02.11.20

6 | Arts & Life

8 | Sports

Musician of the Week: Phony Ppl

Vol. 61, Issue 4

Athlete of the Week: Timea Toth

Est. 1981

The Paisano

February 11 – February 18, 2020

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

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Chaparral Village and Alvarez Hall designated freshmen-only in Fall 2020

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By Breahna Luera News Editor Starting in Fall 2020, UTSA will change the way it houses its students who live on campus. The university informed students on Jan. 23, via email, that all incoming freshmen will be housed in Chaparral Village and Alvarez Hall, while non-freshmen students will live in Laurel Village or be referred to University Oaks or Chisholm Hall.

According to Tammy Wyatt, vice provost for student success, the reason behind this systematic clustering of students is to impleThe university designated all non-freshmen to Laurel Village starting Fall 2020. Tammy Wyatt hopes that ment specific programming that clustering students in this way will increase student retention. Photo by Donald Escamilla best helps students according to their classification. rooms. According to Wyatt, freshmen workshops,” Wyatt said.

Specifically, Wyatt hopes this are the students who need roommates The construction of the new Guadachange will foster more student sucthe most. lupe Hall is set to finish in Fall 2021. cess and improve retention for first“Research shows that students who It is undetermined whether it will be year students. have roommates tend to do better and used as one of the freshmen halls.

“We are working on providing proso Chaparral is our best opportunity,” “For 2021, those plans are not fully gramming that is relevant to incoming Wyatt said. “The way that our resicomplete just yet,” Wyatt said. “We students and their needs which is … dence halls were constructed is the do know that the new hall, Guadadifferent than what a second-year stubest opportunity for each of the rooms lupe Hall, was specifically designed dent needs,” Wyatt said. “And so, try[in Chaparral Village] to be able to for first-year students in mind, and ing to meet the needs of the first-year have the capacity to be a double.” so those additional beds are going to students, we are building out more In addition to double-occupancy help us and allow us to house more programming. We are trying to focus rooms, Wyatt wants to increase the students, which will help our goals the programming on helping them number of Residence Assistants and with our student success and retention, make that transition from high school the number of living-and-learning so it’s likely that we will continue to to university life.” spaces, as well as create a new cluster first-year students in specific UTSA is expecting approximately Academic Peer Coaching program in halls. Guadalupe Hall may be one of 1,900 incoming freshmen to live in on- Chaparral Village and Alvarez Hall to those.” campus housing in Fall 2020. Alvarez help freshmen.

Between 750 and 800 students at Hall and Chaparral Village combined “For this year, we have Academic UTSA reapply for on-campus houscan hold 1,812 people.

Peer Coaches in the residence halls ing annually. Laurel Village holds 680 Wyatt hopes to increase capacity Continued on page 2 who provide Academic Success at Chaparral Village by transforming See “Students petition against Coaching to residents through onesingle-bedroom spaces into shared housing changes” on-one coaching sessions and group spaces called double-occupancy

To: Rick Thanks for 48 years of fun and laughter.

From: Diane To: The red-bearded man You are an inspiration. Also, quite exquisite, deeply appreciated and greatly admired. Happy Valentine’s Day! From: Guess P.S. be concise in your speech

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To: Josh “I’m lucky I’m in love with my best friend” Jason Mraz From: Ivanna To: Christina To the happiest person at the office: We love you, Christina!!!

From: Ana To: Katarina Thank you for being by my side for the past 6 years. I couldn’t have dreamed of a better person to do life with. Love you 3000 <3 From: Breahna To: Ivanna Happy Valentine’s Day Vanna! Eres mi vida y te querisimo mucho. So happy I get to spend this Valentine’s weekend with you. I’m so lucky that I have you by my side From: Josh Peck

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Early voting for primaries begins Feb. 18 on Main Campus UTSA students can participate in early voting for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries on UTSA’s Main Campus in the Student Union Bexar Room (HSU 1.102) from Tuesday, Feb. 18 through Friday, Feb. 28. UTSA students can also vote for their party’s presidential candidate at the same location on Mar. 3, primary election day.

In order to vote in the presidential primaries, UTSA students must be registered to vote in Bexar County.

The voter registration deadline for the primaries has passed, but UTSA students can register to vote for future elections by filling out and turning in an application to the Bexar County Elections Department (BCED) or to any Bexar County Volunteer Deputy

By Ben Shirani Staff Writer Registrar (VDR).

The Texas Secretary of State, in coordination with the BCED, allows individuals to become a VDR by completing a training course offered through the BCED. Non-governmental organizations like UTSA’s Center For Civic Engagement and MOVE Texas serve students by training individuals to become VDRs and organizing voter registration events.

“UTSA held a class in January where 28 students, staff and faculty were deputized,” Joe Izbrand, associate vice president for communications & marketing and chief communications officer, said. “There will be another training Feb. 11 at noon at the Downtown Campus. The Bexar

County Elections Department also hosts other trainings that students can attend.”

UTSA’s civic engagement efforts were recognized in 2019 by the All In Democracy Challenge for contributing to a 40% increase in student voter turnout.

“The UTSA Center for Civic Engagement collaborates with campus and community partners to ensure we create opportunities for students to become [Volunteer] Deputy Registrars and register to vote through our Rowdy Votes 2020 initiative,” Izbrand said. “The center also works with faculty to integrate voter registration and education efforts as part of community-engaged learning.”

By Breahna Luera News Editor four years ago, he was the director of solar system exploration.

Naderi began his presentation by expressing the value of the audience’s skill sets and knowledge.

“What I am here to tell you is that

Firouz Naderi described his involvment in previous Mars missions. The next mission is set to launch in Sumer 2020. Photo by Breahna Luera

To: Mastercard Professional I know this is totally LAME, but I’m glad I met you. I didn’t like you at first but we have become life-long friends!

From: Vanessa TA To: Cristina & Cindy Thank you for being supportive of my crazy dreams. I love you both tremendously. Happy Valentines Day! From: Tali & Mr. Harry To: Former News Editor I’m proud of your continued success. You are exceptional, hard-working and an inspiration. I predicate you! Happy Valentine’s Day. From: J.

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Former NASA JPL director visits UTSA Dr. Firouz Naderi, former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL), visited UTSA and spoke about past and future Mars missions on Feb. 7.

Naderi worked in NASA’s JPL for 36 years, and before he stepped down

To: Robyn Robyn, Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you! My heart is yours :) From: Rudy

when you all graduate [and] go out in the field, in some places, all of your specialties come together, combine together, [and will] do something really magical,” Naderi said.

