10.08.19

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

The state fair of Texas

Athlete of the week

Vol. 60, Issue 7

Est. 1981

October 8 - October 15, 2019

The Paisano

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline

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Online therapy available for students

By Jada Teague Staff Writer

Senator Cornyn speaks about new scholarship.

UTSA is introducing Therapy Assistance Online (TAO), an online therapy program developed to address matters related to depression, anxiety and other issues students commonly experiJoseph Torres/The Paisano ence. This program is a self-help service that provides tools to assist students with common mental health issues.

159 students currently take advantage of this 124-128 credit hours. This allows more service.

TAO helps students veterans access to the Nourse STEM understand and respond Scholarship. to their emotions.

The “Previously it was 128 and now it’s program provides ac120 [credit hours]. That’s the little cess to therapy modtweak to make more funds available to veterans for a longer period of time be- ules, skill-building cause many of them have timed-out af- exercises and resources that help improve copContinued on page 2 ing skills. The modules See “GI Bill benefits extended for can be accessed 24/7 STEM majors”

Texas senator meets with UTSA veterans

By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor

U.S. Senator John Cornyn met with student veterans at UTSA to expand on the Edith Nourse Rogers Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Scholarship. The scholarship was created from the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017, also known as the

“Forever GI Bill,” which provides an additional nine months of GI Bill eligibility or up to $30,000 in benefits for veterans pursuing STEM degrees.

On July 1, 2019, Cornyn introduced the Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act, and the Bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 31, 2019. The Bill reduces the number of credit hour eligibility in Texas where degrees range from

through smartphones, tablets and computers. This technology is tailored to fit students’ schedules and individual needs. It is free, anonymous and selfdirected. The modules and exercises can be used as many times as needed.

The requests for Counseling Services can be high at times causing students that need assistance to wait for help. “The reason to have TAO is that you can’t possibly have enough individual therapy available for everybody who needs help and we know that a lot of people don’t really need 50 minutes of weekly face-to-

Continued on page 2 See “Counseling services provide online assistance”

New lab facilitates natural disaster prevention

By Brandon Armstead Staff Writer UTSA’s College of Engineering held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of its new Large-Scale Testing Laboratory on Oct. 3. The lab will facilitate researchers as they begin developing new earthquake-resistant building technology.

This technology called periodic cellular materials (PCMs) would be installed inside of buildings to withstand the impact of earthquakes by altering its structure, and, after a quake, return to its original structure. The goal for this technology is to reduce the damage caused by earthquakes.

Currently, materials used in earthquakeresistant buildings deform but do not rebound afterwards, thus making those structures weaker over time.

“In our lab, we can fabricate PCMs in

a broad range of materials like ceramics, polymers, metals or a combination of these. The characteristic properties of our PCMs are mostly influenced by the connectivity of the cells that form the materials,” Dr. David Restrepo, assistant professor in the department of mechanical engineering, said.

PCMs would offer a more flexible and lighter alternative to the steel used in building construction. The energy released from an earthquake would be dissipated as it goes through the walls of a skyscraper.

“We found an alternative that helps dissipate similar levels of energy that when ‘damage’ is used, but in this case, all the deformation is reversible. In other Grand opening for large-scale research lab.

Donald Escamilla/The Paisano

Continued on page 2 See “Earthquake resistent technology in development”

Skeletal remains found near campus

By Breahna Luera Assistant News Editor

By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor UTSA’s Student Government Association (SGA) is holding a special election for a student body secretary. The election opens at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 8 and closes

Graphic by Paola Esquivel

at 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 10. Voting will be held on RowdyLink.

Human skeletal remains were found in a wooded area outside of the West Campus near Babcock and 1604 on Oct. 1. KENS5 reported that the police believe the remains have been there for about six months. Officials said the offense was an apparent sudden death.

San Antonio Police Department Homicide, CSI and a Medical Examiner arrived at the scene.

The remains appear to be adult, officials said, but have not been identified yet.

Nearby resident and sophomore global affairs student, Anna Smith, said she feels safe on campus, but feels less safe on the outskirts of campus like student housing apartments.

“I do feel a bit less safe just because it was so near,” Smith said.

The investigation will continue SAPD investigates skeletal remains found near Babcock and 1604. during the upcoming weeks.

Emilio Tavarez/ The Paisano

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UTSA UTSA reached record high enrollment and graduation rates in 2019.

The university experienced increased enrollment in the doctoral population and online bachelor’s degree of business administration in cybersecurity as well as an increase in undergraduate retention rates. Both four-year and six-year graduation rates increased the duringlast year.

In the 2018-2019 academic cycle, UTSA granted 7,029 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees.

Texas President Donald Trump granted Gov. Gregg Abbott’s request for disaster declaration on Oct. 4. Federal Emergency Management Agency requires that at least 800 homes without flood insurance be flooded with at least 18 inches of water to have a storm declared a federal disaster.

According to Abbott’s request, 900 homes within six Texas counties received major damage from Tropical Storm Imelda and were uninsured.

The disaster declaration makes counties whose residents suffered significant damage from Imelda eligible to receive federal assistance.

Residents from Chambers, Harris, Jefferson, Liberty, Montgomery and Orange counties can apply for assistance and potentially receive up to $35,500 per household.

U.S. On Oct. 4, the White House issued a proclamation to deny visas to immigrants that “will financially burden” the country’s healthcare system.

The proclamation, set to be effective Nov. 3, would require foreign nationals to show proof of health insurance or ability to cover their health costs before entering the country. This proclamation coincides with the Trump administration’s preparation of a “public charge” rule that would deny green cards or U.S. citizenship to poor immigrants as well as impeachment inquiries against Trump.

