02.25.20

5 | Arts & Life

8 | Sports

A conversation with Shea Serrano

Athlete of the Week: Ana Gonzales

Vol. 61, Issue 6

Est. 1981

The Paisano

February 25 – March 3, 2020

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

/ThePaisano

@PaisanoMedia

@ThePaisano

www.Paisano-Online.com

Dean of students holds well-being forums

By Breahna Luera and Haley Jones News Editor and Contributing Writer LT Robinson, dean of students and senior vice provost for academic affairs, sent out an email on Feb. 14 that informed students about three forums on the President’s Initiative on Enriching Campus Wellbeing. The forums occurred on Feb. 18 in the Denman Ballroom on Main Campus, Feb. 20 in the Buena Vista Assembly Room at the Downtown Campus and Feb. 24 in the Hidalgo Room on Main Campus.

The forums were open to all students, faculty and staff to further inform them about the initiative and give them an opportunity to provide feedback to the leads of the initiative: Tammy Wyatt, vice provost for student success; Melissa Hernandez, director of counseling and mental health services; Mary Diaz, chief of staff in the Office of the President; and Robinson.

Diaz said the purpose of the forums and initiative were to “implement lasting

policy change and promote primary convention by educating students, faculty and staff about the importance of well-being.”

“The framework that we are taking with this initiative follows a model that has been adopted by numerous institutions of higher education and professional organizations and looks at well-being from a global and well-rounded perspective,” Wyatt said. “What we hope to accomplish through this initiative is looking at all eight dimensions that encompass well-being.”

Margaret Floyd, director of student development and leadership, expressed her concerns on well-being beyond the UTSA students, faculty and staff.

“Another important group you need to be considering are families,” Floyd said.

“Our students, particularly with a large population of first-generation students, are really connected with their families, and when their families struggle, our stuContinued on page 2 See “Robinson encourages feedback on initiative”

Dean of Students LT Robinson informs attendees about the President’s Initiative on Enriching Campus Wellbeing. The next event for this initiative will be the Wellbeing fair on March 3. Photo by Haley Jones

The Runner faces potential cuts

By Josh Peck News Editor

Graphic by Robyn Castro

Chief Lewis addresses Feb. 17 protests

By Josh Peck News Editor UTSAPD Chief of Police Gerald Lewis held several informal conversation sessions with students, faculty and staff following the on-campus demonstrations which occurred on Feb. 17 to discuss UTSAPD’s actions during the protests.

Lewis expressed his view of the actions UTSAPD officers took at the demonstrations.

“I think that [UTSAPD officers] both had great restraint and courage …

I thought that they did a fantastic job, and certainly I commend them for their actions,” Lewis said.

In response to the frustrations some students have expressed regarding the lack of arrests made by UTSAPD officers, Lewis defended his officers’ decision.

“There was really no need to make an arrest, in my opinion,” Lewis said.

However, Lewis explained that UTSAPD had more to learn about the demonstrations before coming to a final decision.

“The investigation isn’t

closed. It’s still ongoing,” Lewis said.

Lewis explained what he wants students to know about UTSAPD’s power to remove people from campus.

“The one thing I would want the students to really look at is understand the law,” Lewis said. “And understand the ramifications of us not being able to stop a group like that from coming on to campus … I don’t have that ability Continued on page 2 See “‘I don’t have that ability to stop these people’”

A Transportation Fee Referendum in which students will vote to approve or deny a fee increase from $20 to $35 will be held March 3-4 on RowdyLink.

If students reject the fee increase, The Runner will be forced to cut one route, decrease the frequency of bus arrivals on other routes and an estimated 15 to 18 drivers will be fired. The Runner is UTSA’s transit system that shuttles to and from on-campus parking lots and nearby off-campus apartment complexes.

The current $20 transportation fee was first implemented in 2008. At that time, it was used to fund only on-campus routes with approximately 4,000 fewer students and 20 drivers. In 2019, The Runner’s ridership increased to 1.7 million, more than double the ridership in 2008. Campus Services has also added over 35 full- and part-time drivers and The Runner has expanded services to off-campus locations since 2008.

Student Government Association (SGA) senator and junior English major Hernán Ballard explained the need for the fee increase at the most recent SGA General Assembly on Feb. 20.

“The problem is that, over time, the fee … didn’t adjust to how big the transportation system has gotten,” Ballard said.

Ballard described what the consequences would be if the fee increase isn’t approved.

Panelists discuss high school African American studies

By Ebony Purks Staff Writer

For each candidate’s platform, visit www.paisano-online.com

Graphic by Ethan Gullett

“If [the transportation system doesn’t] get an increase this year, Route 13 will be cut, Route 43 will receive a severe reduction in services and a lot of other routes might receive less frequency in their service,” Ballard said.

Route 13 transports students between the East Campus Lots and the Bauerle Road Lot 1. Route 43 serves West Campus Parking Lots, which include Resident Lot 5, Barshop Boulevard Lot, Brackenridge Avenue Lot 4 and Brackenridge Avenue Lot 5, to and from the Campus Oval.

Assistant Vice President for Campus Services Clay Haverland explained how failure to increase the fee would affect bus drivers.

“I would [estimate] somewhere between 15 to 18 jobs [would be lost],” Haverland said.

If the fee were increased from $20 to $35, it would be used only to maintain the Runner’s current system.

“Right now, we’re just concerned with survival,” Ballard said.

A similar fee increase was proposed in 2018, but students rejected the proposal.

The Transportation Fee Referendum will be included in the SGA general elections which will take place on RowdyLink from March 3-4. To learn more about the fee, visit https://www.utsa.edu/ campusservices/events/tfr.html.

UTSA hosted a panel of professors, attorneys and activists in the John Peace Library on Feb. 18. They discussed the importance of integrating African American studies into Texas high school curricula.

The panel included UTSA professor Dr. Ann Marie Ryan, UTSA lecturer Mario Marcel Salas, Texas A&M-San Antonio professor Dr. Lawrence Scott and Texas NAACP President and attorney Gary Bledsoe. Together, they recounted their vital roles helping to pass a bill through Texas legislatures and the Texas State Board of Education that would integrate an African American studies course in Texas high school curriculum. In addition, the panel discussed the long-term benefits of learning African American history for students from all backgrounds.

“A lot of things have been left out of American history and politics … on purpose — some of which [are] governed by white supremacy,” Salas said. “[White supremacy], in this present time frame, is trying to make a comeback. This way, we are able to [show] we have a bond to get rid of this racial prejudice. The only way to do that is start at lower levels and bring people up to understand the contributions that people of color have made in this society.”

The panel further discussed why teaching all history is important for elevating students’ quality of learning and dispelling myths.