He then transitioned into his experiences with the previous Mars missions and the most difficult parts of them. He explained that, with precise calculations, it is easy to predict when the spacecraft will rendezvous with Mars, but the seven-minute landing is the most unpredictable part of the mission.

“What kills you is not the 350 million miles,” Naderi said. “It is the last seven minutes.”

Continued on page 2 See “Firouz Naderi explains future Mars missions”

To: Mom & Dad I know it’s Valentine’s Day and writing to your parents might be weird, but you two are my best friends. Thank you for your undying support. I love you.

From: Sofia Lane To: Ben You offered me your love, your friendship and became my best. You’re my lover, and I can only think of you when they talk about Valentine’s Day because I have found something that I’ve been longing for for such a long time.

From: Kethia To: Ré I will only tell you that love is not a decision, it is like rain. Suddenly, it starts falling on you until you’re soaked without even choosing to be. May your breaths be mine and only mine.

From: Moe To: Jené and Adrianne I love you guys 5ever. Thanks for being my forever friends!

From: Alyssa To: Alyssa and Adrianne Roses are red/ Violets are blue,/ Sugar is sweet,/ And so are you.

From: Jené To: Alyssa and Jené I’m so glad you both came into my life at the most random time.

I hope we’ll still get brunch until we’re 65.

From: Adrianne To: Kiya I miss you every day, and I love you! I hope Guy will take you out to TCA on the 14th lol my day

Paisanograms F e bru ar y 11 – F e bru ar y 18, 2020

2 | news@paisano-online.com

UTSA UTSA is beginning its forums for the College of Health, Community and Policy. The next forum for the Downtown Campus is Feb. 24, and Feb. 25 for the Main Campus.

Times, locations and a link to feedback surveys after the forums can be found at https:// www.utsa.edu/today/2020/02/ story/hcap-dean-forums.html.

Texas A recently released analysis of oil refineries across the country revealed that six Texas refineries are releasing benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, into the air surrounding the perimeter of their facilities at levels higher than federal regulations. Three of the refineries are in the Houston area, and the levels of benzene in all six ranged from 11% above regulations in a Galveston refinery to 148% in a Port Arthur refinery.

U.S. It has been reported that 109 U.S. service members have sustained traumatic brain injuries as a result of the Iranian missile strike on an airbase in Iraq on Jan. 8.

The new reports contradict statements that President Donald Trump made following the strike, when he said that the injuries he was aware of were “not serious.”

The new reports are delayed because the symptoms of brain injuries can take weeks to manifest.

World A dam being built on the Nile River in Ethiopia is creating tensions between Ethiopia and Egypt. The Nile is Egypt’s primary source of drinking water and agricultural production, and because the dam would be upriver from Egypt, the Egyptian government fears that the dam will restrict its water supply.

Ethiopia considers the dam central to eliminating poverty and becoming an even greater economic power in Africa, but Egypt sees the dam as a threat to its way of life.

Firouz Naderi explains future Mars missions Continued from page 1

When approaching Mars at 30,000 mph and decelerating to 1,000 mph, the resistance from Mars’ atmosphere increases the temperature of the spacecraft’s heat shield to 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit. The parachute deploys at 900 mph, and the heat shield comes off the spacecraft at 370 mph. At 70 mph, the powered descent begins, and at two mph, the sky crane lowers the rover onto the ground.

Naderi conveyed the stress in the JPL at the time of landing.

“You can’t allow yourself to get emotional or [let] stresses build up, not until you land,” Naderi said. “Then, when you land it, it was just like something that you had compressed, and it lets out, and the emotions are all out.”

Naderi went on to explain a future Mars mission that will launch in summer 2020 and a three-mission plan to bring Martian samples to Earth.

The NASA Mars 2020 mission is the first of a three-mission plan to drill for rock samples on Mars and bring them back to Earth.

The 2020 mission will involve sending

a rover to Mars with a drill that will pull samples from Mars’ surface and leave capsules of samples along a path. The mission will also send a helicopter in the underbelly of the rover. The helicopter will part from the rover once it has landed and aid it in navigating Mars’ difficult terrain. The helicopter will be the first aircraft to fly on another planet.

The second mission will have a smaller rover land on Mars and pick up the capsules containing samples of Mars’ surface then return to space until the third mission’s spacecraft captures it and returns it to Earth.

Naderi expressed that if Martian samples could be returned to Earth to be tested on in laboratories, the detail of the observations could be much more precise and may lead to the discovery of materials that point to life on Mars.

“I’m hoping that they bring the samples back to Earth,” Naderi said.

“And I’m sure, with the best scientists around the world and the best instruments [on Earth], we will learn things about Mars [that without them] there would be no other way to learn on Mars.”

New administrative position to increase faculty diversity

one, my A1.

From: Your Favorite To: KP It’s the beginning. The first. The first time we hold hands. The first time we sprawled out on your bed, talking all night. Our first adventure. All of these lead to the first time I knew I loved you.

From: Stephanie

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To: Kacey P. Not sure why you cut your hair, but you still look beautiful to me, regardless. Hope to see you more this semester!

From: Your Secret Admirer To: RM Thank you for teaching me how to love and fend for myself! I hope you will find love at your big age. I miss you!

From: Your Therapist To: Mega Morning seeps through the blinds And joins us in my bed The peeping light Softly caress your pretty face As I watch you sleep I’m quickly reminded Just how much I love you And just how I fall for you Time and time again From: Billy

Paisanograms To: My Valentine To-Be I searched the seven seas for you trying to break free from the siege in my heart that only you can ignite, like a push to start.

Days are running thin and my options are dwindling down to the one within.

To go out on the 14th is a win-win and only then can our love truly begin.

All I want is for you to be mine… So will you be my Valentine?

From: Idris

By Josh Peck News Editor UTSA is undergoing an internal search for are similarly from underrepresented a faculty member to fill the newly created groups.” administrative position, the associate vice Espy described the type of candidate provost for faculty diversity and inclusion, the university would like to fill the role. which will focus on hiring and maintaining “The ideal candidate will engage a diverse faculty. This position is oriented various UTSA stakeholders in meaning- To: My Paisano Family toward President Taylor Eighmy’s goal to ful discussions to advance institutional I cherish every one of you; thank you for giving increase faculty diversity. outcomes, have knowledge of national me purpose. “My bounty is as boundless as the “UTSA’s next milestone will be to inbest practices in all aspects of diversity sea, my love as deep; the more I give to thee, the crease by 50% the number of outstanding, faculty recruitment and retention, colmore I have, for both are infinite.” diverse faculty,” Dr. Kimberly Espy, provost laboratively develop tactics and execute From: Maha and senior vice president for Academic action steps, partnering with college and Affairs, said. “Our expectation is for this [as- department leadership to increase the To: Maha sociate vice provost] position to accelerate diversity in our faculty candidate pools,” Words can’t express how I adore you. our progress in achieving this milestone so Espy said.