World On Oct. 6, thousands of people in Hong Kong protested against the government ban on face masks, which was an attempt by the Hong Kong officials to repress the city’s protests. The ban had inverse effects than what Hong Kong officials intended. The protests were initially peaceful but turned violent when police tried to diffuse the crowd of protesters. Police used tear gas, rubber bullets and pepper spray on protesters. Protesters responded by throwing bricks and Molotov cocktails at the police as well as vandalizing businesses.

Science Astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir will take part in the first all-female spacewalk set to occur on Oct. 21. Koch and Meir will be upgrading batteries for a solar power system. The first all-female spacewalk was supposed to occur in March, but it was cancelled because NASA was unable to obtain another medium-sized space suit in time.

Counseling services provide online assistance Continued from Page 1 face therapy, but they need something,” Dr. Sherry Benton, founder and chief science officer of TAO Connect, said.

Benton also spoke about when she was the director of a large counseling center and how they could never keep up with demand.

“Making students who were struggling with things like depression wait is an unbelievably bad idea… I needed to find a way to get more resources, to more students, more quickly and to eliminate our waitlist,” Brenton said.

Founded in 2012 and implemented into UTSA as a part of a UT System Initiative in July 2018, TAO is available at over 150 public and private universities in the United States as well as Canada. Studies conducted in various countries have shown this technology to be as effective as an in-person individual therapy for common disorders.

Students are able to choose what program works for them and TAO tracks their progress and improvement. Counselor approval is not required to access this technology.

“Many different types of student concerns are appropriate for TAO,” Melissa Hernandez, director of counseling and mental health services at UTSA, said. “We encourage all students who would like to improve their psychological or emotional well-being to explore the resources on TAO. Those who have

more intense or acute mental health needs and those who are at risk of harming themselves or others should also engage with a mental health provider while using TAO.” TAO is on the UTSA Counseling Services website, which provides the steps to sign up.

The website also has information about the other programs Counseling Services offer such as individual counseling, group coun-

seling, relationship counseling and more. All services are pre-paid through student service fees and are confidential. For more information on TAO at UTSA, visit https://www. utsa.edu/counsel/tao/index.html.

Students have access to online therapy services.

Robyn Castro/The Paisano

GI Bill benefits extended for STEM majors Continued from Page 1

ter 36 months. What this does is allow them to continue their benefits longer to complete their course of study,” Cornyn said.

The scholarship is not just limited to undergraduate degrees. Veterans who have completed more than half of a graduate degree in the STEM field and have exhausted their federal benefits may qualify for additional GI Bill benefits under the Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act. “This [program] is focused on STEM in particular, but this doesn’t complete our work in terms of trying to figure out how we can provide those educational benefits for veterans that they’ve earned under the GI Bill. Maybe there are some other areas that we can collaborate on and perhaps expand those benefits,” Cornyn said.

UTSA veterans were formerly limited to only three programs under the Nourse STEM Scholarship: chemical engineering, civil engineering and mechanical engineering.

Under the Veteran STEM Scholarship Act, the university has added the following 17 eligible programs: environmental science; computer science; cyber security; biomedical engineering; computer engineering; electrical engineering; biology; biochemistry; microbiology and immunology; mathematics; statistics and data

Earthquake resistent technology in progress Continued from Page 1 words, no apparent damage is caused in the structures. Then the buildings can be safely occupied after an earthquake, there is a reduction in casualties, and there is an improvement in the longevity of the buildings,” Restrepo said.

Restrepo believes PCMs can also be used for natural disasters other than earthquakes. For example, Texas rarely experiences earthquakes; however, PCMs can be used to protect buildings from more common hazards like hurricanes and windstorms.

Funding originated from the UTSA Office of the Vice President for Research, Economic Development, and Knowledge Enterprise which provides grants to small research projects.

“We hope by next to year finish researching some early prototypes. We would like to see this in the application soon and start saving lives,” Restrepo said.

science; chemistry; geology; physics; nutrition and dietetics; health; and public health.

Qiwei Chen, Student Veteran Association president, explained how the expanded GI Benefits will impact her education goals.

“This new scholarship will definitely cover me for longer, so now I’m thinking about activating it,” Chen said. “My first goal is to go to medical school. If I don’t get into medical school, I’m definitely thinking about getting a master’s in public health that can further my education and give me a better chance of getting into medical school.”

The Veteran STEM Scholarship Improvement Act now allows the Nourse STEM Scholarship to be

applied to an additional 580 programs across Texas’ public institutions. For student veterans interested in obtaining more information, visit UTSA’s Veteran Certification Office located on the first floor of the John Peace Library.

Interested in Pursuing a Ph.D.?

Apply for the McNair Scholars Program!

The McNair Scholars Program is nationally-recognized and offers tailored advising, graduate school application assistance, organized graduate school visits, travel to professional conferences, a paid 10-week summer research internship and more!

Eligibility Requirements At least 60 credit hours 2.9 G.P.A. Desire to conduct research Interest in graduate school

U.S. Citizen/Resident First Generation College Student PELL grant eligible

Join a national network and community of scholars Apply today! utsa.edu/mcnair Application Priority Deadline: Friday, October 18th, 2019.

210-458-4286 | mcnair@utsa.edu

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editor@paisano-online.com | 3

opinion Free tuition for low-income students — why not us?