“When things are not told, it creates and reinforces myths,” Ryan said.

Although the primary audience for this curriculum is Texas high school students, Continued on page 2 See “Bill to integrate African American studies”

F e bru ar y 25 – M arch 3, 2020

2 | news@paisano-online.com

UTSA UTSA will host representatives from over 60 health professions programs at its 14th annual Health Professions Day on Feb. 27 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Student Union.

Students will have the chance to talk to admissions representatives about admissions requirements, health careers and becoming a competitive applicant.

Schools in attendance include the University of North Texas Health Science Center and Texas Tech University Health Science Center.

Texas On Feb. 24, Texas Secretary of State Ruth Hughs announced a new voter education program to teach voters about Texas’ voter ID laws. Texas voter ID laws require Texans to present one of seven specified forms of identification before voting.

The program is designed to inform Texas voters of what they will need to be able to vote and will include radio ads, pamphlets in English and Spanish, billboards and physical educational booths in six cities leading up to the November presidential elections.

U.S. Former Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault on Feb. 24. His charges, including a conviction on third-degree rape and first-degree criminal sex act, could lead to up to 29 years in prison. Weinstein was found not guilty of predatory sexual assault.

World Canadian police disrupted a railroad blockade that indigenous members of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory were using to protest the development of an oil pipeline that would cross the land of another indigenous group, the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. The blockade led to 1,000 temporary layoffs at the state-owned railroad company and affected travel for over 100,000 Canadians.

Canadian police arrested several members of the group participating in the blockade.

Science NASA’s InSight mission, which launched in May 2018, has recently sent back reports after being on Mars’ surface for 10 months. InSight has detected 147 new “Marsquakes” as of September 2019, rocks on Mars’ surface that are still magnetized from its now-inactive magnetic field, magnetic pulsations that originate from space but can be felt on the surface of Mars and a fractured under-surface of Mars caused by the “Marsquakes.”

The InSight mission is continuing to investigate Mars’ tectonic activity.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visits San Antonio

By Ana Lorant Staff Writer Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders held a rally at Cowboys Dance Hall on Saturday, Feb. 22, in preparation for Super Tuesday on March 3, the day Texas and 13 other states vote in their primaries.

At the Feb. 22 rally, he spoke about his policies and celebrated that day’s earlier victory in the Nevada caucus.

The event marked Sanders’ first visit to San Antonio this election cycle. His supporters lined up outside the venue well before 5 p.m., when the doors were set to open. The event began at 7 p.m. with live music, followed by several guest speakers. Among them was Texasborn-and-raised actor Kendrick Sampson.

Soon after, Sanders took the stage with his wife Jane Sanders, introducing her as the “next first lady.” He celebrated his win

Senator Bernie Sanders celebrates Nevada caucus victory. Sanders is visiting Texas approximately a week away from the state’s primary. Photo

by Ethan Gullett

in the Nevada caucus with the cheering crowd and went into a stump speech that touched on his desire for free health care for all, free public higher education, elimination of student debt and the Green New Deal. Sanders was also met with applause

when he spoke about ending private prisons and detention centers, ensuring teachers are paid at least $60,000 a year and legalizing marijuana.

In the wake of his projected win in Nevada, Sanders confidently proclaimed, “We’re gonna win the Democratic

primary in Texas” and “We’re going to beat [Trump] in Texas.”

He characterized his campaign as a multi-racial and multi-generational grassroots movement.

Outside the dance hall, a group of people formed a demonstration for President Trump with flags and posters supporting their candidate of choice. The group, which included conservative groups such as Young Republicans of Bexar County, Latinos for Trump and Bikers for Trump, chanted “four more years.” Some Sanders supporters stopped to engage in conversation with Trump’s supporters about issues such as healthcare, immigration and the roles of capitalism and democratic socialism in the U.S. The Sanders campaign stopped to rally in El Paso earlier that same day and traveled to Houston and Austin the following day on Sunday, Feb. 23.

Lewis: ‘I don’t have Robinson that ability to stop encourages feedback these people’ on initiative Continued from page 1

to stop these people.”

The law Lewis is referring to is Senate Bill 18, a Texas state law passed in June 2019 which established the right to free expression in the “common outdoor areas” of public colleges and universities, regardless of affiliation to the university or college.

This law restricts UTSAPD from removing outside individuals or groups from demonstrating on campus, unless they are disrupting the functions of campus.

“I would be looking at public safety; I would be looking at

blocking fire entrances, [not] allowing people to go in and out disrupting classes. That would be my definition of disruption [of campus functions],” Lewis said.

Lewis then made a request to the UTSA community regarding incidents such as the one that occurred on Feb. 17.

“I think we have to continue to work in partnership,” Lewis said. “It can’t be an adversarial relationship. We cannot allow people to come from off of our campus and splinter us as a community — that, we can’t allow.”

Bill to integrate African American studies Continued from page 1

Texas parents, educators and politicians could also be affected, and they were encouraged to get involved with the creation and preservation of this course. According to Ryan, it’s especially imperative for history teachers to know African American history to deepen societal understandings of contributions African Americans have made in America. The panel stated, through this bill, they anticipate community bridges will be built, bringing together Texas communities through education.

Salas talked about the importance of Texas legislators integrating African American studies into high schools and explained the importance of kids learning African American history.

“Every field of study has huge African American contribution,” Salas said. “If you take calculus [you should learn about] the hidden figures. In medicine, you [should learn about] Dr. Charles Drew, who understood the concept of blood plasma. That should be in every medical book. So, in every subject — whether calculus, medicine, history, political science — there’s always an African American contribution.”

The course would be modeled after an African American studies class taught in the Dallas Independent School District.

Additionally, the course would be implemented as an elective and would come with its own textbook. Texas would be the third state in the nation to teach this course, along with Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

According to Scott, the passing of this bill in Texas could have national implications, as Texas largely influences the national K-12 curriculum.

The bill is still a proposed curriculum but could pass in April 2020. It has passed the first reading, which means it has been introduced to Texas legislatures. It is currently on the second reading, which means the bill is being reread and considered by a legislative committee. The next step for the bill is to go to the 36 Texas districts to be put into effect.

Continued from page 1

dents struggle, and that means a closer connection with our community. Our well-being here at UTSA is also the well-being of San Antonio and the broader community as well.”

Lucas Orlando, senior finance and economics major, asked why UTSA is pursuing a campus initiative instead of focusing on students like other universities’ mental health initiatives do. Robinson said the university wants faculty and staff to be informed about the program and model wellness to students.

At the end of each forum, Robinson encouraged attendees

who gave feedback to join either the faculty and staff or student committee to give continued input on programming and events that will be a part of this initiative.