You bring so much light to my life. that we can work to achieve an even higher Espy emphasized the importance of a Como te quiero. representation.” diverse candidate pool for the position. From: Your work wife, Kat The university is seeking to build a faculty “Because of the pivotal role in which is more representative of its students advancing faculty diversity, I would parand tenured faculty were Hispanic, 3% were and will positively impact those from under- ticularly encourage candidates from diverse African American, 20% were Asian and 34% represented backgrounds, something Espy gender/race/ethnicity groups to apply,” Espy were female according to the UTSA Institusays is important due to UTSA’s Hispanicsaid. tional Research dashboard. Comparatively, Serving Institution designation.

The associate vice provost for faculty the student body in Fall 2019 was 56% “Our faculty play a central role in the acadiversity and inclusion will not have a direct Hispanic, 8% African American, 6% Asian demic experience, progress and outcomes of role in hiring. However, the position will be and 51% female. our students in and out of the classroom, and used to diversify faculty candidate pools and Espy says it is important that UTSA’s they also serve a pivotal role as mentors and support faculty after they come to UTSA. tenure-track and tenured faculty are more models of success for our students,” Espy The faculty member ultimately selected representative of the student body. said. “This is particularly important for our for this position will be provided “additional “It is critical to accelerate the hiring of Hispanic students, as well as other students summer support” and an administrative stioutstanding tenured/tenure-track faculty who from groups traditionally underrepresented pend linked to their current salary, according identify as Hispanic/Latino or as members of in higher education, and can have an even to Espy. other underrepresented groups,” Espy said. deeper impact when the faculty themselves In Fall 2019, 16% of UTSA’s tenure-track

Graphic by Paola Esquivel/ Source: UTSA Institutional Research Dashboard

Graphic by Paola Esquivel/ Source: UTSA Institutional Research Dashboard

Students petition against housing changes

Science

Continued from page 1

The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter launched Feb. 9.

It is on the way to get within 42 million kilometers of the sun — 4 million kilometers closer than Mercury’s orbit. The Solar Orbiter will require two gravity assists from Venus and one from Earth. On the mission, the Solar Orbiter will chart the sun’s unexplored solar poles.

Graphic by Robyn Castro/ Source: UTSAPD

students.

“Laurel will be filled; however, we know that Laurel may not be able to fill all of the demands,” Wyatt said. “But that is why I mentioned we have additional on-campus housing options.”

According to Wyatt, students who cannot fit in Laurel Village will be referred to University Oaks and Chisholm Hall. Chisholm Hall will become a UTSA-owned residence hall in Spring 2021.

Sadori Brown, freshman mechanical engineering major and Student Government Association senator, has created a petition to speak out against this housing move.

“I was inspired to start this petition when I found out that we had to move to Laurel Village upon renewing our housing lease, basically against our will,” Brown said. “I was mostly upset because I felt that something this serious should have been put to vote by the students because we’re the ones being affected. They should think about the current students before they decide on what to do with the students who aren’t even here yet.”

Brown hopes that with enough signatures, the university will take into mind the students’ concerns.

“The tough thing about petition is it’s not always going to work,” Brown said. “After getting enough signatures that I feel would show that the students here on campus don’t want this change, I plan on taking them to Kevin Price, [senior associate vice president for housing and campus services], and Hillary Klingman, the director of [operations]. Again, the petition isn’t a promised fix, but it at least gives us hope.”

opinion@paisano-online.com | 3

Fe b ru a r y 11 - Fe bruar y 18 , 2 02 0

OPINION Your COLFA dean matters, right?

Editorial

Four of the open forums for the College of Liberal and Fine Arts dean finalist candidates have passed, and with two remaining, the COLFA Dean Search Advisory Committee is coming closer to making its selection. In these forums, the candidates present their vision for the college and UTSA as a whole. Additionally, the forums provide an opportunity for the candidates to field questions from the students and faculty who call COLFA their home.

While a sizable faculty group has consistently attended, students have been nearly absent from these forums. Because the forums were held at 8:45 a.m., student participation was difficult to cultivate.

The early start times may not have been intentional, but they act as a deterrent to commuter students, who make up the majority of the student body. Thus, the candidates addressed their speeches to audiences of mostly faculty members, and student voices were largely left unaddressed.

The COLFA faculty and staff attending have touched on numerous points concerning funding and student success, but the only people who can truly represent students are students themselves. As a college that houses over 5,900 students across numerous departments, COLFA must appoint a dean who can serve a diverse student body with a range of needs.

Liberal and fine arts students, whose majors are considered “add-ons” or “soft

skills,” must make their voices heard.

COLFA needs a dean who values liberal and fine arts as much as students do and will provide the resources necessary to defy the stigma associated with being a liberal or fine arts student. This means advocating for better COLFA funding, improving infrastructure for the McKinney Humanities building and increasing

non-tenure track faculty pay.

COLFA needs a dean who will actively engage with students rather than wait for students to come to them. Opposed to leaving students wondering if their emails to the dean will ever be read, a dean who is visibly engaging with the UTSA community and actively listening to students’ concerns demonstrates their willingness

to serve the people they represent.

Whether you are a student, faculty or staff member, make your voice heard, even if you have been unable to attend the forums. Contact the provost, and let her know what key aspects are important to you; don’t let your needs go unacknowledged.

Illustration by Emmanuelle Maher

Border Control just got shadier Commentary

By Dawson Fagan Opinion Editor The Trump administration has designated Customs and Border Patrol as a “security agency,” a new classification that exempts CBP from the Office of Personnel Management’s disclosure policy and allows them to redact information in Freedom of Information Act requests. CBP now has augmented secrecy privileges and can withhold records from public disclosure.

Immigration agencies in America have been vying for these special measures for years.

Peter Vincent, former general counsel for U.S.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, told The Daily Beast, “ICE has for the past decade been keenly interested in joining the Intelligence Community.”