Editorial UTSA needs to follow suit with universities that boldly offer tuition-free programs for lowincome students. Institutions like Texas State, UT El Paso and UT Austin all proudly offer needbased programs that cover the cost of tuition for students whose median household income falls below a specified income cap. These programs typically use institutional funds to cover the cost of a student’s tuition and mandatory fees that are left over after student’s federal and state grants.

In 2017, more than 11,000 undergraduate UTSA students received federal PELL grants. Over a third of the student population demonstrated their exceptional financial needs to pay for their education. Other universities have recognized their struggling student populations, and UTSA needs to do the same.

For example, Texas State’s Bobcat Promise program offers free tuition for all Texas residents whose families make less than $35,000. UT Permian Basin’s Falcon Promise program offers free tuition for all students who have a family income below $60,000. Other UT System schools offer similar programs with income caps that range from $25,000 to $75,000.

Each of these universities evaluate the financial needs of their students and communities to ensure their students have affordable access and equal opportunity to earn an education.

UTSA has previously made efforts to remedy financial burdens for students. In Fall 2007, UTSA initiated the Undergraduate Tuition Support and Access (UTSAccess) program, which would cover the cost of four years of tuition and fees for incoming freshmen whose family incomes were $25,000 or less.

If this program still exists, then UTSA needs to proudly promote and expand it to reach a larger population of students. If the program no longer exists, UTSA needs to introduce a bold, needbased free tuition program that increases access to higher education for low-income students.

Illustration by Amber Chin

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President Trump’s corruption warrants impeachment Commentary

By Josh Peck Assistant Managing Editor After leaving office, President Donald Trump will be regarded across the world as one of the worst presidents in the history of the United States. From cruel policies that purposefully separate children from their parents to his affection toward autocrats and his virulent racism, nearly every move this president makes is categorically un-American.

Trump is morally bankrupt and criminally corrupt. The recent phone call Trump had with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine this July led the U.S. House of Representatives to finally come out in full support of an impeachment inquiry.

During the phone call with Zelensky,

Trump asked the Ukrainian president to “look into” Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden’s debunked scandal, which alleges he pushed for the removal of a Ukrainian prosecutor while he was vice president. Trump falsely claims that the prosecutor was investigating a Ukrainian company that employed Biden’s son, and Biden wanted the prosecutor removed for that reason.

There are glaring problems with the story Trump and many Republicans are telling about the former vice president.

During the time in question, the U.S., its European allies, multiple international organizations and anti-corruption proponents in Ukraine all wanted this prosecutor removed because of his corruption. In fact, President Barack Obama’s administration advised Ukraine to take legal action against the company that employed Biden’s son. Vice President Biden acted openly with support from American allies and Ukraine.

Trump and his allies are peddling a blatantly false conspiracy to discredit Biden, who they perceive as Trump’s

greatest threat in the 2020 election. However, this scandal is not just political, it is criminal. Before the phone call with Zelensky, Trump’s staff froze $391 million in military defense aid for Ukraine, which Congress passed bipartisanly.

Ukraine needs this aid to defend themselves from their hostile neighbor, Russia. The transcript shows that during the phone call Zelensky asked for additional defense equipment, to which Trump responded with a request to investigate Biden.

There is no evidence to support Trump’s claims against Biden. Trump used defense aid as ransom in exchange for manufactured dirt on a political opponent to help him win the presidential election. By soliciting assistance from a foreign government for his presidential campaign, Trump violated campaign finance laws and committed an impeachable offense. Founding Father and thenPresident James Madison worried about this type of misconduct from a president when he said, “[The president] might betray his trust to foreign powers.” This

betrayal is exactly what Trump has done.

Trump welcomed interference from Russia in 2016, and he is doing it again, this time from Ukraine. Last week, he went on live television and restated his desire for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens, and he added another foreign nation — this time a hostile one — to his call to action: China. Trump’s actions betray the country and spit in the face of everything the world’s greatest democracy is meant to stand for and stand against.

Trump was unfit for office long before he held it, but these latest actions prove there has never been a president more worthy of impeachment than he. The House of Representatives should vote to pass articles of impeachment against Trump, and the Senate should vote to convict him. Otherwise, this signals to all future presidents and foreign nations that the U.S. is open to all forms of corruption.

UTSA should protect Latinx students against gun violence Commentary

By Leonardo Garcia Staff Writer My thoughts and prayers go to the victims of mass shootings and their families. The recent mass shootings are causing mass hysteria in today’s society and have become more frequent and deadly in the past 10 years. Shockingly, such events are happening hours away from us. Every time I hear about a mass shooting my heart breaks. The victims are innocent, and their dreams are ripped away. Mass shootings are increasing in

number and happening everywhere in the United States, specifically in border states. As a matter of fact, according to police reports, one of the most recent mass shootings in the country took place in Beaumont, Texas.

It is a shame students have to live through this. As a college student, I have seen too many mass shootings, and I know they will continue to occur. Some of the most recent shootings stem from hate against Mexicans, Hispanics and immigrants. The presidential elections are coming, hate-filled extremists are inspired by mass shooters, and UTSA is one of the universities with the most Hispanics in Texas.

UTSA’s president, Dr. Taylor Eighmy, has consistently come out and addressed the sexual safety of students. I am proud of UTSA counseling services for introducing Walk-in Wednesdays because

I believe they are life-changing for students. However, UTSA should also be worried about students dealing with anxiety caused by shootings. Throughout my life, I have witnessed five different shootings. I’ve seen first-hand how these shootings can be traumatic for students and their families. Survivors and witnesses are forced to deal with mental anxiety and constant reminders of their trauma. It is not okay for students to need to handle the added stress of fearing a potential mass shooting in addition to the regular stresses of college life.