The next Campus Wellbeing Initiative event is the Wellbeing Fair, which will be held on Main Campus on Tuesday, March 3, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Paseo Room. To find updates, sign up to be part of the student or faculty coalitions, or for more information on the initiative, visit https://www.utsa. edu/strategicplan/academic-initiatives/wellbeing/index.html.

opinion@paisano-online.com | 3

Fe b ru a r y 25 - March 3, 2 02 0

OPINION Don’t let $15 leave you stranded Editorial

The Transportation Fee Referendum will be held on March 3-4, and students will have the opportunity to vote on a $15 increase to the current $20 student fee, totaling $35. Students should vote a resounding “yes” to this increase.

The Runner is a shuttle service that students used over 1.7 million times in 2019, according to Campus Services.

For a commuter campus, The Runner is imperative to UTSA student success.

If the $15 increase does not pass, there will be severely reduced services for all routes, especially Route 43, the primary shuttle coming from the West Campus Lots. Route 13, running from East Campus Lots, will be cut entirely.

Various routes servicing off-campus apartment complexes will also be reduced.

In addition to route services being cut, failure to pass this referendum will result in the firing of approximately 15 to 18 drivers.

This $20 fee has not increased since 2008, over a decade ago. In 2008, The Runner served 4,000 fewer students, less routes and a ridership of 800,000 — less than half of last year’s ridership. The proposed increase would provide an additional $481,515 to the transportation budget. This fee increase will protect The Runner’s current operational capacity.

Students should vote to contribute a small sum that ensures all students can attend class. Saving routes, services and jobs is worth a $15 increase. To do this, vote “yes” to the transportation fee referendum on RowdyLink come March 3-4.

“Stranded” Illustration by Max Aguirre

The fatality of public opinion Commentary

By Ebony Purks Staff Writer Caroline Flack, best known as the host of popular television show Love Island: UK, died by suicide on Saturday, Feb. 15. Before her untimely death, Flack was facing charges of alleged domestic abuse against her boyfriend. As a result, her character was ripped apart by British media outlets and people on social media. This article is not meant to defend Flack’s alleged actions, but rather to preserve a conversation surrounding the negative effect media outlets play on peoples’ mental health and emphasize the importance of kindness.

Flack’s unfortunate passing started immediate discourse about mental health awareness and irresponsible journalism on social media. Many speculated the viciousness of online bullying was to blame for Flack’s death, while others criticized British media, as they are infamous for their relentless pursuit of a story. While one should never speculate a specific reason for a person’s suicide, as the complexity of self-harm could never be

pinned to one cause; in an unreleased statement from Flack, displayed by her family on Instagram, even Flack recognized public shame and toxic opinions tore down her self-esteem.

Journalism outlets have a responsibility to uphold moral integrity, and in turn need to be mindful of how influential their platforms are when covering stories. There is no doubt that social media can be cruel. Celebrities don’t deserve to be persistently torn down, and as the public, we aren’t entitled to bully them. Along with journalism outlets, all of us who have social media accounts have a moral responsibility to use our platforms, however big or small, with the same social accountability expected of us in real life. Perhaps the greatest lesson we can take from this tragedy, is that whether on social media or not, we need to be kinder to one another. The old saying of sticks and stones is a myth. Words can hurt. Regularly tearing others down shouldn’t be the way you pass time, and hate speech should never be your preferred form of speech. Our kindness is how we maintain our humanity. We all cope with the consequences of life the best way we know how.

To quote the late Princess Diana, “carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”

The Paisano The Independent Student Newspaper for the UTSA Community

| Journalism | Writing | Photography | | Audio/Video Production | | Graphic Design | Web design | | Magazine | Advertising | Marketing |

Come to our general meetings Time: Every Wednesday 6 p.m.

Location: The Paisano Media Arts Center 14526 Roadrunner Way

Write a letter to the Editor!

Send your letters to Editor@paisano-online.com We encourage you to communicate with The Paisano through letters to the editor.

These letters are a way to express your views about The Paisano’s content or UTSA. Names can be witheld upon request. This is another opportunity for your voice to be heard in

Jessica Cisneros is for Texans Effective Activism Commentary

Commentary

By Ana Lorant Staff Writer Jessica Cisneros is a 26-yearold immigration and human rights lawyer running for congress against 15 year incumbent of the 28th Congressional District Rep. Henry Cuellar. Both are currently on the campaign trail for the primary election, which will take place on March 3. The general election doesn’t take place until Nov. 3, but with the 28th being one of Texas’ few solidly blue districts, the results are usually determined in the primaries. While both candidates identify as Democrats, Cisneros calls herself a progressive and Cuellar refers to himself as a moderate-centrist.

This difference in affiliation is apparent when looking at their stances on issues such as climate change, which Cisneros has made a central part of her platform by strongly endorsing the Green New Deal. Meanwhile, Cuellar rejects the Green New Deal due to fear of losing

jobs. He generally votes with Republicans on environmental issues especially if those votes promote Texas’ oil and gas industry. However, the question is raised if it’s really jobs he’s concerned about, considering he has received over $100,000 from gas and oil PAC’s in this election cycle alone.

Despite 2019 being one of the highest years for mass shooting deaths in Texas in the last decade, Cuellar remains a pro-gun politician with an “A” rating from the NRA. He is also financially backed by the GEO group, one of America’s largest for-profit prison operators, that runs some of the immigration detention centers, where several immigrants have died.

Meanwhile, according to Cisneros’ website, one of the top issues she’s focusing on is “getting big money out of politics.” As a result, she has been adamant about running a grassroots campaign focused on immigration reform and health care for all.

So far, she has kept her word by not accepting any campaign donations from lobbyists or corporate PACs. It may have been this people-powered campaign

that caught Bernie Sanders’ eye and pushed him to endorse her along with several others such as Elizabeth Warren, Alexndria Ocasio-Cortez, and most recently, former presidential candidate Julian Castro. She has also received endorsements from national progressive groups like the Justice Democrats, the same group that backed Rep. AOC in 2018, and EMILY’s list, a prochoice political action commitee.

One of the main arguments between the two candidates is about what kind of Democrat the people of the 28th Congressional District truly want. The district runs from San Antonio’s eastern suburbs down past Laredo to border county of Hidalgo, encompassing some of the state’s poorest zip codes. In 2016, Trump was defeated in the district by a large margin, but Cuellar doesn’t seem to represent the same anti-Trump sentiments as the district, voting with the Republican president 69% of the time. Perhaps it’s time for a change in leadership.