If CBP or ICE become a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community, they would have startling spying measures and extraordinary privacy privileges. While CBP did not attain this clearance level, they did get increased opportunities in both regards.

Now that CBP is a “security agency,” the organization has the same legal rights and secrecy privileges as intelligence agencies such as the FBI and Secret Service.

The reason for this change in designation is a Twitter account was posting information about CBP agents and administrators, such as salaries and work locations.

However, the OPM, a government employee information management agency, stated these details are — or were — considered public information.

A CBP representative later stated, “Out of concern for the

safety of our workforce, CBP leadership advocated for and recently received OPM’s agreement to designate CBP as a Security Agency, protecting CBP employee’s information from OPM’s disclosure policy.”

So, CBP agents now have the same identity protection as FBI agents.

With children abused and dying at the border, CBP needs more oversight and transparency, not less.

“One thing we find in FOIA responses is agency employees breaking the law or doing the wrong thing. Sometimes we can identify them because their name is on the email,” Matthew Hoppock, an immigration lawyer, told CNN. “Now we may be getting FOIA responses showing people breaking the law, but we don’t know who they are.”

Anonymity removes accountability. If the CBP is an ethical institution with nothing to hide, why are they shrouding themselves in further secrecy?

Iowa caucuses chaos, explained Commentary

By Isabella Briseño Staff Writer During each presidential election cycle, the Iowa caucuses are regarded as the deciding factor in who will be the presidential nominee for their party. The Iowa caucuses are the first nomination process in the nation, and they build momentum for candidates. Usually, one would expect results to be posted not long after the caucuses end. However, in the hours following the Iowa caucuses, no clear winner emerged, though many troubling facts did.

What caused the delay? For the first time, the caucuses used an app, developed by Shadow Inc., to record and report election results. If the name of the company wasn’t enough to strike fear in voters, one of its donors might: Pete Buttigieg. Several of the top candidates, not including Bernie Sanders, have donated to Shadow Inc. Mayor Pete Buttigieg contributed a whopping $42,500. This is not Shadow’s only tie to Pete Buttigieg. The founder of ACRONYM, the nonprofit that launched Shadow Inc., is married to Michael Halle, a senior strategist for Pete Buttigieg. Many believe this is a strong indication that Buttigieg bought or influenced the results, which showed him as a surprise

front-runner. This suspicion was intensified when Buttigieg troublingly announced victory, several times, on his Twitter long before the results were ever finally scrambled out.

Buttigieg’s night was not the only one influenced by Shadow. Those who believe the caucuses were fixed for Buttigieg also believe that they were fixed against Senator Bernie Sanders. Not only did Shadow Inc. receive large donations from Buttigieg, but it is also run by former Hillary Clinton campaign staff. It is no secret that Hillary Clinton holds contempt for Sanders on a personal level, thus it is reasonable to suspect that her staff would have similar attitudes toward the senator. The Democratic National Committee is largely more conservative than Sanders, who identifies as a Democratic Socialist and spent most of his political career running as an independent. It seems almost too convenient, therefore, for the DNC to thwart the momentum of a candidate who seeks to alter the status quo. This would prove to be a challenge, however, as intense grassroots sup-

port led to Sanders coming in with only 0.1% fewer State Delegate Equivalents than Buttigieg in the posted results that were allowed to come through.

Even after receiving these results days after the caucuses, there is no clear winner. Despite the cited reason for the delays being quality control checks, there are too many errors with the results to keep track of. Between incorrect math and inconsistent reporting, it is safe to say the caucuses were a mess. Many supporters of Sanders felt themselves losing confidence in the electoral system. If only there was something we could do in lieu of the caucuses, such as an event where people choose their preferred candidate on a ballot rather than moving among various corners of a gym.

At best, the DNC allowed one of the most important indications of the Democratic race to be controlled by a poorlytested app. At worst, the DNC allowed an egregious conflict of interest to undermine the Democratic primary.

New magazine on stands

NOW!

A new year. A new era. A new decade. 2020 has arrived, leaving the 2010s a part of history. Before we can move forward into the second rendition of the Roaring Twenties, we need to reflect on significant moments, personal and societal.

Listen to our editor-curated 2010s playlist “looking back” on Spotify now!

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Feb ru a r y 11 - Feb ru a r y 18, 2020

4 | opinion@paisano-online.com

Pelosi rips America a new one Commentary

By Alex Hanks Opinion Editor The spectacle surrounding Nancy Pelosi’s “prolific” tearing of Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was nothing short of daunting. The ability media conglomerates have to shift the focus from major global affairs to mere political theater is a sign that the American people base their political stance off of stunts that make politicians seem bold or edgy.

The United States’ political arena is built on the fight for relevance. Politicians would much rather send a retaliatory tweet or do something outrageous on national television than enact comprehensive change for the American people.

President Trump shared his reaction with reporters on the White House Lawn. He stated, “I thought it was a terrible thing when (Nancy Pelosi) ripped up the speech. First of all, it’s an official document.

You’re not allowed. It’s illegal, what she did. She broke the law.”

However, this claim couldn’t stray any further from the truth, as Pelosi tore up her personal copy of the speech and not the National Archives copy.

What raises red flags as a constituent is the episodic and climatic methodologies U.S. leaders use as a mask to keep valuable information from the American people. Our leaders view ripping speeches and

furthering incivility as an accomplishment, while welfare programs continue to get cut and several affordable housing programs may cease to exist within the coming months.

American citizens have to remain civically engaged on deeper policy matters, but gimmicks like the one Pelosi performed are undeniably effective. Just as our communities become invested in the lives of social media influencers, we are driven to the stunts that display the personality of political figures. Nancy Pelosi took such a simple action and used it to rally her entire political base. Her base erupted and a meme was born, but conservative journalists went on the defensive, pointing out the classlessness of such an action. Fox News anchor Sean Hannity regarded it as “one of the most classless things ever done in the history of the State of the Union.”

High class is not what Pelosi was trying to transmit. The malicious and polarizing president just addressed the nation in what seemed like a victory lap, all while the president is facing an obscure and unforeseeable range of career ending accusations.

Political theater is annoying — constituents get tired of the childish behavior. But when the country is in dark times, sometimes tearing up a speech can spark civic discourse, which is a virtue to the nation.

By Ana Martinez Copy Editing Coordinator After the main winter holidays are over, a new year begins and school starts. It seems as though the weeks drag out and the world is mundane again.