I think it is time for UTSA to come out and say that due to recent events, the security of students is its main priority.

This move from UTSA will make Hispanic students feel more safe at UTSA. The shootings are caused by an extreme amount of hate. Extremists and the access to guns are a very deadly duo. My

concern is not with differing political views, it is with the fact that hate is all around us.

Last year, a white supremacist banner was put up on campus. We have to open our eyes to the incredible amount of violence that may be driven by the upcoming presidential elections and be on guard against people with those extreme beliefs. Hispanics need the helping hand of UTSA. Let’s not welcome a tragedy.

In case you are reading this, I would like you to take a moment of silence to think and pray for the innocent victims of mass shootings and their families.

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SGA is what you make it

Cry for the cryosphere Commentary

Commentary

By Dawson Fagan Copyediting Coordinator The International Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) “Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate” is terrifying, and it has come just in time for Halloween. The report is a harrowing account of sea levels rising and ice sheets melting at a much faster rate than previously anticipated.

Jane Lubchenco, a former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) administrator, says, “The ocean is already rising, rising faster than we had predicted. It will continue to rise, and that only serves to underscore the emergency we are confronted with now: The urgency of reducing carbon emissions as rapidly as possible.” Global warming has dramatically affected the oceans because they are a giant carbon sink. Additionally, and perhaps more importantly, they absorb the majority of the heat trapped in the earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

At a press conference, Ko Barrett, vice-chair of the IPCC, explains, “The ocean has been acting like a sponge, absorbing heat and carbon dioxide to regulate global temperatures, but it can’t keep up.” To put a finer point on it, she says, “The world’s ocean and cryosphere have been ‘taking the heat’ from climate change for decades, and consequences for nature and humanity are sweeping and severe.”

This Special Report is exceptionally terrible because the thing that everybody said wouldn’t happen is happening. The Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are melting. You know, the ice sheets that were supposed to outlive

humanity. The warming atmosphere is, as previously established, heating the ocean and as a result, the ice sheets are melting from the warmth of the ocean that lies deep beneath them. John Mercer first proposed this idea back in the 1970s. As Carolyn Cormann of The New Yorker reports, “In 1990, many scientists still believed that the ice sheet in Antarctica would be stable for thousands of years, even with large amounts of warming. Today scientists are clear that Mercer was right.”

These melting ice sheets are the main contributors to rising sea levels. Valérie Masson-Delmotte, a co-chair of the IPCC, states, “In recent decades, the rate of sea-level rise has accelerated due to growing water inputs from ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, in addition to the contribution of meltwater from glaciers and the expansion of warmer sea waters.”

The rising sea-level is a critical part, and arguably the whole point, of this Special Report which proclaims, “While sea level has risen globally by around 15 centimeters during the 20th century, it is currently rising more than twice as fast – 3.6 milimeters per year – and accelerating.” In other words, if we stick below a two-degree Celsius threshold, the oceans will rise somewhere between one and two feet.

However, if carbon emissions continue unchecked, coastal civilizations could experience a sea-level increase between two and three-and-a-half feet by 2100.

As it stands, if all carbon emissions were to cease this very moment indefinitely, humans would still be guaranteed a sea-level rise of one foot by 2100. We might even see a three-and-ahalf foot increase in our lifetimes. Three feet doesn’t sound like much, but when a hurricane as tenacious as Katrina or Sandy comes along with 25-foot and 13-foot storm surges, respectively, every foot counts when you’re trying to keep breathing.

By Forrest Wilkinson Staff Writer As a former Student Government Association (SGA) senator and sustainability chair, I know how student initiatives are created. Some of the initiatives I’ve worked on are the UTSA Meditation Room, UTSA Green Fund, Rowdy Global Kitchen, greater food diversity on campus (vegetarian and vegan foods) and the creation of the first Sustainability Fair.

I am here to say that SGA is a framework for students to consciously create what they want to see on campus. It takes student involvement to do so, and the organization is essentially what you make of it.

Recent criticism has been centered around the budget and voter turnout. The budget regarding SGA’s trip to the John Newcombe Tennis facility, reported to spend $14,000 of student tuition, is irresponsible. I went on this same trip in 2016, and although I enjoyed it and believe a greater community was built within the organization, the costs outweigh the benefits. More importantly, the general student population doesn’t agree with the trip, and SGA is built to listen to student voices.

As for voter turnout, this current election witnessed a turnout of less than one percent of the student population’s vote.

In a conversation with judicial chair Clara Akwarandu, I asked her if she thought too much pressure is put on the judicial branch of SGA to organize a voter base of over 30,000 students, and how they can improve that turnout.

“Not all 30,000 students have time to stop at a table, eat some pizza and vote.

So I agree it’s not possible to get amazing numbers like we would like to see. I think we have lots to work on in marketing and promotion in elections, but I believe there is only so much we can do...I want

la Godoy Per

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to use all of our money [of the allotted $830 annual budget for the judicial branch] and spend it on whatever makes sense for tabling and promotion materials for election,” Akwarandu said.

Although advertising was poor this year, and less than one percent of the student body voted, I’m confident many students who knew about the election did not vote.

So, why didn’t they? I feel that it is equally important for the students to recognize their civic duty to be a part of the voting process. It’s one thing to make the judicial branch responsible for voter turnout. It is another thing for students to hold themselves accountable.

Overall, I have seen students make amazing changes at UTSA, but it was because these students took a proactive approach and took action to bring their initiatives to life. In the SGA meeting on Oct. 3, I proposed a way to help in voter turnout: team up with the Roadrunner Cafe, and give all students who vote a discount or free entry into the cafe.

