SINCE 1981
VOLUME 54
ISSUE 8
October 11-October 18, 2016
UTSA UTSA has received a three-year, $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to fund undergraduate students from underrepresented backgrounds in humanities research and graduate programs. The program will focus on research in literature, art, music, history, communications, anthropology, sociology, philosophy and other humanities fields.
Texas Nearly 300 East Texas children with disabilities who are part of the state’s Early Childhood Intervention program, have no one to provide them with medically necessary therapies after the region’s lone provider closed its doors this week in response to budget cuts ordered by the state legislature.
#BeyondtheHashtag: silent protest in the Sombrilla Isaac Serna Staff Writer
@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com On Oct. 6, UTSA students and local activists converged in the Sombrilla with duct tape over their mouths and brandished signs with photos of black Americans who lost their lives in episodes of police brutality throughout the country. The UTSA chapter of NAACP organized a silent protest at the Sombrilla to call attention to disproportionate police violence against African Americans. Students participating wore black in solidarity and
U.S. A federal appeals court rejected a request from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to stop construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Sunday, though construction may not start any time soon. On Sunday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that Energy Transfer Partners can move forward on construction of the pipeline; however, three federal agencies still need to approve the project before construction may begin.
World A week after Hurricane Matthew, the U.N. humanitarian agency in Geneva made an emergency appeal for nearly $120 million in aid, saying 750,000 people in southwest Haiti alone will need “life-saving assistance and protection” in the next three months. U.N. officials said earlier that at least 1.4 million people across the region need assistance and that 2.1 million overall have been affected by the hurricane. Some 175,000 people remain in shelters.
Science Federal authorities have added seven yellow-faced bee species, Hawaii’s only native bees, to the list of species protected under the Endangered Species Act, a first for any bee species in the United States. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the listing after years of study by the conservation group Xerces Society.
Ethan Pham, The Paisano The students’ protest was mostly silent, and their posters featured the names of black citizens killed by police officers.
duct-taped their mouths to symbolize the unheard voices of victims. Jonathan David Jones, UTSA alumnus and local activist, helped coordinate the protest. “Planning is robust,” Jones said. For him, it’s the behind the scenes logistical work that often goes unnoticed. “As an organizer, I’ve led and been a part of the rigorous process. There’s attire you coordinate, which is usually simple. But then you have to consider the weather and the time. Is traffic going to be a problem? At what times will parking be difficult? At what times can we expect everyone who wants to be involved to be able to, when everyone’s managing work schedules? Things such as health and safety, too.” Jones said these are just a few of the questions organizers have to ask themselves. In addition to these concerns, Jones also discussed optimizing the impact of an action through choreography. “What route will give the most exposure, and what route will present the most risk?” he said. Accessibility is another pressure on planning a successful action. “How do we manage the route for those that may not be able to walk as far?” The group makes sure to have lawyers on call, as the work that the work that they’re doing may be provocative. “Making sure we are focused, deliberate and specific to why we’re there, to avoid unnecessary conflict with opposition.” These are the basics that an organizer must consider. From an outside view, the action appears completely spontaneous. Zac Sowell, freshman human resources management major, participated in the protest. “This is a silent protest for the unfairly treated black people who were killed in a variety of incidents over the past few years, such as Tamir Rice, Mariah Sandra Bland and others who lost their lives from police brutality,” Sall
explained. A number of students protesting held signs to honor the memory of those lost. Along with a photo of each victim, the signs outlined the stories of their deaths. The protest was not exclusive to members of UTSA NAACP. “It’s a public protest. Anyone can join and support based on how they feel.” Sowell heard about the protest through the UTSA NAACP. He advised students who missed the opportunity to participate to follow the various social media sources under the UTSA NAACP handle. “Twitter is a big one,” Sowell said. A form was circulated at the event inscribed with the mantra “Smash This Racist System With Multiracial Unity” that highlighted issues like police brutality, capitalism, imperialism and cross-racial solidarity. According to Jones, these “are branches to a root problem.” For him, the personal is political. “My very existence as a black man is radical,” Jones said. “Considering I live in a system that is designed to keep me silent, broken, enslaved and imprisoned.” Jones asked, “what would society see as radical? That’s simple: my freedom.” Some spectators joined the group when they saw the protest, including a UTSA faculty member. Dr. Walter Wilson, assistant professor in the Department of Political Science & Geography, said, “I asked a participant if I could stand with him because I wanted people to know that this injustice is unacceptable to me, even though I am not black. The participant nodded yes, and other participants brought him a sign and tape to cover his mouth. “I think the importance
Ethan Pham, The Paisano UTSA alumn Jonathan David Jones speaks at the protest.