By Isabella Briseno Staff Writer UTSA’s Main Campus is no stranger to controversy. Our student body is outspoken and opinionated, and that is amazing; all young people should have a voice, and I am glad to attend a school where a lot of my peers share the same opinions and passions I do. Because I know we all want to see this community grow and create change, I offer this criticism: we, as students, do not organize effectively on campus.

While there is a lot to be said about holding signs and yelling, the mission behind the protest tends to get lost after that. The dirty work doesn’t get anyone clout, and it doesn’t make for a good photo-op. This is why a lot of the organizing and activism that takes place on campus comes across to some as opportunistic and performative.

This is not to say the protests should stop. If demonstra-

tions were to cease and we only worked for change in offices, we would lose a sense of community as students. That sense of community is what gives us the power we have as students. But this community is also hierarchical at times, with protests being marketed as events and the most active of us being put on a pedestal and treated as a type of celebrity.

We are strong, but we would be stronger with true and transparent unity and delegation. These are tactics that, when we come together, are more than capable of.

Creating a true wave of progressive change for our campus can look like us getting down to the real work, putting down the signs, planning and organizing together. It is unfortunate, but our administration sees these displays as just that: displays, where students act out. It takes gathering together, tailoring effective tactics and strategies for each issue, and using those plans to apply pressure to make UTSA better for each other and future students.

Feb ru a r y 25 - M a r c h 3, 2020

4 | opinion@paisano-online.com

An open letter to Eighmy Commentary

The Paisano Editorial Board Rudy Sanchez | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

By Mabel Diaz Contributing Writer UTSA is severely lacking mental health resources for LGTBQ+ students. This dearth of adequate care juxtaposed with the increasingly severe symptoms of students seeking services is not conducive to the university’s success. These statements aren’t news.

However, it is more crucial than ever to bring attention to those who are possibly the most vulnerable amid these circumstances: UTSA’s LGBTQ+ population.

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education’s statistics show that suicide rates are three times higher among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth versus their straight counterparts. Rates of attempted suicide are even higher among queer people of color. How can UTSA, in good faith, tout the diversity of the student body if they fail to consider how the summation of its students’ identities determines our external circumstances, thereby informing our mental well-being? Just because marginalized groups exist in a space does not mean that this space is inherently safe for them.

This is especially the case for transgender and gender-nonconforming students, who are two to four times more likely to have mental health problems as opposed to their cisgender classmates. Trans people are

especially susceptible to suicide, which 41% of all trans adults having at least attempted. Despite UTSA’s initiatives to create more gender-neutral restrooms and allow trans students to change their preferred names on ASAP, these are only band-aids on a larger issue. In this current socio-political climate, the safety of trans people is especially threatened.

The following is a list of requirements that must be fulfilled to ensure the safety of UTSA’s LGBTQ+ population: The university should require safe zones and sensitivity training for all professors.

• • •

More counselors need to be hired — no matter what it takes. Students should not have to wait to receive the help they need.

Transgender students should be able to receive letters for a Gender Marker Change by campus counselors.

Hormone Replacement Therapy should not only be prescribable through Mental Counseling Services but available through Student Health Services as well.

To view these items as optional is not only naive but harmful.

UTSA Protestors, Seriously?

Joseph Torres | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Breahna Luera | News Editor News@paisano-online.com Josh Peck | News Editor News@paisano-online.com Alex Hanks | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Dawson Fagan | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Sofia Garcia | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com Ryan Garza | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Ethan Gullett | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Kat Joseph | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Maha Qadri | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Brysen Streeter | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com

Assistant Editors Ryan Houston-Dial | Assistant Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

Commentary

Robyn Cartro | Assistant Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Triston Simpson-Bland | Assistant Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com

By Joseph Torres Managing Editor I’m ashamed to be associated with the student body of UTSA following the campus protests on Feb. 17. I consider myself to be one of the greatest advocates when it comes to freedom of speech. I’m a veteran with two combat deployments in support of eliminating organizations such as ISIS. Witnessing the atrocities of an extreme ideology firsthand was a revelation for me. Regardless of the politics and America’s involvement in foreign wars, I’ve done my part to protect and defend the freedoms we are fortunate to have and which others die for. It’s time we stopped cultivating a culture of suppressing speech.

UTSA students organized a counter demonstration to an organization that is not native to UTSA’s campus. Texas passed a new law during the 2019 legislative session reclassifying common outdoor areas from limited public forums to traditional public forums. This permits any person to express themselves in public areas, and last I checked, UTSA is a public university. The fact that students didn’t agree with the views expressed is not my concern; how they conducted themselves is embarrassing.

Julia Maenius | Assistant Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Tali Duarte | Assistant Magazine Editor

Business Will Stransky | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com

Illustrated by Triston Simpson-Bland

I’d like to isolate a specific incident that occurred during the protest: the shoving of a student who fell to the ground. First, I don’t believe that physical violence is conducive to solving any problem. I’ve seen too much violence in my life to ever wish physical harm on another human being again. Yet, something bothers me about the “shove heard ‘round the campus” — it was clearly provoked.

A video of the incident circulated on social media distinctly showed that the student who inevitably ended up on the ground initiated the physical contact after they successfully slapped the phone from a demonstrator’s hand. No party is right here, but it’s not accurate to portray the student as the victim in this situation.

When did civil discourse become uncivilized? What happened to actual activism on campus? All I’ve seen over the past year is a descent into chaos, in which it is more socially acceptable to lash out against ideas that don’t conform to a specific worldview. Being offended by someone else’s free speech is a result of having free speech in the first place. If

you truly want free speech, you inherently risk being offended or offending others. So, gathering the masses to stop demonstrators from utilizing their freedom of speech seems a little counterintuitive, but I’m just a college student with an unpopular opinion.

When the Dean of Students has to remind the entire student body that “it may be difficult to experience opposing viewpoints,” I seriously question the state of civil discourse at the university I attend. If you were involved in the protests, I’m talking to you. You made us look bad, period.

How is anyone supposed to have hope for the future of our country if we throw a tantrum every time someone doesn’t agree with our ideologies? Please do better. Our actions are a reflection of our peers who allow this behavior to continue and I’ve had enough. I do not support how students conducted themselves during the protest. Again, I’m ashamed to be associated with a level of immaturity that should have been checked at the door of college admissions. Grow up.

