SINCE 1981
VOLUME 54
ISSUE 7
October 4 - October 11, 2016
UTSA Chris Packham, an associate professor of physics and astronomy, has received a grant from the National Science Foundation to study the formation of nearby galaxies. Packham’s research will focus on the centers of galaxies.
Texas Texas has withdrawn from a federal refugee resettlement program, according to the office of Gov. Greg Abbott, citing security concerns. According to a spokesperson from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, refugees will continue to be resettled in Texas after lengthy screeings.
U.S. WikiLeaks has cancelled an announcement set for Tuesday, citing security concerns at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London where Julian Assange, the organization’s founder, is held in political asylum. The announcement was set to follow several data leaks from the Democratic Party and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
World Colombian citizens have rejected the peace deal made last week between Marxist militia group FARC and the Colombian government. The slim majority of Clombian citizens who rejected the deal criticized it for being too lenient on FARC not holding the group accountable for crimes committed during a 52-yearlong conflict.
Science Researchers from Japan and Mongolia have discovered the world’s largest dinosaur footprint. It belonged to the Titanosaur species and was found in Mongolia. Twhe giant fossil measures 106 cm long and 77 cm wide.
What’s with the butterflies? Raquel Simon Calderon Staff Writer
@ThePaisano @paisano-online.com This September, San Antonio residents were surrounded by large clusters of butterflies. These butterflies, known as the American Snout, or “Snout nose,” had lived in this region due to the abundance of Hackberry trees—the Snout’s host plant. But now, according to Texas entomologist Mike Quinn, “The Snout nose is ‘emigrating’ out of where they have overpopulated and exhausted the food source, looking for new mates.” Roberto Guajardo Jr., a
senior multidisciplinary studies major said, “There are so many monarchs this year; I have never seen so many. The only thing is that I feel like every time I drive, I am killing a lot of them.” Guajardo was not alone in thinking the butterflies splattering against his car windshield were monarchs. Many people mistook these butterflies for the monarch butterfly. Julian Chavez, an associate researcher for The Monarch and Milkweed Project at UTSA, has been taking these calls from frantic students and friends who believed they were killing monarch butterflies every time they drove. He clarified for these callers that they had their butterflies mixed up. The
American Snout was their victim. The Monarch and Milkweed Project, a 6.8 acre plot located on the Main Campus, is dedicated to the research and preservation of the monarch butterfly and milkweed. Recently, this research project received a $300,000 grant from the Texas Comptroller. In April of this year, the area was designated a Certified Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Chavez explained what the researchers do: “We are doing roadside surveys to figure out how much milkweed there is in Texas; we go from Pineland to Ozona and from Wichita Falls to Alice,
stopping every 10 miles to make assessments,” he said. In these assessments, the team examines 750 square meters of every 10 miles to check for milkweed concentration alongside roads. In addition to the roadside surveys, the project team also does site specific surveys at different private properties. Monarch butterflies change habitats like the American Snout does but for different reasons. Instead of being motivated by the search for food, monarchs migrate because they cannot withstand cold temperatures. Their migration path covers 3,000 miles from Canada to Mexico, and they travel from August to November. Every October,
Campus Services offers new shuttle to students Isaac Serna Staff Writer
@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com On Sept. 21, a student shuttle made its first trip to the UTSA Park West Athletics Complex. The Runner, UTSA’s shuttle service, will provide temporary service to the remote parking lot, which boasts approximately 450 parking spaces, to remedy students’ struggle to find parking on campus. Fernie Ferniza, a finance major who, like many, has had issues with parking on campus, has noted that because his first class is at a peak hour (10 a.m.), he is required to arrive to campus at least 30 minutes early to ensure that he arrives to class on time. “I personally think it could help some students avoid that traffic on UTSA Blvd by having a lot in a remote location,” said Ferniza in response to
Campus Services’ Park West announcement. “I guess it just depends on how far this parking lot will be.” Charlotte Stubblefield, a psychology major, added that “UTSA is solving the issue, but their solutions are inconvenient and time-costly. I’ve used the remote lots to park, and the shuttles can take up to 10 minutes to arrive inbetween pickups. I believe that UTSA should invest in closer, more reliable parking for their student body, especially as the school continues to grow.” More time required to get to school equates to an earlier chime of students’ alarms. This inconvenience stirs discontent and frustration, but it is an inconvenience ‘Runners will have to learn to adjust too. “We are confident that the availability of temporary parking at the Park West complex can help with current conditions at the Main
“We are in the planning of a
design phase for the construction of two new surface parking lots that will add approximately 500 spaces to the Main Campus.” Lauren Beaver, Campus Services senior communicationon coordinator Campus,” Lauren Beaver, Campus Services senior communication coordinator, said. “Additionally, we are in the planning of a design phase for the construction of two new surface parking lots that will add approximately 500 spaces to the Main Campus.” Parking at UTSA can be a challenge for students, leading to creative problem solving strategies like Sarah Brown’s parking petition. These complaints don’t go unnocticed though. Beaver asserted that, “Campus Services regularly monitors
Continued scheduling of the Park West shuttle depends on students using it. Issac Serna, The Paisano
parking lots for availability to ensure students have a place to park.” The Park West complex is located at the intersection of Kyle Seale Pkwy and Hausman Rd, near the UTSA Track and soccer field. Steven Brown, UTSA’s Track and Field assistant coach, said he has only observed athletes using the parking location. The Park West shuttle picks students up at the roundabout near the Fan Amenities Building Monday-Thursday in 20 minute cycles. Departure
Graphic by Tristan Ipock they pass through Texas. According to Chavez, over the last 10 years, the monarch butterfly population has declined 80 to 90 percent owing to deforestation, climate change, pesticide use and the loss of milkweed. Unlike the relationship between the Hackberry tree and the American Snout, which is stable thanks to the tree’s abundance in Texas, the relationship between the Monarch and the milkweed is mutually precarious. The Monarch and Milkweed Project is currently conducting research in preparation in case the monarch butterfly becomes listed as an endangered species. “We are looking at To continue reading, see ‘Butterflies page 2
from Park West begins at 10a.m., and the final departure from the Campus Oval to Park West is at 5pm. The ride to and from lasts approximately seven minutes. Campus Services urges students who arrive on campus from 10a.m. to 2p.m. to utilize the service and says the Park West parking availability is contingent on the frequency of its use. Alma Orozco, a Park West shuttle service driver, reported that the most students she has picked up during a shift was three. “Students should use the Park West lot, instead of wasting time looking for a spot.” Orozco added. The lack of parking available to students may be helped by an additional 450 parking spaces at the Park West Complex, but its availability is dependent on how often students use the service.
The Park West lot is located near the track and tennis court.
Issac Serna, The Paisano