of protests like these is to raise awareness and build understanding and solidarity within the campus community,” Wilson explained. “I rarely see students socializing outside their racial and ethnic groups on campus. That’s a shame and a missed opportunity to build mutual understanding and to learn from one another. When students demonstrate, it creates an opportunity not only for protesters to send a message but also for observers to open their minds.” Sabrina Perez, freshman biology major, was among the students gathered at the Sombrilla. “I think that it’s honorable that they’re standing for what they believe in,” Perez said. The UTSA chapter of NAACP has organized demonstrations of this kind in the past. In December 2015, they hosted a Silent Library, where they ducttaped their mouths, donned black and held signs near the UTSA Roadrunner statue. Their Rowdylink page, states that it was a way “to remember individuals who
have been lost to police brutality in the recent years and to stand in solidarity with black students at the University of Missouri that were dealing with racial injustice.” “I admire the students involved in Thursday’s protest,” said Wilson, “because they set such an excellent example for their peers by sending a powerful message in a firm yet inclusive and provocative yet peaceful way.” “I would urge students who want to organize for a cause to be inclusive and peaceful,” Wilson said. “It takes courage to stand up for one’s convictions peacefully and with love, but doing so will most effectively challenge the conscience of the observer.” Wilson encourages students to work with campus offices by notifying administrators, including the campus police. “By conducting themselves in these ways, student demonstrators will legitimize their actions and win respect and support for their cause.”
Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event highlights sexual assault Raquel Alonzo
Arts & Life Assistant @raquelalonzo94 news@paisano-online.com
On Saturday, Oct. 8, Kendall County hosted its sixth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes in Boerne, Texas to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Male participants wore red heels or flats and walked Main Street, from San Antonio Street to U.S. Highway 46, finishing at the Kendall County Courthouse. “Domestic violence and rape crisis awareness is important because it could happen to anyone,” said Cristina Garcia, senior professional writing major. “It could even happen to you or me. Knowing what a healthy relationship looks like can help you evaluate
your own relationship to make sure it’s healthy.” Walk a Mile in Her Shoes is not only a walk held in Boerne but is also an international effort to stop rape, sexual assault and gender violence. The red shoes the men wore are symbols that also allow them to assume a woman’s perspective and in turn raise awareness for the cause. The county’s participation showed that it will lend a helping hand and have a safe place for women to go to if they find themselves in these situations. The men participated to show that they will not tolerate violence against women to learn more about how they can help. “By being more educated about the signs of domestic violence and rape, you can
help educate more people,” Garcia said. Donations were welcome both online and in person. All proceeds went to the Kendall County Women’s Shelter (KCWS), which provides victims of domestic violence with emergency shelter, food and support services such as legal advocacy, case management, social service referral, counseling, support groups and parenting and life skills classes. Escaping domestic violence is not easy— especially when children and pets are involved. This is why the shelter houses not only women of domestic violence but also their children and pets. KCWS reported, in 2015, they provided 206 victims of domestic violence with 6,451 nights of safety and
49 pets with 1,709 nights of safety. Walk a Mile in Her Shoes was held during the county festival which included food tents, bakeries, local shop vendors, tricycle racing, turtle racing and a classic car show, which was none other than the 30th annual Key to the Hills Rod Run that showcases hot rods from around the country dating from the years 1949-1964.
The timing meant that not only the residents of Kendall County but also out-of-towners visiting the Rod Run were able to witness the walk. The participants were met with a round of applause as they ended their journey at the Kendall County Courthouse. For more information on KCWS, visit kcwstexas.org or call 1-800-495-8078.
Raquel Alonzo, The Paisano