02.26.19

Page 1

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

Found in translation

Softball dominates Cardinal Classic

Vol. 59, Issue 7

Est. 1981

February 26 - March 5, 2019

The Paisano

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

/ThePaisano

@ThePaisano

@PaisanoMedia

www.Paisano-Online.com

University seeks to increase on-campus housing By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor UTSA Housing and Residence Life (HRL) has initiated a pilot double-bedroom program this semester to determine if there is a demand for alternative living and price point. According to Dan Gockley, executive director of UTSA HRL, on-campus housing could house 192 additional residents with this program. “We have the ability to convert 192 spaces into doubles instead of singles,” Gockley said. “The doubles are offered at a substantially reduced rate.” This program is part of a new student housing plan the university announced in the Fall 2018 semester. The plan includes two resident halls on the Main Campus: the Guadalupe Hall, which will be a freshman residence hall, and Residential Honors College; Roadrunner Village, which can house faculty, staff and upper-class students; and Cattleman’s Square Residential Tower, a new housing option on the Downtown Campus. “This is an exciting time for UTSA with growth and expansion anticipated across many areas of the university. The housing initiatives are important aspects of that growth and are intended to enhance, activate and support the student experi-

ence at UTSA,” Gockley said. “Individually, each project will provide an excellent on-campus housing experience that will support student success.” Students who live in oncampus housing have access to amenities such as pools, outdoor gaming areas, parking and transportation services. Amenities for each new housing project aims to support the university’s goal of improving student retention and success. “Research indicates that students living on campus have higher retention and graduation rates than students living off campus,” Gockley said. “Expanding on-campus housing options will help improve student retention and success.” According to Kevin Price, UTSA senior associate vice president for student affairs, the new freshman residence hall aims to help the university obtain its student retention and success goal. “The new freshman residence hall will feature programming and initiatives focused on student success with a goal to foster retention,” Price said. Sean Kelly, dean of the UTSA Honors College, is excited about the Residential Honors College, which is still in the early planning stages. “We are currently in the programming phase and have

UTSA plans to increase on-campus housing.

been considering eateries, classrooms, rehearsal spaces, offices, counseling centers and entertainment venues,” Kelly said. “What we know, however, is that this will be an interactive, vibrant live-learn community that truly

Jack Myer/The Paisano

allows for the small-college experience within the UTSA Honors College.” Housing contracts are currently available for the next academic year and the priority deadline for new applicants for double

occupancy rooms is March 15. For more information on double occupancy rooms or on-campus housing, contact HRL at 210458-6834 or through email at studenthousing@utsa.edu.

Researchers observe stress-induced plants By Ryan Houston-Dial Staff

John Bartkowski, lead researcher, in his study.

Photo Courtesy of UTSA

Study explores the effects of religion on child development By Julia Maenius Staff John Bartkowski, a UTSA professor of sociology, conducted a study on the effects of religion on the development of young children. “I study cultural influences on personal and community well-being, including religion, life course development and health as well as faith-

based organizations efforts said. “Where life chances at reversing social disadare concerned, religion vantage,” Bartkowski said. often helps but sometimes Through studying hurts.” the data from the Early Bartkowski’s team conChildhood Longitudinal sisted of UTSA students Study (ECLS) Kindergarseeking to improve their ten Cohort, Bartkowski professional opportunities. and his team concluded “I’m thrilled and fortuthat faith commonly has nate to work with capable a pronounced impact on students,” Bartkowski people’s lives. Continued on page 2 “Often, the impact [of See “Students study the religion] is positive, but impact of faith on thirdthere are at times mixed graders” results,” Bartkowski

Jurgen Engelberth, associate professor in the department of biology and several undergraduate students studied the effect of stress in plants. Undergraduate students studied plants at different developmental stages and interpreted the data and drew conclusions. According to Engelberth green leaf volatiles,

also known as GLV compounds, were found to prime responses to a multitude of threats. GLV compounds protect plants when attacked and warn nearby plants of the threat. Priming is“A process in which an organism is better prepared to [face] a threat and will respond faster or stronger should it actually be attacked,” Engelberth said. He explained the goal of the study was to determine if GLV prim-

Students study a defense mechanism in plants.

ing comes at a cost to the plants when a herbivorous insect attacks. Researchers treated corn seedling with GLV and measured the effect of treatment in plant growth. “We simulated herbivory to specifically activate defense mechanisms and to study the priming effects of green leaf volaContinued on page 2 See “Professor studies green leaf volatiles”

Jack Myer/The Paisano


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