Another active member brought up the idea of live-streaming SGA meetings so that the student population could watch from home. It’s important to remember that you don’t have to be a senator to make change. You can do plenty as a student.

If you have an idea, pitch it! I hope this article leaves you asking, “What can I do?”

SGA is what you make of it; it’s up to you to make the change you want to see. Meetings are in the Denman Ballroom every Thursday evening at 5:30p.m., so come out and make yourself heard.

The Two Sides podcast kicks off with Edysa and Perla talking about mental health.

Watch the first episode at YouTube.com/PaisanoOnline or listen at Paisano-Online.com

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TWO SIDES PODCAST

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Arts & Life

Good boys go for a dip

DoggiePoolooza incentivizes pet adoption and community engagement Sofia Garcia Assistant Arts & Life Editor Although DoggiePoolooza seemed like an event that would allow me to maintain my self-control, I was seized by an overwhelming urge to give every dog present a fraction of my time. Lined with vendors, food trucks and a swimming pool, this event promised a world of fun for both dogs and humans. Sponsored

by Animal Care Services (ACS) and Parks and Recreation, DoggiePoolooza offered dog adoptions, “pawdicures” and training sessions for the community of San Antonio.

While speaking with Rose Stringer, a representative from ACS, I was informed of the services they provide for prospective and current dog owners.

“Animal Care Services gives lowcost procedures to the residents of San Antonio. We provide free microchipping and discounted spaying and neutering for all pets. Everything can be free depending on the zip code because we do cater to low- income communities,” Rose said.

On my way into the community center after my conversation with ACS, I was enamored by a ukulele player, Ariel, who graciously provided her song covers as the soundtrack to DoggiePoolooza in the midst of barks and howls. Art somehow found its way into an event revolving around dogs and it created a welcoming community. After engaging with Ariel, I learned that the community center housed various

adoption agencies looking to give young and old dogs a second chance.

I could feel the lump in my throat creeping up as I read the stories of the dogs looking for homes, each one with a different reason for being left behind. As I stopped at each and every adoption stand, I noticed a trend in the employees: They all shared the same passion for showing unconditional love to these innocent creatures that steal our hearts. I came across many different agencies, but one in particular caught my eye.

Grumpy Puppy Rescue, a non-profit organization working against animal cruelty, showed that unwavering passion when I spoke to a woman about the dogs that were up for adoption.

“Usually, when I volunteer for events like these, the dogs I work with will just come up and choose me. For me, creating this bond with the dogs is worth the long hours and I would do it every day if I could. I wish that I could adopt every stray out there,” she said.

It had only been 30 minutes, and I was already immersed in every detail that made this event whole. Following my thought provoking interactions with the agencies, I strolled into another room in the community center, and I was approached by women who named their organization San Antonio Dog Moms. The organization’s fascinating story quickly stole my attention from the woman who was holding her chihua-

hua in what looked like a baby carrier. The women from Dog Moms explained how their organization’s purpose is to bring dogs from the community together to socialize as well as form bonds with their owners. They meet up every month and offer pack walks, assistance with pets who have behavioural issues and seasonal events like the costume contest coming up later in October. Being informed about all of these pet friendly organizations made me want to come to every scheduled event.

My quest to learn about DoggiePoolooza worked up quite an appetite, so I wandered outside in search of the food truck called Ay, Chihuahua Tacos that piqued my interest because of its fitting name. As I ate my food, I watched the dogs splash and swim in the pool closed off exclusively for this event. Observing the pet owners made me realize they would go to any length to ensure their pet’s comfort, and that was what this event was about— a community of loving, kind and nurturing people coming together to bond with their family.

The San Antonio Dog Moms costume contest will be hosted at The Block by UTSA.

Sofia Garcia/The Paisano

Some thoughts on suffering Forrest Wilkinson Staff Writer Suffering: It is a natural part of life, interwoven into its fabric. It is unescapable, and yet how we perceive, act, speak and become in the wake of suffering is what defines us most. There is no escaping the darkness or the light, they are as much a part of us as the genetic code we are born with. This is the first noble truth: All beings will experience suffering, it is natural, and it is okay.

It is said that, “hurt people hurt people,” but scars that have been transformed into faith and forgiveness produce saints and righteous warriors. When we try to avoid suffering, or hold on to it as something unique to ourselves, we begin to lose our humanity and ability to genuinely connect with others. A fancy house, a nice car, you name it; suffering exists in your heart and mind and can live and travel with you anywhere. But facing life’s hardships brings wisdom, and this wisdom will also live and travel with us wherever we go. One path is to play hide and seek, playing an elusive game with our suffering; and another is to accept it as a part of life and begin living once again.

There are a group of mystics who after searching their hearts see clearly that everything is backwards.

Thus their craft is: backwards poetry. It goes like this: A man sat staring at his plants, never watering them, but learned how to nourish his soul A hunter shot her arrow but struck herself and learned full-hearted compassion A young girl rejected by her lover learned true love for herself One steadfast in their efforts, must eventually learn effortlessness.

And so I ask: Is it truly too backwards to count your hardships as blessings? You may have been looking forward to your healing, when you should be looking backwards.

Ethan Gullett/The Paisano

YOU’VE EARNED IT, NOW...

WEAR IT! This could be yours!

Students with 60 credit hours completed are eligible to wear the UTSA Ring.