That is, until the infamous love holiday, Valentine’s Day, rolls around. Everyone is eager to celebrate and scrambles to find a valentine.

It’s easy to feel lovesick walking around grocery stores and supermarkets while surrounded by stuffed animals, hearts, flowers and so much candy.

However, you shouldn’t be thinking about getting a date for Valentine’s Day. Ask why we need a holiday that celebrates love through expensive gift giving. Love should be shared regardless of the day. The amount of money we spend to show our affection doesn’t compare to spending meaningful time with the person we love.

As much as we support the message behind

Rudy Sanchez | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com Joseph Torres | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com

News Josh Peck | News Editor News@paisano-online.com Breahna Luera | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

Opinion Alex Hanks | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Dawson Fagan | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Ryan Houston-Dial | Assistant Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Xavier Richardson | Assistant Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

Arts & Life Sofia Garcia | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

Sports Ryan Garza | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com

Illustration by Max Aguirre

Ethan Gullett | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com

Valentine’s Day, we cannot ignore that the holiday epitomizes capitalism. For companies, the big day of “love” signifies monetary gain.

According to a study conducted by CompareCards, the average U.S. citizen expects to spend $142 this Valentine’s Day. The respondents also stated that the maximum amount of money their partner should spend on gifts and dates is about $200.

Rather than emphasizing love through sweet gestures and quality time, capitalism in the U.S. enforces the idea that Valentine’s Day should be about spending money.

At some point in history, U.S. citizens became convinced that the amount of money spent on a partner equals the amount of love we have for them. It is time we change this narrative for the sake of our wallets and our ethics.

Money can’t buy happiness Commentary

There are days when I wake up and think that I can’t make it through the day. Then I realize how thankful I am to have a roof over my head, breakfast to eat and a university to attend. No, I would not have all of this if it weren’t for money, but that feeling isn’t happiness; it’s satisfaction.

Happiness is the essence of our soul’s genuine well-being.

It’s what makes existence joyful. Without joy, we wouldn’t have self-motivation or good spirit. On the other hand, money fuels that emotional meter, but only temporarily. Money allows us to express ourselves in a materialistic manner.

However, comfortable lifestyles also service one’s ego. The praise of models, fancy cars, lavish vacation spots and huge mansions sounds amazing, but these physical accomplishments and the status received with them is brief. Some believe possessing materialistic items will result in happiness. Money can make some fantasies come true, but it will never compare to genuine feelings you get for free: getting an A on a test you studied hard for, the pain in your tummy when you’re laughing too much or even how you feel when you’re surrounded by everyone you love as they sing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate you.

No, I don’t have all the money in the world, but my happiness comes from my relationships, experiences and accomplishments.

The hardest pill I ever had to swallow was when I realized I had to make myself happy. I believe every decision a person makes has an impact. If I wake up one day and decide to make myself happy, then I will go out into the world and be happy.

No one else can make that decision for you. At the end of the day, when I go to sleep, I remember that happiness comes from the heart. Being compassionate, kind and respectful is free, with no payments, fees or dues. All happiness takes is a good soul and the decision to be happy.

Online Kat Joseph | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Maha Qadri | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Tali Duarte | Assistant Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Brysen Streeter | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com

Business Will Stransky | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Kasandra Parker | Marketing Manager Business@paisano-online.com Adrianne Kristianto | Social Media Coordinator Kayla Burford | Social Media Coordinator

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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 1 1 — Febru ar y 18, 2020

arts@paisano-online.com | 5

Arts & Life The SpongeBob Musical is politically charged Childhood show surprisingly offers powerful undertones

By Christina Troy Copy Editing Coordinator Tony-winning production “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical” made its way to the Majestic Theatre, Jan. 24-26, for nostalgia-seeking 90s kids and begrudging parents alike. Both groups left with more life lessons, political commentary and uncomfortable romance than they could’ve expected.

By season four, the Flanderization of SpongeBob, in which the childishness of SpongeBob became his only attribute rather than one of many, seemed irreversible.

Even the most die-hard fans will claim post-season three Spongebob is not the sponge they support. So, when SpongeBob found the spotlight, even the notoriety of Broadway couldn’t curb skepticism.

But when the curtains were drawn, the sponge — a human with orange-tinted hair and plaid pants, rather — on stage resembled the optimistic, loyal, heroic character of earlier seasons. Against the backdrop of Bikini Bottom’s flora in neon lights, familiar undersea creatures, such as Larry the Lobster and Old Man Jenkins, encounter SpongeBob one by one, annoyed by his cheery welcomes. Spongebob arrives at the Krusty Krab to start his workday as a fry cook and overhears his boss, Mr. Krabs, tell his daughter Pearl that she’d become manager of the restaurant one day, but she’s uninterested. In an homage to “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie,” SpongeBob expresses interest in becoming manager, but Mr. Krabs calls him “just a simple sponge.” Before SpongeBob can express his sadness through song too much, an earthquake rocks Bikini Bottom.

News breaks that the volcano Mount Humongous will erupt and destroy the town in 24 hours. A town meeting is held, and Sandy Cheeks, SpongeBob’s squirrel friend, suggests science could stop the eruption. Plankton,

“Both groups left with more life lessons, political commentary and uncomfortable romance than they could’ve expected.” whose actor wore an eyepatch, suggests leaving Bikini Bottom in an escape pod. Because it’s 2020, Plankton expresses this plan through rap fast enough to be likened to Eminem’s “Rap God.” Despite SpongeBob’s pleas to save the town he loves, the fish folk side with Plankton,

tro

Cas

not knowing his plan to hypnotize everyone inside the escape pod to love Chum, the food his restaurant serves and send them all to Chumville. A mob hunts down Sandy, as they believe she’s the cause of the inevitable eruption. They turn “land mammal” into a species-ist chant, and its connection to racism today is apparent.

SpongeBob finds Sandy and convinces both her and Patrick, a starfish and SpongeBob’s best friend, to save the town with Sandy’s invention: the Eruptor Interrupter.

This plan soon falls apart when cultish sardines, inspired

by Patrick’s plan at the town meeting to close their eyes to stop the eruption, convince Patrick that he will be their savior. Patrick, craving the respect they gave him and his philosophical meditations such as “life smells weird,” takes the position of Super Sea Star Savior, leaving Sandy and SpongeBob to stop the eruption themselves.

After a dangerous climb up shifting ladders, SpongeBob and Sandy reach the top of Mount Humongous.

