is new to them.” Now a veteran of the football team, Morgan and his fellow seniors were given the lofty task of keeping the program together in the wake of the mass exodus of UTSA’s original recruiting class. Morgan credits his positive attitude for getting him through adversity. “As a leader, I always have to be positive,” Morgan said. “Whether it’s by example or by being vocal, I have to do what I have to do to get these guys ready.” As a member of the UTSA football team since 2011, Morgan is one of a few players who have been on the roster for each of the Roadrunners’ last three defeats to the Rice Owls. “We’ve played (Rice) three years now and haven’t beat them once,” Morgan said. “I really want to go out and get these guys. This is a game that I’ve really been looking forward to on the calendar.”

Love sports? Interested in writing? Join The Paisano’s sports writing team! Email sports@paisano-online.com, for more info!

Shabazz I. Dawkins, The Paisano

SPORTS

November 17 - December 11, 2015

Athletic Director has big plans for UTSA Hickey: ‘UTSA is the jewel of San Antonio’ UTSA ATHLETICS

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

Lynn Hickey has been arguably the most influential person on UTSA’s campus since she arrived in 2000. She came to San Antonio from Texas A&M University, a school where she not only coached the women’s basketball team from 1984-1994, but also held the title of Senior Associate Athletics director from 19942000. At A&M, Hickey was responsible for guiding the 1993-94 Aggies women’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16, b e coming the lowest seeded te a m ( 1 3 ) to ever reach t h e mile-

stone. Now as UTSA’s Athletic Director, Hickey’s crowning achievement so far has been establishing a football program at UTSA. Soon after the foundation of the coveted program, Hickey was able to move the Roadrunners from the Southland Conference to the more competitive Conference USA. Even with her many contributions to UTSA’s athletic programs, Hickey remains constant about her ultimate goal: increasing UTSA’s national status. “When I first got here 15 years ago, (UTSA Athletics) had a budget of 1.2 million. We’re going to be closer to 26 million next year,” Hickey said. When Hickey began as the Athletic Director, UTSA athletics was running a public relations campaign called “We’ve Got Game” that was designed to increase program support amongst the student body. The campaign centered on the idea of paving the road for a Division 1 NCAA Football team at UTSA while building pride and tradition at UTSA, two promises that Hickey made sure came true. Along the way, UTSA football has remained in the top three of its conference in attendance since 2011, more than tripling the average attendance mark each year. The work that Hickey has done for the university has increased not only the profitability of the UTSA brand, but also the visibility of the campus and its athletics programs. According to information collected by Nielsen Scarborough Research, the UTSA Roadrunner fan base has increased by 19 percent since 2014, more than the Rampage, Spurs and Missions combined. Although the football team has struggled through what has been a disappointing season, Hickey remains positive about the outlook

Jeff Huehn, UTSA Athletics

of UTSA and the athletics program. “Even with the season we’ve had, as far as wins and losses, we’re still among the top in our conference in attendance,” Hickey said. “People care and people are involved. We just want to get to the next level.” With a .500 season now out of reach for the UTSA football team (2-8, 2-4 CUSA), many have harshly criticized Head Coach Larry Coker, who in five years with the program has managed to collect only two winning seasons. Hickey remains firm in her commitment to Coker and believes that the former national champion has done wonders with the young program. “Because of him (Coker), we got a huge jump start on the program,” said Hickey. “We needed a special person to head this team and he has been that through and through.” Even with football being the highlight program at UTSA, Hickey has made sure to work toward gaining visibility for all athletic programs. Underneath Hickey, UTSA Athletics was able to break ground on a state of the art athletic complex — Park West — and recently announced plans to install a video board in the Convocation Center by 2016. Throughout

evolution of UTSA Athletics, Hickey has maintained the appropriate focus for her student-athletes. “Out of 400 kids (student-athletes), they’re doing really well,” Hickey said. “Our graduation rate is higher than the regular student body. Across the board, with 17 sports, we have a 3.0 grade point average. We’ve got some good people.” Hickey also acknowledged the continued support of UTSA President Dr. Ricardo Romo in the expansion of the athletics program. “I can’t say enough about his support, it’s just outstanding,” Hickey said. “From the whole administration, the support has been great because they believe.” Even with her numerous accolades and acknowledgments, Hickey’s biggest goal remains upgrading the visibility of the program she has grown to love. “UTSA is the jewel of San Antonio,” Hickey said. “The day that we get our alumni empowered and understanding the leverage they have in the city of San Antonio, we’ll be a pretty powerful group.”

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Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics

Martin, Rampage continue dominance RAMPAGE HOCKEY Brady T. Phelps Sports Assistant

@bradytphelps sports@paisano-online.com The Rampage’s point streak came to an end last Wednesday, but they responded over the weekend with a pair of wins at home — both against division rivals. Friday’s contest — the seventh contest through

twelve games that required overtime, was decided in a shootout. The first three Rampage shooters scored and gave the Rampage a 5-4 win over the Stockton Heat. The team is operating without their most reliable starting goaltender Calvin Pickard, who is in the middle of an NHL stint. The first goalie to take the reigns from Pickard was 23-yearold Czech netminder Roman Will. His play so far has not been impressive enough t o earn

him t h e interim starter role. Rookie goaltender Spencer Martin made his AHL debut on Sunday against the Texas Stars

and earned first star honors by stopping 46 of 47 shots. The score would suggest that the Rampage employed a tight, stifling defense, but ultimately, Martin’s play was the difference. After scoring just over a minute into the game, the Rampage held at least a one-goal lead until the end of regulation. But they struggled to create offense and keep the puck away from their own net, which led to their being outshot 34-16 over the final two periods. The usually prosperous Texas Stars offense was given an abundance of opportunities to tie the game after the momentum shifted their way, but Martin stood strong. After such an impressive debut performance, Martin may have the chance to overtake Will on the depth chart. As long as Pickard is out of the picture, it will be interesting to see what dynamic develops between these two netminders.

Giving up leads late in games is often attributed to youth and change, and the Rampage are not immune to inexperience. The absence of impact players like Pickard, Dennis Everberg and Rampage Captain Ben Street, and the transitory nature of the team’s defense, which is largely built around young players, make it a struggle to find consistency. “We have a lot of young guys that are still playing in different situations. You’re going to hear me say that a lot…because unfortunately, that’s the truth,” Rampage Head Coach Chynoweth explained. “We hope that they continue to grow and learn from it.” The team is happy with the results so far — they sit atop the Pacific Division — but their next challenge is not letting that success blind them to the aspects of their game that need to improve.

Shabazz I. Dawkins, The Paisano

Darren Abate, Rampage Hockey

November 17 - December 11, 2015

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