Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
03.29.2011 Vol. 45 Issue 10
The
Paisano
Shaken by Japanese
EARTHQUAKE P6: Spotlight: Club baseball
Associated Press
P8: New Fandemic app
P10: Making hoops history
A 9.0 magnitude earthquake leads to Tsunami and over $300 billion of damage.
Drunk driving still a problem in San Antonio Sergio Rios
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net The issue of drunk driving in Texas has been reignited with the death of 27-year-old Stephanie Brown. Brown, a San Antonio police officer, was killed in a head-on collision by a 31-year-old, alleged drunk driver who reportedly was driving the wrong way on I-35 when he struck Brown’s patrol unit around 2 a.m. According to SAPD data, last year alone, 55 fatalities were attributed to alcohol-related collisions in Bexar County. This was in addition to 5,769 drunk driving arrests . In an effort to reduce the alcohol-related offenses in San Antonio, the “no refusal” holiday weekend law was recently extended to every weekend in 2011. The “no refusal” law requires motorists suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol to undergo blood draws if they reject a field sobriety/ breathalyzer test. And it doesn’t stop there. Bexar County is also seeking to make the weekend-only “no refusal” law an everyday tool against drivers suspected of being under the influence. See, DRUNK DRIVING Page 2
Matt Dargan
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net On Thursday, March 24, Xavier Johnson and Victor Hinojosa were elected student government president and vice president. With a four percent voter turnout for the election for presidency, a key theme in the SGA’s plans centers around total participation, which they hope will yield high efficiency in the future. “What we’re really trying to achieve is total fluid sustainability for UTSA, and an exchange of active contribution from students, staff and community,” said current SGA Vice President Victor Hinojosa. “The more we offer environments where students can get used to communicating ideas with different people, the more they will feel empowered to be involved.” “It’s been a historic year,” said former SGA President Derek Trimm. “With student involvement on the rise, the goal is to continue to see an increased interchange between the student body and the community.” “Our administration was the central guiding force behind the Green Fund movement at UTSA, speaking to over 40 student organizations during the campaign season about the vote, which would take place the following month,” Trimm said.
Nevada senate approves handguns on campus
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net Japan was struck by the most powerful earthquake in its recorded history on March 11, triggering a tsunami that devastated its northeastern coastal region. The death toll is estimated to be over 10,000, with over 14,000 people still missing and as many as 19,000 living in shelters. Viewers around the world watched in shock as broadcast news stations aired video footage of the quake and subsequent tsunami, which Japanese international student Mao Yamada describes as “what looked like part of a movie.” Most of Yamada’s family and friends live near Tokyo and she has confirmed with them that they are all safe. In spite of this, she says the images in her mind of her homeland being overpowered by such a powerful natural disaster left her with an uneasy feeling. “I had a hard time falling asleep during spring break because aftershocks were continuously hitting Japan, so I was worried about my family so much,” Yamada said. Yamada explains that not everyone was fortunate enough to escape the wrath of the disaster. “One of my friends is from Sendai and her family lived there,” said Yamada. “The girl was in Tokyo, and I heard that she still hasn’t made contact with her parents. She actually drove to Sendai to find her family, but I don’t think she found them.” Sherrie Voss Matthews, media and marketing coordinator for the Office of International Programs (OIP), confirmed that UTSA had two students studying in southern Japan who have returned to the U.S. OIP has also reached out to more than 20 students from
Joseph Tidline/ The Paisano
New SGA officers elected
Angela Marin
Japanese club members Nana Ali, Nao Atsumi, and Associate Director Mimi Yu solicit donations on campus. Japan and sent them information on available counseling services. “Our thoughts and sympathies are with those who are affected by the events in Japan,” Matthews said. “Having had the opportunity to call Hiroshima my home for three years, I saw first-hand how this city, once demolished by the atomic bomb, has rebuilt itself and how its people are full of life,” Japanese instructor Keri Toma said. “I am sure that eastern Japan will follow suit.” Toma says the “gambari” or “do your best; keep fighting” spirit is a large part of the Japanese culture, and she has no doubt that the resilience of the Japanese will give them the strength and courage to rebuild and restore their country and people. Aside from widespread structural devastation, flooding and impaired telecommunication and electricity systems, Japan is now battling a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and threats of radiation contamination in sur-
rounding areas. Several explosions have been reported at the plant since the earthquake and tsunami struck the area. Plant workers continue their efforts to cool reactors in hopes of controlling radiation levels. “Japan now faces many challenges, including the environmental threat and health issues stemming from the possible meltdown of the nuclear plants,” said Mimi Yu, associate director of the UTSA East Asia Institute. “We will undoubtedly observe the regional business impact around the Sendai area as well as domestic and international business impacts related to Japan in the years to come.” The events that transpired in Japan have evoked significant support from nations around the globe. Yamada explains that seeing people come to Japan’s aid in this time of vulnerability is humbling. “I feel like we have to work together to make sure everything works out now,” Yamada said.
See SGA, Page 3
paisano-online.com
See JAPAN, Page 2
Associated Press A fight over concealed weapons on Nevada college campuses is about to hit the Senate floor after winning committee approval Friday. SB231 would allow people who are licensed to carry concealed weapons to bring their guns onto Nevada colleges and universities. Concealed weapons are currently allowed at universities and colleges with the campus president’s approval. Debate over the bill began last week with emotional support from witnesses such as Amanda Collins, who was raped in the parking garage at the University of Nevada, Reno. Collins, who is licensed to carry a concealed weapon, said if she had been allowed to be armed, she could have stopped serial rapist James Biela. Biela, a former Marine and pipefitter, was convicted last year and sentenced to death for the January 2008 killing and sexual assault of 19-yearold Brianna Denison. He was also sentenced to four life terms for raping Collins and another woman in late 2007. In her public testimony, Collins told the Senate Committee on Government Affairs that subsequent measures to make the area where she was attacked more safe are worthless. See HANDGUN, Page 3