Meanwhile, the sardine cult realizes the downfalls of praising fraudulent idols, and Patrick realizes he misses SpongeBob, so he joins them on top of Mount Humungous by propelling from the ceiling in a jetpack Sandy had conveniently invented before. With Patrick’s encouragement, SpongeBob throws the Eruptor Interrupter into the volcano. When the friends look down from the volcano, however, they find Bikini Bottom’s citizens fighting. They fly down just in time for SpongeBob to stop the chaos by reassuring his peers that they can still have the best day ever in the last few minutes of

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their lives. The neighbors hold fins, unifying themselves despite their differences, and when the clock strikes doomsday, bubbles float through the air, signaling that Sandy’s invention worked. She’s welcomed back into the community, Plankton’s plan is found out and Mr. Krabs tells SpongeBob that he could be manager one day.

The major success of this musical was its ability to not take itself seriously. Pearl questions the biology behind her, a whale, being a daughter to a crab. Old Man Jenkins breakdances during “The Best Day Ever.”

Plankton schemes with his computer wife Karen for the first time in a long time, and he shares his intimate desire to be called “Big Guy” rather than his first name, Sheldon. She indulges this desire and pounces onto his lap, leaving the audience uncomfortably laughing. Called a loser by a band meant to put on a concert to raise funds for the escape pod, Squidward worries whether he is truly a loser, but a chorus line of sea anemone assures him that he’s “not delirious with despair and [he’s] not hallucinating this sea anemone chorus line at all.” In a quick change, Squidward emerges from the crowd of sea anemone wearing a bejeweled blue suit. He begins a tap dance routine and belts that he doesn’t “not like [himself] at all.” The pit even got involved in the musical. In the introductory song, SpongeBob threw a spatula to the conductor, who proceeded to conduct the orchestra with the kitchen tool.

Though based on a kid’s show, “The SpongeBob Musical,” as originally named for Broadway, should not be underestimated. Big names such as Panic! At the Disco, John Legend, David Bowie and Steven Tyler wrote songs for SpongeBob and his castmates, and in a tribute to the late Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob, the musical ended with “The SpongeBob Theme Song.” Tied with “Mean Girls,” “SpongeBob” held the most 2018 Tony nominations and won best scenic design for a musical. “SpongeBob” also snatched six wins at the 2018 Drama Desk Awards, the most for that year.

Motifs of unbreakable friendship, loyalty to the people and places you love, self-confidence in the face of insults and steadfastness when all hope is lost found their way into this musical starring a simple sponge. In today’s world of poverty, racism and some other third thing, we can “Look at the sun. It’s still shining. Look at the kelp.

It’s still kelpy. Look at us. We still have each other.”

F e bru ar y 11 — F e bru ar y 18, 2020

6 | arts@paisano-online.com

Musician of the week: Phony Ppl Eclectic group melts genres into new sounds

By Adrianne Kristianto Social Media Coordinator

By Paris Cantu Staff Writer

Soulful with a groovy aftertaste, Phony Ppl’s music is not for the closeminded. With their album “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” peaking at number 24 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Album chart, number 15 on Trending 140 chart and number seven on the Emerging Artists chart, the Brooklynite musical group has been constantly redefining their music since 2009.

Comprised of Elbee Thrie with vocals, Matt Byas on drums, Aja Grant on keyboard, Elijah Rawk on lead guitar and Bari Bass on bass guitar, Phony Ppl has brought their distinctive music to the table, giving R&B a new style.

Fresh off performing at the Tiny Desk concert with a current fan favorite, Megan Thee Stallion, Phony Ppl is very much involved in producing their evloving sound, using an

approach that is uncommon within the music industry. “It’s about being able to understand the language of English and the language of music at the same time,” Thrie admits to DJ Booth. “It’s fun to be a chemist and mix concepts.

We like to switch it up, and ask, ‘What shouldn’t be?’ Let’s try to make what shouldn’t work, work.”

Praised for the way they smoothly meld jazz, hip-hop, R&B and other sub-genres together, Phony Ppl constantly give listeners fresh, seamless sound in every project. From cloudy, mellow songs like “Why iii Love the Moon” and “Way Too Far” to funky, syncopated beats such as, “Fkn Around” the quintet will have listeners tapping their feet with those soulful riffs stuck in their head all day.

Phony Ppl recently signed with 300 Entertainment, the same label that has

Illustration by Ethan Gullett

rappers like Young Thug, Gunna and Tee Grizzley under them.

With their five digital-only albums and their most recent digital and physical album, “mō’zā-ik,” Phony Ppl’s eclectic sound and melodic lyrics have wooed crowds at SXSW Conference & Festivals, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Tiny Desk and Camp Flog Gnaw.

The musical group has also made notable contributions to songs by other musicians such as Kali Uchis, Erykah Badu, Fetty Wap, The Roots and late rapper Mac Miller.

Phony Ppl will be performing at Boston Calling Music Festival 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 22.

To find out more, visit phonyppl.com/tour.

“Girl, Woman, Other” is a modern, genius storytelling whose twelve chapters review the lives of twelve women. Bernadine Evaristo tells the story of girls and women who struggle and grapple with racism and sexism in a white, male-dominated Britain. Evaristo was awarded the 2019 Booker prize for this novel in conjunction with Margaret Atwood’s “The Testaments” because the committee apparently couldn’t permit a black woman to accept the honor without a white woman’s accompaniment. She is the first black woman recipient in the English language of this literary honor.

A patriarchal setting serves as the glue that unifies twelve women, whose stories are contrasting, such as a corporate banker versus liberal playwright, but who scuffle with the same realities.

Their interlocked stories analyze the twelve identities as a “sell-out,” feminist or non-binary.

The narratives sway between decades and locations. The first character is Amma, a black lesbian who, at fifty-something, continues to playwright and wrestles to accept her success without becoming part of the “establishment.” Her 19-year-old daughter, Yazz, who has a chapter separate from her mother’s, goes to university and describes herself as “part 90s Goth, part post-hip hop, part slutty ho, part alien.”

At the center of this novel, the reader finds culture, varying identities and longing. With the help of her wit and masterfully crafted characters, Evaristo is able to bring the female struggle, compounded with the black struggle, to the page. “Girl, Woman, Other” should have won the Booker prize singularly, without the taint of a wannabe feminist.

The Weekend UTSA Events February 12 – Election 2020: U.S. Foreign Policy Forum / Free 7:00 p.m. at Student Union Retama 2.02.02 Join the discussion about the U.S. foreign policy’s effect on our country, community and daily life. Visit utsa.edu/today for information on how to register.