Stop by Katz Alumni Center in the Bauerle Road Garage to get your size, or order online at balfour.com/utsa

Want to know more?

alumni.utsa.edu/UTSARing | alumni@utsa.edu | 210.458.4133 | @UTSAAlumni

Octo be r 8 - Octo be r 15,2019

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A ticket to fun and feeling young The state fair of Texas cultivates Southern energy Kayla Burford Staff Writer The State Fair of Texas is finally back in action with three weeks of good times and good food. The various activities the fair provides make it a great place to come together with loved ones and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Following the opening weekend on Sept. 27, Dallas Fair Park saw plenty of activity as family and friends gather to experience this one-of-a-kind event. The fair draws an annual attendance of two million people, which is more than any other state in the country. It is no surprise that there are over 70 small business concessionaires ready to serve their unique meals to visitors every fall.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Alessandra Garcia, an employee at Fletcher’s Corn Dogs, about the reasons they come out to Fair Park every year. “We come out every year to not only share the new foods we have come up with but to see everyone out here having fun,” Garcia said. Fair Park is filled with a variety of great foods, but what makes the State Fair of Texas unique is the energy of the entire event. “I love seeing the way this event is creating memories for families and just bringing people together,” Garcia said. While looking for event ideas to kick off the fall, this should definitely be at the top of the checklist. From fried Oreos to Ferris wheels, the State Fair of Texas creates a vibe that screams fun.

While the fair is most known for its out-of-the-ordinary food, it also includes various carnival rides and games. According to the State Fair of Texas website, there are

Kayla Burford/The Paisano

over 70 rides and games inside of Fair Park.

I was able to speak with Yonda Huckaby, an employee at All Kids Win a Prize, who went into detail about her experiences working the rides at the fair. “I come out every year to see the smiles on everyone’s faces and to just spread joy during this time of the year,” Huckaby said. This environment is clearly full of Southern hospitality, and the energy in the park is undeniably joyful, making it hard for anyone not to smile.

“My favorite part is to see the kids making memories at the park, playing our games and living in the moment,” Huckaby said.

The park is open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. on the weekends. Fair attendees should prepare for a full day packed with fun and good memories. This event runs from Sept. 27 to Oct. 20, and there is never a dull day at Fair Park.

The State Fair of Texas is an excellent representation of the South and the joyful energy that surrounds it. Everyone in attendance, from visitors to employees, have a great time in the lively environment at Fair Park. The vibrancy of this event is indescribable, and it’s an experience that attendees will never forget.

Kayla Burford/The Paisano

Kayla Burford/The Paisano

Kayla Burford/The Paisano

Big Sis Advice Respect people’s pronouns, period.

Kimiya Factory Staff Writer Before I begin, I want to make clear that I am not speaking on behalf of an entire marginalized population or anyone’s identity in particular, including my own. As individuals, our experiences are sacred and our own, forever. However, if I hear someone disregard another’s identity by invalidating their pronouns with no remorse, I am literally going to scream.

A person’s preferred pronouns demonstrate how they would like to be regarded or referenced. For example, mine are she, her and hers. Pronouns are important and sacred to a person’s autonomy as well as the uphill battle towards transgender inclusivity. I’ve heard others justify not respecting people’s pronouns on the grounds that they don’t understand the concept, but this is problematic because it’s not that person’s job to understand; it’s their job to listen.

I never want this advice column to be based solely on my opinion. However, I do want to invite the lived experiences of individuals who I listen to and admire this column for educational purposes. I want readers to learn from one another and practice self-awareness after reading a column like mine. Respect people’s preferred pronouns because their experience will never be yours. Respecting a person’s pronouns is respecting their identity — even when they aren’t around.

- For the people willing to grow

Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano

Xoxo, Big Sis

Alamo city appetites Café Azteca Tally Dilbert Contributing Writer In search of authentic Mexican coffee? Make a quick stop at Café Azteca. This quirky coffee shop is located downtown at 1409 E Commerce St. San Antonio, TX 78205. The owner, Tyler Ybarra, started his business when he was a student at Texas State University in San Marcos. At the coffee shop, you can find delicious cold and hot brew options. The traditional Mexican recipes include Café de olla, Mexican vanilla, mocha latte and, my favorite Chocolate de Abuelita.

The atmosphere at Café Azteca is very comfortable and cozy, which makes it a great spot to study. You can also find Mexican sweet treats such as conchas and vegan-friendly doughnuts to have with your favorite coffee. If anyone is in search of a new coffee shop with a cultural atmosphere to enjoy traditional coffee, then I highly recommend visiting Café Azteca. I guarantee everyone will love it.

UTSA students get 15 percent off from any coffee when presenting this column. Follow their Instagram account @cafe.azteca for giveaways and fun events at the shop.

Tally Dilbert/The Paisano

O cto b er 8 - Oc to ber 1 5, 2019

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports

Nicole Galan dribbles the ball down the field.

Julia Maenius/The Paisano

Nicole Galan plays in her fifth season for the Roadrunners.

Donald Escamilla/The Paisano

Athlete of the Week: Nicole Galan

By Cade Draughon Contributing Writer

Senior Nicole Galan is entering her fifth season as a mid fielder for the UTSA Roadrunner soccer team. After three seasons of play, Galan has recorded one goal with two assists in 47 total games for the ‘Runners.

“I’m from San Antonio, where I attended Reagan High School, and [I] picked UTSA due to my incredible first visit,” Galan said, “I just felt so at home.”

Galan is a medical humanities major currently working on her Master of Science in Business.

“I have interest in pre-med, but I didn’t want to be consumed by just science, which has led me to a mix of biology and

public health with medical humanities,” Galan said.

Having played since she was a child, her love for the game of soccer has lasted for the majority of her life. Galan played club ball for Lonestar SA 97G Red along with playing for her high school team.