Kasandra Parker | Marketing Manager Business@paisano-online.com Adrianne Kristianto | Social Media Coordinator Kayla Burford | Social Media Coordinator Ellyson Ortega | Distribution Manager Lindsey Thomas | Head of Special Projects

Copy Editing Board Christina Troy | Copy Editing Coordinator Copyediting@paisano-online.com Ana Cecilia Martinez | Copy Editing Coordinator Copyediting@paisano-online.com

Staff Robyn Castro | Staff

Carlos Lopez | Staff

Ebony Purks | Staff

Sam Flores | Staff

Paris Cantu | Staff

Paola Esquivel | Staff Ben Shirani | Staff

Jada Teague | Staff

Dalton Hartmann | Staff Cade Draughon | Staff

Donald Escamilla | Staff Isabella Briseno | Staff

Max Aguirre | Staff

Emmanuelle Maher | Staff Ryder Martin | Staff Ana Lorant | Staff

Advisory Board Diane Abdo | Advisor Steven Kellman | Advisor Jack Himelblau | Advisor Stefanie Arias | Advisor Sandy Norman | Advisor Red Madden | Advisor

March 4 @ 11 a.m. while supplies last in front of the MH

The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. The Paisano is distributed on all three UTSA campuses — Main, Downtown and the Institute of Texan Cultures. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tri-point and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)-690-9301 © 2020, The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus. Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions. Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial pwolicy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

Fe b ru a r y 2 5 — Marc h 3 , 2020

arts@paisano-online.com | 5

Arts & Life A conversation with Shea Serrano NY Times best-selling author advocates for diversity in publishing industry

By Christina Troy & Ana Lorant Copy Editing Coordinator & Staff Writer Three-time New York Times best-selling author Shea Serrano visited UTSA on Feb. 18 to share his thoughts on writing, white-washing in the publishing industry and more. The Honors College hosted the event as a part of their “A Conversation With … ” series.

Serrano was raised in San Antonio in a community where almost half of the students didn’t graduate high school and the majority of residents were on some type of government welfare. He was no stranger to this hardship — he grew up on food stamps and his childhood homes were foreclosed on. Before he could become a product of his surroundings, he left.

“I felt like [I was] watching the neighborhood eat up a bunch of my friends, eat up members of my family. It was cool to get in trouble, awesome, and then you get to 10th grade and it’s like, oh, they took him to jail,” Serrano said. “This is, like, a real thing … And that’s why I left. That’s why I was like, ‘I’m never gonna go back.’

Because all my family lived right there, and I was like, ‘If I go backward, if I go back to that, it’s gonna get me, too,’ and I was terrified of that.”

He moved to Houston after high school but came back to San Antonio to raise his family, determined to make his kids’ childhoods look different from his own. He was able to do this because of the success of his writing career.

That success didn’t come quickly. His first writing gig

was a sports column for a neighborhood newsletter in Houston. Soon after, he pitched his work to the Houston Press, where he established himself as “the Houston rap guy” before moving on to write for MTV. He continued to move up the ranks until he eventually reached the level of success and acclaim he has today.

“It’s going to be bad in the beginning, and you’re not gonna know how to do it but only because you’ve never done it before … That’s what I experienced the most in the beginning: ‘I’m not any good at this at all. I don’t know if I’ll ever be good. I’m just gonna keep on trying.’

That’s the main thing that separates somebody who’s successful from somebody who’s not,” Serrano said.

In 2015, “The Rap Year Book” was Serrano’s first book to hit the New York Times Best Seller list. His next two books, “Basketball (and Other Things)” and “Movies (and Other Things),” both hit the number one spot on the list in 2017 and 2019, respectively. He is the first Mexican-American to have three books make the New York Times Best Seller list. Serrano took pride in his accomplishment but was frustrated he was the first to receive this accolade for a 90-year-old list considering “American Dirt,” a novel about a Mexican family crossing the border written by a woman of non-Mexican descent, reached number one on the list.

“There’s a bunch of angry Latinos and Latinas who are like, ‘Hey, we’re trying to sell our work, too. Give us

some money. We want to tell our own stories. At least let us do that,’” Serrano said.

Serrano notices this discrepancy of race representation in publishing now more than ever as a high-profile author.

“Publishing is extremely, extremely white. It’s white, and it’s affluent … When I walk in the room for the meeting [for “Movies (and Other Things)”] and they have all their PR people there or whatever, I sit down — it’s one of those long tables — and there are 12 people, and every other person is just a white person,” Serrano said. “Maybe there’s a black person in there, maybe.

That was it. And I’m like ... ‘This is not cool. Can I get one?’”

Ensuring his new-found fame doesn’t go to his head, Serrano gives back to the community regularly. Most recently, he raised $25,000 for Martinez Street Women’s Center through Twitter donations.

“I do that mostly because when I was teaching, I was able to have these interactions pretty regularly that made me feel important to the community, and in writing, I don’t get to. I don’t get that opportunity,” Serrano said.

From basketball fan to philanthropist to best-selling author, Serrano’s dedication and heart behind whatever project or sports team he’s advocating for is a light San Antonio wouldn’t be the same without.

Shea Serrano (far right) discusses publishing industry with hosts of the conference. The event was held in the Retama at UTSA. Photos by Summer Mathis

02.29.20 UTSAALUMNIEVENTS.COM/DIPLOMADASH/

$35 INDIVIDUALS | $15 STUDENTS $75 FIVE-PERSON STUDENT TEAMS Prizes for student, fraternity/sorority & ROTC teams!

For more information email us at alumni@utsa.edu

F e bru ar y 25 — M arch 3, 2020

6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Next up: Key Glock & Young Dolph Rap duo takes The Aztec

By Ryan Houston-Dial & Kayla Burford Assistant Opinion Editor & Social Media Coordinator

Key Glock and Young Dolph take the stage at The Aztec Theater. Photos by Raekwon Campbell

On Friday, Feb. 21, hundreds lined up outside San Antonio’s The Aztec Theatre to witness Key Glock and Young Dolph’s sold out “No Rules” tour. The line wrapped around the theater and excitement spread throughout the crowd. Most of the concert-goers made it inside the venue by 8 p.m., and the general admission floor was packed. Screams came from every direction as the crowd became impatient to see the duo take the stage.

The set opened up with local DJ Henny K, who was tasked with getting the crowd ready for Key Glock and Young Dolph. He played several songs that loosened up the crowd and people from within the crowd were invited on stage. After his set finished, out came a close friend of Young Dolph, who performed a short stand-up set that had the crowd in hysterics. Additionally, he introduced Kenny Muney, an up-and-coming rapper from Memphis, Tennessee, who performed two songs.

After some silence, the curtain dropped and Key Glock ran out performing his song “Dough” off his newest album, “Yellow Tape.” The crowd erupted in cheer, lifting their cell phones to capture Key Glock’s performance.

The crowd sang “Dough” word for word, and Key Glock sat back and observed the crowd going crazy. After Glock performed a variety of his most popular songs, he asked the crowd if they wanted to hear “Dum and Dummer,” his joint album with Young Dolph. This prompted Young Dolph’s arrival to the stage, causing the crowd to once again burst into cheers.