February 14 – Summit: The Future of the South / Free 9 a.m. — 3 p.m. at Confluence Park The Urban Future Lab at the UTSA College of Architecture, Construction and Planning is hosting a summit that will consist of discussions about San Antonio’s future as a region of the “South.” Get informed about the future of your city with lectures from different representatives of SA. Seating is limited so visit utsa.edu/today for information on how to register.

February 6 – 22 – Art Exhibit: Comisura/Commissure / Free 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Blue Star Arts Complex UTSA Terminal 136 Flor Ameira and Barbara Minarro showcase their art with photographs, sculptures and textiles.

Local Events February 14 – Valentine’s True Crime & Ghost Walk / Admission – $20 8:30 p.m. at Alamo Plaza Stroll downtown SA and learn about true crime, history, passion and murder mysteries.

February 15 – Valentine’s Market / Free Admission 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Travis Park Treat your date to dinner, shopping and a movie in the park. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and relax for Valentine’s Day. February 18 – A Conversation With Shea Serrano / Free 5 p.m. in the Student Union Retama 2.02.02 New York Times best-selling author and San Antonian speaks about his journey through pop culture writing.

By Ebony Purks Staff Writer Angry black girl, Big word- small world.

Try to appear softer, More feminine, more delicate.

Try to appear grateful, Your presence is tolerated.

Smile more, but don’t speak too loud.

Tone it down.

I feel trapped, Confined to trying my best to make everyone around me feel comfortable.

Why do I make you uncomfortable?

I feel paralyzed, Bound to another person’s perception of me.

So, I stay quiet.

Allow you to dictate my livelihood, so I don’t seem too offensive.

Why do I offend you?

I feel absent, Missing a part of myself to conform into a being I don’t recognize.

Trying desperately to appear smaller to reduce the fear ofThe angry black girl.

But, why am I angry?

Is it because my presence ignites an insecurity deep within you?

That Combined with my dark skin, wide nose, and kinky hair, Large lips and thick hips, Makes you scared?

My existence will no longer be reduced to coddling your insecure spiritI don’t want to hear it.

You can keep your stereotype that feeds your empty mind Because I’m full.

Full of esteem, full of power, full of life.

Angry black girl, Big world- small word.

Fe b ru a r y 1 1 – Febru ar y 18, 2020

sports@paisano-online.com | 7

Sports

Bryan Sturges bats for the Roadrunners. The ‘Runners will open their season on Valentine’s Day at the Roadrunner Field. Photo by Ethan Gullett

Baseball set to open series against Quinnipiac Head Coach Pat Hallmark speaks on his new team

F

By Julia Maenius and Ryan Garza

or the first time since 2013, the UTSA Roadrunners will have a new skipper at the helm as former head baseball coach Jason Marshall resigned in May 2019. The man tasked with replacing Marshall is former University of the Incarnate Word Cardinals head baseball coach Pat Hallmark, who was lured away from his previous job after he won the 2019 Southland Conference Coach of the Year and helped with back-to-back record-breaking seasons in his first two years as head coach.

“There is a lot of potential,” Hallmark said. “There is good raw materials to

build a championship from.”

The ‘Runners will get two of their best hitters back from last season, with senior infielder Griffin Paxton and senior catcher Nick Thornquist both looking to be centerpieces for the ‘Runners’ offense.

Thornquist was recently named to the Conference USA Preseason Team for the upcoming season after averaging .315 at the plate and racking up 37 RBIs with six home runs last season.

“I got here somewhat familiar with UTSA and the history of the baseball program because I was in the same conference as them when I coached at Rice whenever they joined Conference USA, so I had a pretty good feel about what

the teams were like and their strengths and weaknesses,” Hallmark said. “I think pitching over the years has been where they need to make the most improvements, and I still agree that this is where we can make the most improvement.”

The ‘Runners appear to have their ace lined up for the season. Senior righthanded pitcher Slater Foust is set to return to the lineup this spring. Foust had a 2.96 ERA last season and was able to compile an 8-2 record last season in 16 appearances.

“The plan is to win a bunch of games, but specifically, the plan is to continue to evolve and get better every day,” Hallmark said. “That sounds a bit like coach

talk, but that is true. Many times a cliché is based in fact and true.”

Look for a mix of old and new players with the ‘Runners this coming season, as Hallmark has had success in the past with immediate impact freshman by coaching a pair of freshman All-American selections, as well as a 2018 Southland Conference Freshman of the Year award.

“We hope to be in the top three teams in the conference in ERA, fewest walks allowed and WHIP, which is walks and hits per innings pitched,” Hallmark said.

“We hope to carry on some of the strong offensive production we have had in the past.”

Softball picks up three Women’s basketball looks to end losing streak wins in Louisiana

Charlene Mass dribbles around the Old Dominion defense. The Roadrunners lost both games of the weekend. Photo by Ethan Gullett Marena Estell pitches the ball during warm-ups. The softball team began their 2020 season on the road in Louisiana. Photo by Ethan Gullett

By Ryan Garza Sports Editor

The UTSA Roadrunner softball team (3-2) opened their 2020 season by traveling to Lafayette, Louisiana, to take part in their first two tournaments of the season.

The ‘Runners hit the road to compete in the 34th annual Louisiana Classics and picked up wins against the Ball State University Cardinals, 5-4, and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions, 9-0. They lost two games to the number eight nationally-ranked University of Louisiana at Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns, 1-19.

In their final game of the weekend, the ‘Runners completed their slate of games, traveling to Lake Charles to play one game in the Cowgirl Classic, where they hit four home runs in a 9-5 victory over the Prairie View A&M University Panthers.

Riley Grunberg currently leads the

team in batting average with a .417 hitting percentage. Madison Washington is next on the team with an average of .385, and numerous other ‘Runners are tied with an average of .333.

Makenzie Carpenter has pitched the most innings for the ‘Runners and has an earned run average of 4.76. Madison Nelson leads the team with an earned run average of 1.59 and 5.2 innings pitched.

Tori Villarreal leads the team in fielding percentage and putouts with 34 this season.

The ‘Runners will host their first home game of the season when the Houston Baptist University Huskies come to Roadrunner Field on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m.

The ‘Runners will be on the road again when they head up I-35 to take part in the Bobcat Classic hosted by Texas State University, which will last from Feb. 13-Feb. 16. The Wichita State University Shockers, Saint Louis Billikens and Texas State Bobcats will all be participating in the tournament.