She has logged over 2,150 minutes in her career.

Galan was designated a medical redshirt her freshman season, and she has began her last year as a ‘Runner for the 2019 season. She has continued to make an impact on and off the field by taking pride in being a veteran leader.

“The success I have as a player is based off the help of my teammates,” Galan said. “As long as the team benefits at the

Women’s tennis aces tournament

By Kennedy Caskey Contributing Writer UTSA women’s tennis continued their 2019 fall season with the H-E-B Invitational hosted by Baylor in Waco, Texas this past weekend.

Representatives from 12 schools competed in a three-day singles and doubles tournament that lasted from Friday, Oct. 4, to Sunday, Oct. 6. UTSA saw various opponents from the Big XII and SEC as well as Houston. The Roadrunners were represented by senior Diya Menon, sophomore Jasmin Starr, freshmen Keegan McCain and Laura Munoz-Baroja.

Friday morning proved to be a promising start for the ‘Runners when Starr won her first two singles matches, progressing to the quarterfinals of the Gold Draw.

In her first match against LSU’s Maggie Cubbitt, Starr came away with 7-6 1-0, causing Cubbitt to retire from the first round of the tournament. Confident from her first win, Starr went on to defeat Mississippi State’s Megan Falceto 7-5 6-1, securing another win for the Roadrunners. Munoz-Baroja gained a victory for UTSA on day one as well, placing her in the quarterfinals of the Green Main Draw, with a sweeping 6-1 6-1 win over Auburn’s Myrna Olaya. McCain, also in the singles Green Draw, competed against Illinois’ Shivani Swarup Ingle and fell short 0-6 2-6. Menon challenged Texas’ Gabby Cusano in a singles performance, and played a close match where she lost 7-6 and proceeded to play a tiebreaker

where she lost 7-3. In Menon’s second set, she finished a closely contested 6-4.

In doubles, Starr and McCain excelled with a well-deserving victory against Houston’s Azul Pedemonti and Ndindi Ndunda, winning 6-3 in the first round of the Green and Gold Doubles Draw. In a tough match against Kentucky’s Lesedi Jacobs and Akville Parazinskaite, Starr and McCain were bested 6-3.

The ‘Runners continued dominating the court on Saturday morning. McCain lead the ‘Runners with a singles win against Iowa State’s Karan Alvarez 6-4 6-1. Advancing to the semifinals, McCain lost her first set against TCU’s Addy Guevara 6-3, bouncing back the second set with an impressive 7-6(7) come back with an unfortunate 4/10 drop in the super tiebreaker that resulted in her loss.

Meanwhile, Munoz-Baroja played Houston’s Ndindi Ndunda in a three-set match where Munoz-Baroja fell short the first set 3-6. However, Munoz-Baroja rallied for a victory in the second set and came out 7-6(5). Short by a two-point margin, Munoz-Baroja lost the final deciding tiebreaker 10-8. At the end of the tournament, UTSA faced tight losses against Auburn and Iowa State. Starr played formidable opponent Yu Chen of Auburn and lost 2-6 0-2 in the Gold Main Draw quarterfinals, while Menon battled hard against Iowa State’s Margarita Timakova, losing 1-6 4-6.

The ‘Runners will be back in action on Friday, Oct.11, for the ITA AllAmerican Championships.

end of the day, I have done my job.”

Galan puts the goals of the team ahead of her own success because she is more focused on winning than personal statistics. During the 2018 season, Galan played in nine games off the bench, having five shots and three on goal.

“Sticking to our team values will be key the rest of the season,” Galan said, “It’s about how we react to losing by bouncing back and always looking for more things to improve upon.”

Galan recorded one goal, two assists and 12 shots during the 2016 season, playing a career high of 19 games, starting all of them. Her only career goal came against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

She played 90 or more minutes in 17 out

of 19 matches.

“My family plays an extremely important part in who I am today,” Galan said, “My parents push me to not only be successful on the soccer field but in the classroom as well.”

With her fifth and final season underway, Galan chooses to focus on achieving the team goal of a winning season and competing in the Conference USA Championship. She has played 10 games in the 2019 season, recording one goal and two assists along with seven shots, two on goal.

“It’s my last season, so I have to go all out,” Galan said. “This is the last ride with these girls, so I’m trying to win.”

Soccer looks to improve conference record

By Tyler Pakulak Staff Writer

The ‘Runners suffered yet another close loss as they fell 0-1 to the North Texas Mean Green on Sunday afternoon.

In the second minute, Lexi Bolton was played through on goal, but her attempted shot was tipped just wide by keeper Kelsey Brann.

In the ninth minute, a ‘Runner goal kick was errantly flicked back by a Mean Green player that Bolton quickly capitalized on, but Brann made a great diving save.

A minute later, the Mean Green found open space in the field where a cross from the left-hand side found the head of Elle Marie DeFrain who headed the ball past Jill Schneider to give North Texas the 1-0 lead.

In the 15th minute, Berklee Peters maneuvered her way in and around a couple of ‘Runner defenders only to have her shot sail over the goal. The 19th minute saw another Mean Green attempt on goal, a dangerous ball played into the box that found the head of Allie Byrd, but her header sailed just wide.

Ellis Patterson had a couple attempts to put the ‘Runners back in the game. In the 20th minute, she fired a ball across the face of the goal, but nobody was there to put the ball away.

In the 27th minute, she took a corner kick that appeared to be headed directly

for the top right corner, but Brann tipped the ball wide.

The second half was slower paced than the first with sparse attempts from both teams.