After the two performed many songs from their joint album, Young Dolph took over the stage for his solo performance. He performed his hit songs “100 Shots,” “Major” and many more. As Young Dolph rapped, fans matched every word during the entire concert.

Musician of the Week: Pop Smoke

By Adrianne Kristianto Social Media Coordinator Born Bashar Barakah Jackson, the Brooklynite rapper Pop Smoke was gunned down on Wednesday morning, Feb. 19, in his Hollywood Hills home days after he released his sophomore mixtape, “Meet the Woo 2.” Only 20 years old, the “Dior” rapper had released two mixtapes in total, “Meet the Woo” (2019) and “Meet the Woo 2” (2020).

Both mixtapes gained massive approval from hip-hop enthusiasts all over New York and ultimately the whole nation in just under a year.

With a voice that recalled 50 Cent and DMX, Smoke’s unruly vocals assertively narrated the whole scene for drill music – a subgenre of trap music originated from the South Side of Chicago – when the culture was heavily driven by melodies.

Barely starting his career, Pop Smoke was taken away when he was at an ascendant place in his career. Aside from “Meet the Woo 2” debuting at number seven on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number five on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Pop Smoke was the anchor in “GATTI,” a song from the compilation album “JACKBOYS” by Travis Scott’s label group, Cactus Jack.

A match made in heaven, his collaboration with London producer 808Melo resulted in something vibrantly ominous: “Welcome to the Party,” the infamous 2019 summer anthem. This breakout

single debuted at number five on the U.S. Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, racking up millions of streams in just a few days. As several rappers like Skepta, Rico Nasty, and Dave East did their own rendition of the breakout single, Pop Smoke also worked alongside the Queens native, Nicki Minaj, who also did a remix of the song.

Of Jamaican and Panamanian descent, Pop Smoke combined his gravelly, sonorous vocals with the Chicago and London drill sonics in his music — dense, sub-bass layered kick drums, dark melodic strings to promote a sullen ambience and syncopated, fluttering hi-hats.

Though some may believe drill music incites violent crime, Pop Smoke thought otherwise.

Pop Smoke, who had a movie project in the works, was a multi-faceted rapper.

As fans mourned the late rapper’s tragic murder, they revisited the emcee catalog on Genius, raising his daily pageviews from almost 25,000 to more than 100,000 in a day. Several rappers and singers, like 50 Cent and Nicki Minaj, commented on the unfortunate news on social media.

A life too brief, Pop Smoke was hungry for what success had in store for him — a rising star with an apt mentality to always improve. Rest in power, Pop.

“A rising star with an apt mentality to always improve.”

Illustration by Alex Hanks

By Paris Cantu Staff Writer Thirty-six years have come and gone since Audre Lorde, a self-proclaimed “black lesbian feminist warrior poet,” graced us with her prose in “Sister Outsider,” a 1984 collection of essays and speeches which carried her fluidity into our generation.

In an essay titled “The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action,” Lorde famously wrote, “Your silence will not protect you.” With this line and essay, she prompts our responsibility and “commitment to language and the power of language, and to the reclaiming of that language which has been made to work against us.”

Later, she recognizes the power of listening to women: “And where the words of women are crying to be heard, we must each of us recognize our responsibility to see those words out, to read them and share them and examine them in their pertinence to our lives.” With this message, she encourages women to check the system that separates us and remove the values it has imposed that we mistakenly impose upon ourselves and others.

In an age when sexism’s visibility is on the rise, Lorde’s famously titled essay “The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” is at peak resonance. If oppression is a tool of the master, then we must eradicate it and “take our differences and make them strengths.” According to Lorde, this unity will provide genuine change for women because “we have been taught either to ignore our differences or to view them as causes for separation and suspicion rather than as forces for change.”

Among the poetic fragments of the book, we find expertise in Lorde’s writing and an inexhaustible sense of strength in a woman who has provided us with an example of the personal becoming the political. Most importantly, we find Lorde asking us, “Because I am a woman, because I am black, because I am lesbian, because I am myself — a Black woman warrior poet doing my work — come to ask you, are you doing yours?”

Movie Review: Parasite Best Picture from South Korea has powerful economic undertones

By Tali Duarte Assistant Magazine Editor

Illustration by Tristan Simpson

*Spoiler Alert* “Parasite,” directed by South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, is a cinematic masterpiece that has paved the path for foreign films in American theaters.

After winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film, Bong accepted his award by stating, “Once you overcome the one-inch barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

This award-winning film has reached a substantial level of success that ideally could change the way Americans view foreign films. The film itself is aesthetically pleasing, following a comical yet intriguing plot of the gap between the poor and rich.

The story follows the financially poor Kim family as they use their street intelligence against the wealthy Park family for economical gain. Ki-woo, a fake English tutor for the Parks’ teenage daughter, realizes their ridiculous wealth and posh standards can help him financially.

Slowly, he brings in his whole family to serve them — Ki-jung as Jessica, the art therapist for the son, Mr. Kim as the driver and Mrs. Kim as the housekeeper.

They use their charm to manipulate the rich family and things to take a turn for the worst when they get caught by the old housekeeper, Moon-gwang.

However, the old housekeeper has a secret herself: she’s hiding her husband,

Geun-se, in the Parks’ secret basement.

Geun-se escapes the basement and attacks the Kim family at the Park’s son’s birthday party, killing Jessica and hospitalizing Ki-woo. Mr. Kim struggles to keep his own daughter alive. Mr. Park, on the other hand, demands that Mr. Kim drive his fainted son to the hospital.

This prompts Mr. Kim to kill Mr. Park, enraged by his lack of sympathy for another human being.

Luckily, Mr. Kim escapes by hiding in the basement where Geun-se once lived.

The Park family moves away, and the Kim family moves on from the incident once Ki-woo realizes his father is hiding in the basement. He imagines that one day he will be able to afford the house to free him, and all will be good again.

However, the film ends with Ki-woo being brought back to reality in his cold, sheltered home.

The film portrays the difference between the values and the work ethic of the poor and rich which reflects society’s class system. The name of the film comes from the idea that the Kim family is leaching onto the Park’s family wealth like a parasite, but they soon realize they will never reach this level of income no matter how hard they work. The sad reality of this film is that it captures the lack of economic mobility in the capitalist hierarchy. At the end of the day, if you can’t eat the rich, the rich will eat you.

Fe b ru a r y 2 5 - Marc h 3 , 2020

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports Baseball wins the Alamo Irish Classic The Roadrunners pick up wins against Toledo and Notre Dame

Pepper Jones throws a pitch against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals during the Alamo Irish Classic on Feb. 23 at Nelson W. Wolff Stadium. Photo by Julia Maenius.