By Dalton Hartmann Staff Writer UTSA women’s basketball (6-16, 2-9 C-USA) went 0-2 during their home stand, with a loss against Old Dominion Monarchs (20-3, 10-1 C-USA) 62-43 on Feb. 6, and to the Charlotte 49ers (15-7, 6-5 C-USA) 67-47 on Feb. 8.

The ‘Runners took on the Monarchs who came into the game ranked second seed in Conference USA (C-USA). The ‘Runners had a great first quarter, only trailing the Monarchs by three, but in the second, the ‘Runners were outscored by seven and were never able to catch up.

During the game against the sixth seed, the 49ers came in ranked as the sixth team in the conference. The ‘Runners were outscored in the first quarter ,22-9, and even with a comeback in the second quarter, they could not catch up.

It was their eighth loss in a row.

The ‘Runners will be playing against the Marshall Thundering Herd (9-13, 4-7 C-USA) at the Cam Henderson Center on Feb. 13, in which the ‘Runners will try to snap their eight-game

losing streak. The Thundering Herd is sitting at the eighth seed after suffering a loss to LA Tech. The Herd has three players who are averaging double-digit points per game and are being led by Savannah Wheeler, who is averaging 13.5 points per game. Marshall is very similar to UTSA in their offensive scoring options, but the Thundering Herd has the ninth highest scoring defense in C-USA compared to UTSA’s 14th place.

The ‘Runners’ second road game will take place at the Diddle Arena when they take on the Western Kentucky Lady Toppers (16-6, 8-3 C-USA). The Lady Toppers are the third seed and are on a six-game winning streak. The Lady Toppers will be looking to extend their lead through their defensive rebounding. They rank second in the conference UTSA ranks last in 14th place. The Lady Toppers, like the ‘Runners, have three members in the double-digits for scoring. However, the Lady Toppers’ very own Raneem Elgedawy is averaging not only 17.1 points per game but also 10.4 rebounds.

F e bru ar y 11 – F e bru ar y 18, 2020

8 | sports@paisano-online.com

Timea Toth shoots a free throw after being fouled. The Roadrunners dropped this game to the Monarchs, 43-62. Photo by Ethan Gullett

Athlete of the Week: Timea Toth playing on club teams and made her way to the college level after UTSA’s scouts visited her in Hungary.

“I really liked the coaches,” Toth said.

Senior forward Timea Toth, originally “They were really nice to me, and the way from Dunakeszi, Hungary, has been a they talked made me feel like they really consistent presence on UTSA’s women’s wanted me to be here.” basketball team for four seasons. Standing Illinois and Memphis were also inat 6-foot-1, she provides a great defensive volved in Toth’s recruitment process, but effort for the team, consistently blocking she chose UTSA because of how comfortshots and stealing the ball from oppoable she felt with the school and program. nents.

Toth does not have any specific pregame Toth started playing basketball in Eurituals, but she enjoys encouraging her rope at the age of 10. She began her career teammates while simply having fun in the

By Max Aguirre Staff Writer

game she plays. Her favorite moment of her UTSA career was a game from last year.

“I remember we had a game against San Diego, and they were a really good team,” Toth said. “We came back and we won the game. It was awesome.”

When asked about what the best part of playing for UTSA has been, she said, “It’s my team for sure. Here, they are my family. I just love these girls. I love spending time with them and playing with them on the court.”

Toth has leaned into a leadership role

and tries to be there as much as she can for her teammates.

“I feel like we have a lot of freshman, and because we have a great relationship with them, they look up to us and feel free to come to us for help,” Toth said.

Since Toth’s life has been dedicated to basketball, she has had the opportunity to learn from the sport and grow.

“It’s taught me to grow for sure, especially to know that I have to manage my time and focus and know what my number one priority is,” Toth said.

Men’s tennis gets first win, women lose at Arlington

By Kennedy Caskey Staff Writer This past weekend, the men’s and women’s tennis teams competed against Louisiana and UT Arlington.

Men’s tennis earned their first win of the season, 5-2, with an impressive 6-3 doubles win from freshmen pair Joao Alcantra and Sebastian Rodriguez and a 7-5 victory from Kai Breitbach and Javier Gonzalez. The Roadrunners posted wins in singles as well, lead by Breitbach (6-1, 5-7), Rodriguez, (6-7, 6-0, 6-3) and senior Juri Reckow (6-2, 4-6, 6-4).

“We put a lot of hard work in the last two weeks, and it paid off,” men’s tennis head coach Sergey Avdeyev said of the first win of his tenure as coach.

“We need to recover and hit the practice courts again because we still have things to improve. We are looking forward to next week and playing our first match at home.”

Facing tough opponents in UT Arlington, the women’s team fell short, 2-5.

The ‘Runners struggled in doubles, with pair Kylee Kato and Catalina Cabrique losing 2-6 to UT Arlington duo Takeuchi and Amikova, while Sophie Omoworare and Diya Menon lost to UTA opponents Almudena and Pons, 1-6. Sophomore Jasmin Starr and freshman Keegan McCain highlighted doubles for the ‘Runners when they swept pair Chileno and Horiguchi, 6-0. In singles, Starr came out strong, 6-4, 6-3, against Akimova. Following Starr’s victory, senior Kato fought hard in her match, losing the first set, 3-6.

Coming back from her setback in the first set, Kato won her second set, 6-4, and finished out the match strong with a win against Takeuchi, 6-2.

The men’s tennis team will be back in action on Sat, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. when they host Laredo Community College.

The women’s tennis team will host Sam Houston State on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m.

Alan Sanson returns a serve during a match. The Roadrunners won their matches against the University of Texas at Arlington and the university of Lousisiana at Lafayette. Photo by Ethan Gullett

Quick Hits Track & Field Bashiru Abdullahi and Grant Szalek gain first place finishes at the Charlie Thomas Invitational at Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium.

Football

02.29.20

Head coach Jeff Traylor announced eight signees on National Signing Day, bringing his total to 17 members in the 2020 class.

Men’s Basketball The Roadrunners defeated the Monarchs of Old Dominion University in overtime and fell to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte 49ers on the road.

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

Women’s Golf After one day of play at the Texas State Invitational, Hannah Holzmann is in third place while the ‘Runners sit at third.

Quidditch The Roadrunners win 6-0 and claim the Southwest Region Championship.