In the 57th minute, a ‘Runners corner found Kendall Kloza, but she did not fully make contact with the ball, and Brann made the save.

In the 60th minute, a cross inside the box found the head of Nicole Galan, but her attempt was saved by Brann.

A minute later, Karlee Willey weaved her way around a few Mean Green defenders to shoot on goal, but her attempt never left the ground as Brann easily scooped up the ball.

The next ‘Runner attempt came in the 76th minute when Patterson played the ball to Galan, but her shot sailed over the goal.

With the loss, the ‘Runners fall to 4-5-1, 0-3 in Conference-USA, while North Texas improves to 9-4 and 4-0 in Conference-USA. The ‘Runners look to rebound from the loss this weekend when they travel to Florida Atlantic on Friday, Oct. 11, and then to Marshall on Sunday, Oct. 13.

The final two home matches for UTSA will take place starting Thursday, Oct. 17, against Southern Miss, with the final home game coming on Sunday, Oct. 20, against Louisiana Tech.

Admission is free to all home games.

Looking forward to the Blazers

By Ryder Martin Contributing Writer Coming off a 26-16 win last week over UTEP (1-4), UTSA managed to stop a three game slide and improve their record to 2-3 as they near the halfway point of the season. The Roadrunners turned their attention to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Blazers (4-1) who are fresh off a win last week over Rice, 35-20. This will be the third meeting between the Blazers and the ‘Runners, with the series tilted in favor of UAB two games to one. It is important to note, however, that UTSA has not beaten the Blazers since UAB restarted their football program in 2017 after a hiatus. UTSA will look to avenge their most recent defeat to the Blazers, which came last year in a 52-3 blowout in Birmingham.

Looking at the Blazers’ past five games, UAB started the year off with three straight victories over Alabama State, Akron and South Alabama before losing their conference opener two weeks ago against Western Kentucky. UAB righted the ship last week with their victory over Rice.

Completing only six of 14 attempts for 46 yards and one touchdown, quarterback Lowell Narcisse did most of his damage on the ground, rushing for 115 yards with one touchdown.

Narcisse and C-USA Offensive Player of the Week Sincere McCormick, who set the record of 189 rushing yards in a game, managed to burn UTEP for over 300 yards total rushing and two touchdowns. If the ‘Runners stand any chance of pulling off the win over UAB, Narcisse and McCormick need to replicate these numbers against a Blazer defense that is surrendering only 90.6 rushing yards per game, good for 14th in the nation. The ‘Runners defense held UTEP to under 300 yards of total offense. UTSA will look Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano to carry this dominant performance against a UAB offense led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnston III, who ranks only 86th in the nation and averages 383 yards of total offense per game.

The ‘Runners will be squaring off against the Blazers at the Alamodome on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 5 p.m. The game will also be broadcasted on ESPN+.

Octo be r 8 - Octo be r 15, 2019

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

The price of being paid to play

Don’t agree with this article?

Send your counteropinion to sports@paisanoonline.com.

Commentary

Cassius Grady listens in the sideline huddle.

Lindsey Thomas/The Paisano

On Sept. 30, California Senate Bill 206 was passed.

The bill legally gives college athletes in California the right to receive compensation for the use of their name, image and likeness for marketing purposes. SB 206, better known as the Fair Pay to Play Act, also contains provisions allowing student athletes to hire agents and other representatives to assist in negotiations pertaining to business opportunities starting in 2023.

This is an important first step for placing power in the hands of student athletes and loosening the grip of the NCAA, an organization that has financially capitalized on college athletics since its inception. While it is true that student athletes often have their tuition and housing paid for, this is not always the case. Student athletes recruited from less fortunate backgrounds, or those who make the team as walk-ons, are not awarded as much in scholarships as their peers and may struggle to make ends meet. For student athletes, the ability to earn money from what is basically their full-time job is a game-changer.

However, such a ground breaking bill comes with its own consequences for both individual players and the entirety of college sports.

For players, something to be considered is that not all of them are superstar athletes and are therefore less marketable. This poses an even greater pressure on players to perform at a higher level to maximize their chances for earning scholarships and endorsements. As the pressure builds for these players, I would not be surprised if the use of performance enhancing drugs or the occurrence of long-term and career-ending injuries increase dramatically as student athletes seek to stand out. While it is a hard pill to swallow, there needs to be protections put in place early on before the stressors become too much for young athletes and ruin their careers.

As for college athletics as a whole, negotiations between California colleges and the NCAA need to start now. The Fair Pay to Play Act now makes many of the schools in the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences ineligible for membership based on NCAA guidelines barring compensation outside of scholarships. If negotiations do not go smoothly over the next three years to accommodate those schools under the Fair Pay to Play Act, we may see a schism within the NCAA as well as the Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences. With big name schools such as UCLA, USC, Cal and Stanford,

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California colleges may end up exploring the idea of forming an independent league outside of the NCAA’s grasp, potentially recruiting Pac-12 and Mountain West schools from other states to pull in a bigger fan base and increased revenues. While this would not be ideal for the NCAA nor California colleges, as it would be a messy split, especially within the span of three short years, it would place the NCAA in a precarious position with two main options; either let California colleges leave and watch other schools follow soon after, resulting in the progressive collapse of the NCAA, or make major reforms and lose significant revenue that deserves to go to the athletes.

If the Fair Pay to Play Act is to be an effective solution to the imbalance of power in college athletics, cooperation between athletes, athletic directors and NCAA officials need to happen consistently. The three years leading up to the Act taking effect will prove to be crucial as the NCAA will be forced to choose what it prioritizes most: players or profit.