T

By Julia Maenius Assistant Sports Editor

he UTSA Roadrunner baseball team won the first place trophy in the Alamo Irish Classic after dropping their first game of the season against the number 22 ranked University of Texas Longhorns.

The ‘Runners faced the Longhorns in Austin on Feb. 18. They claimed the lead early in the first inning, 1-0. Back-to-back miscues by the Longhorns’ outfielders allowed Nick Thornquist to cross the home plate in the top of the fourth. After multiple pitching changes throughout the next innings, the Longhorns made four hits and two walks. The ‘Runners registered their first loss of the season as they returned home for the weekend tournament, 2-6.

The University of Toledo Rockets were the first to face the ‘Runners in the Alamo Irish Classic at Nelson W. Wolff Stadium.

No runs were scored in the first two innings. With Cole McKay’s leadership of the ‘Runners’ defense on the pitching

mound, Jonathan Tapia batted in Taylor Barber, beginning a long scoring run.

In the fifth inning, the Rockets’ defense allowed the ‘Runners to score five runs and one hit by Tapia. A two-run hit by Thornquist allowed first baseman Bryan Sturges to cross the fourth base, increasing the ‘Runners’ score, 10-3. At the top of the eighth, freshman outfielder Hobbs Price recorded his second home run of the season, and Thornquist batted in Sturges to end the game, 12-3.

The following day, the Rockets had a chance to redeem themselves in the second match-up of the Classic. To begin their scoring run, Sturges hit a single allowing Dylan Rock to score from second base. Rock was batted in again in the fifth

by Griffin Paxton. After a pitching slump from Slater Foust, allowing the Rockets to record four runs, the ‘Runners retaliated in the sixth with Leyton Barry batting in Tapia, claiming his first homerun of the season. In the following inning, Sturges batted in Paxton after hitting a home run.

The Rockets attempted to make a comeback in the remaining two innings, cutting the ‘Runners’ lead down to 6-5

After two victories over the University of Toledo and one over the University of Notre Dame the Roadrunners took home the 2020 Alamo Irish Classic Trophy. Photo by Julia Maenius.

instead Chase Keng claimed his runners batted in (RBI) for the game. Joshua Lamb followed suit with a run of his own. The ‘Runners ended the game up by three runs, 8-5.

The third game of the tournament was a competition on the mound for the ‘Runners as the University of Notre Dame matched the pitching talent on the opposing side of the field. Both teams’ defenses held the score 0-0 for the first five innings, until Thornquist landed on base to begin the scoring assault by the ‘Runners.

Sturges was hit by a pitch, and Barber was walked to load the bases. A stray pitch from the Fighting Irish advanced all of the ‘Runners, with Thornquist moving across home plate.

After two pitching mistakes, the ‘Runners recorded two more runs at the bottom of the sixth. Thornquist stole home after stealing multiple bases to increase the ‘Runners’ lead in the seventh, 4-0.

The ‘Runners held Notre Dame to no runs until the ninth inning, when the Fighting Irish capitalized on the ‘Runners’ change in pitching. The ‘Runners lead the tournament undefeated going into their match-

up against the University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals.

Head coach Pat Hallmark met his former team on the field for the last game of the tournament as the ‘Runners faced the Cardinals for the trophy title. The ‘Runners allowed the Cardinals to mark their first tally on the board as the Cardinals took advantage of multiple pitching changes made in the first couple of innings. At the top of the fifth, the ‘Runners’ offense kicked in as Sturges scored off of a miscue by the Cardinals and Hunter Grimes scored off of a sacrifice hit by Lamb. Rock batted in Keng with a fly ball deep to the outfield to end the scoring for the ‘Runners for the duration of the tournament. The Cardinals took the offensive advantage, scoring two hits on two runs to conclude the tournament and the game, 7-3.

The ‘Runners will be traveling to Beaumont coming off their tournament win to face the Lamar University Cardinals. The weekend will hold a three-game series for the ‘Runners against the Grambling State University Tigers at the Bird Bath beginning Friday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m.

The Roadrunners sing the UTSA Alma Mater after a 6-2 victory over the Houston Baptist University Huskies on Feb. 12 at Roadrunner Field. Photo by Julia Maenius.

Softball places third at Boerner Invitational

By Dalton Hartmann Staff Writer

The UTSA Roadrunner softball team (11-5) went to their third tournament of the season, where they played the University of Kansas Jayhawks, the University of Texas at Arlington Mavericks and the Rutgers University Scarlet Knights.

The first game of the Boerner Invitational saw the ‘Runners taking on the Jayhawks, which came down to the wire.

The ‘Runners scored on the first inning of the game, but they were met with four runs by the Jayhawks, putting the ‘Runners down early. The Jayhawks continued to lay on the runs, with two scores in the second by a homer, but the ‘Runners retaliated with a home run by Taylor Medina, which allowed Riley Grunberg and Kindell Brooks to post a run. The score going into the seventh was 4-7 after the Jayhawks scored in the sixth, which

put the ‘Runners in a tight position, as they were down three runs heading into the last inning. After loading the bases through good hits, Medina hit a grand slam in the third inning which allowed Grunberg, Brooks and Hannah Boring to score, 8-7. The ‘Runners allowed three hits in the seventh inning, but they all resulted in outs, making the final score 8-7.

In the next game against the Mavericks, the ‘Runners controlled most of the game after taking an early lead at 6-1 until the fifth inning in which the Mavericks racked up four runs, putting them within one run of the ‘Runners. The ‘Runners got their rhythm back in the seventh and secured the win after two hits to the right field, which both resulted in runs, making the final score 8-5.

The next two games were against the Scarlet Knights, which the ‘Runners split with the Knights one a piece. The ‘Runners ended the first game with a 2-1

victory. The Knights got up early with a 1-0 lead after a wild pitch in the third, but the ‘Runners struck out in the fifth inning, with a home run by Celeste Loughman and a run by Brooks after a hit by Tori Villarreal went far down center field. The final score was 2-1. The next game, the ‘Runners only had one score, which came from the Knights in the sixth inning with a double run from a home run, 2-0. This was the first loss from the ‘Runners in this tournament.

The final game of the tournament had the ‘Runners facing off against the Mavericks once again. The Mavericks scored right off the bat in the first inning, but the ‘Runners matched with four of their own.

After loading the bases with Loughman, Medina and Brooks, Loughman got a run after Villarreal took a walk. Brooks and Medina got a run following a single from Marena Estell and Lauren Coerver taking a hit by the pitcher. To close out the first

inning, Boring hit a fly ball, which got Villarreal a run. The third inning seemed like deja-vu with the Mavericks getting two runs and the ‘Runners matching with four. There were back-to-back home runs by both Medina and Villarreal, and later in the inning, Coerver and Boring scored two runs after a hit left by Brooks left the plate wide open. The score was 8-4 going into the final inning. The Mavericks mounted an unsuccessful come-back, scoring three runs, only putting them down one run. The ‘Runners finished the game up, 8-7.

The ‘Runners finished 4-1 at the Boerner Invitational, which earned them third place in the tournament. The ‘Runners can be seen again at the Jacksonville State Invite, where they will be taking on the Samford University Bulldogs and the Jacksonville State University Gamecocks.

These games will take place Feb. 28-29.

F e bru ar y 25 - M arch 3, 2020

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

Athlete of the Week: Ana Gonzalez

By Lindsey Thomas Head of Special Projects As a Monterrey native, Ana Gonzalez found her way to the U.S. to get an education and play golf for the UTSA Roadrunners.

“I’m from Monterrey, Mexico. I went to high school there and just came [to San Antonio] for college. [I have spent] all my life in Mexico,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez first found her love for the sport at six-years-old, and has been with it since. One of her proudest moments is being able to represent her country in the World Championships.

“When I got recruited and started playing with girls of my age, I knew this was my thing,” Gonzalez said.

In 2019, Gonzalez represented her country for the Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship. Unlike regular tournaments, the stands there cheered teams on. Golf is an individual Ana Gonzalez putts the ball into the hole at the 2018 Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship. Gonzalez sport where you play for a common goal will be competing in the University of Houston Icon Invitational. Photo by Randy Sartin. alongside your team, but it does not have al at Cherokee Country Club in Tennessee.

With the intention of improving, San the same side-by-side feel as basketball or This was a tournament she had played a Antonio, Texas, was her ideal location of a football naturally would. few years in a row, but her sophomore year, school because it is where her Swing Coach “It was just amazing to think that you is natively from. Having him closer meant had someone there to, like, just cheer for or she finished runner-up top 10. In her junior year, Gonzalez finished third place after she could get more practice in, and conthey were cheering for you,” Gonzalez said. firing seven-under-par 206, the second-best tinue to improve for herself and the team.

One of Gonzalez’s most memorable tour54-hole total in program history behind her While at UTSA, Gonzalez chose to naments was the Mercedes-Benz Invitation205 at the 2017 Invitational. major in psychology, so if she does play

golf professionally, she will continue her education and gain a masters in sports psychology. Even if she does not get to continue her dream, she can help people who are like her.

Being in school, working out and playing a sport that travels the nation, Gonzalez does not find free time unless she dedicates it to herself. When she finds herself with free time, she listens to new music.

“I like Spanish [music], it just turns my mood up,” Gonzalez said.

Aside from golf, she enjoys yoga, swimming and watching basketball and football Americano. Gonzalez does not enjoy changing her routines. Although she is not superstitious, she does not believe changing her daily routine will help her in her sporting or academic career.

One of Gonzalez’s favorite things is to travel. Golf has given her many opportunities to visit countries around the world.

“I’ve been lucky enough to play for Mexico and travel, go to Japan, Chile and Canada. That’s probably the most amazing [part of traveling globally for tournaments],” Gonzalez said.

Moving to the U.S. with the intention of a degree and playing collegiate golf, Gonzalez has improved in her mental health tremendously. “[The way] I feel right now, just so much stronger because golf is a game of mental,” Gonzalez said.

Track and field competes at C-USA Indoor Championship

By Cade Draughon Staff Writer The Roadrunner track and field teams competed at the Conference USA Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama on Feb. 22-23.

On the men’s side of the event, sophomore Bashiru Abdullahi ran the 60-meter hurdles in 7.80 seconds to win the gold medal and tie the school record he set earlier this season. After his third straight win, Abdullahi was named the C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week. Freshman Jack Turner won gold in the heptathlon, put-

ting up a total of 5,142 points. In the triple jump, sophomore Andre Douglas hit a total of 15.52 meters, for the ‘Runners earning a gold medal in the event.

Junior Jake McDaniel finished close behind Turner in the heptathlon, earning third place, with 4,903 points. Freshman Joel McFarlane finished in fifth place with a score of 4,448 points, and freshman Justin Wright finished in sixth place, with 4,420 points. The men finished in second place for the meet behind the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, posting a total of 108 points.

In the men’s 4x400-meter relay, Andrew Pirog, Joel McFarlane, Gary Haasbroek

and Christopher Rosales finished in sixth place, with a time of 3:17.82. Junior Mikael Dawkins finished third in the 60-meter dash, with a time of 6.83 seconds, and finished eighth in the 200-meter dash, with a time of 21.84 seconds.

On the women’s team, junior Maia Campbell won the gold medal in shot put, throwing a career-best total of 16.12 meters, and she also took home the bronze in the weight throw with 18.68 meters. Freshman Sigrid Kleive finished third in high jump, hitting 1.73 meters, and sophomore Danielle Spence finished third in triple jump, hitting 12.87 meters.

Sophomore Maribel Caicedo placed

fourth in the 60-meter dash, and the women’s 4x400 team of Darionne Gibson, Taylor Armstrong, Creshaun Cresser and Alanah Yukich claimed a fourth place of their own. Freshman long jumper Ingeborg Gruenwald recorded a 6.18 meter jump to win the bronze medal. The women finished in fourth place behind Charlotte, Middle Tennessee State University and Rice University with a total of 72 points.

The ‘Runners regular indoor season will be continued on Mar. 13-14 in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Quick Hits Women’s Tennis Northwestern State University completed a 4-0 sweep over the Roadrunners on Feb. 23. The next matches will take place Feb. 28 against Rice University.

Men’s Tennis After a close loss to the University of Texas at Austin, the Roadrunners will look for their third win of the season when they take on Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi.

Women’s Basketball The Roadrunners will host their final two home games of the season against the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Feb. 29, and Louisiana Tech University on Mar.

Men’s Golf After one day of play at the Border Olympics, the team finds themselves in second place behind Sam Houston State University.

Men’s Basketball Conference USA bonus play begins on Feb. 27, in Florida against Florida Atlantic University and continues on Mar. 1, to play the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Why Do We Dream?

Discussions based on free booklet ECK Wisdom on Dreams Thursdays, Feb. 6, 13, 20, and 27 7:00–8:30 PM, SU Magnolia Room, SU 2.01.30

Learn more about how dreams can help us remember and interpret our dreams, research past lives, and even reunite with a departed loved one.

mitziani.daufen@my.utsa.edu Eckankar-Texas.org Presented by the Eckankar Student Organization