09.24.19

Page 1

5 | Arts & Life

7 | Sports

The change we wish to see

Vol. 60, Issue 5

Blue Raiders outlast the Roadrunners

Est. 1981

September 24 - October 1, 2019

The Paisano

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

/ThePaisano

@PaisanoMedia

@ThePaisano

www.Paisano-Online.com

Graphic by Lindsey Thomas

By Heather Montoya Co-News Editor UTSA is the first college in the nation to implement a zero-tolerance policy for sexual assault and misconduct for athletes. On Sept. 17, UTSA announced the implementation of the Tracy Rule, a policy now in effect that attaches a student-athlete’s eligibility to their behavior. “I think it speaks volumes for having a president who supports this, obviously me, being the vice president for intercollegiate athletics, to support this,” Lisa Campos, UTSA athletic director, said.

According to the Tracy Rule, students may not participate in practices or competitions at UTSA if the athlete has pleaded guilty, no contest or been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor related to Serious Misconduct. “‘Serious Misconduct’ is defined as any act of incest, rape, sexual assault, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, sexual exploitation, hate crime, murder, manslaughter, aggravated assault, any assault that employs the use of a deadly weapon or causes serious bodily injury,” the rule states. Student-athletes will also be

ineligible to practice or play if behaviors are discovered related to Serious Misconduct. Additionally, the Tracy Rule prohibits students from receiving athleticrelated financial aid. The Tracy Rule is named after Brenda Tracy, a sexual assault survivor and founder of a national campaign and nonprofit called #SetTheExpectation, who visited UTSA this past year to share her story and discuss sexual assault and misconduct prevention. Tracy met with UTSA athletes, coaches and athletic staff as well as Greek Life, students, faculty and staff. Many members from the UTSA community signed the

#SetTheExpectation pledge that recognizes sexual assault and physical violence as unacceptable. “Every campus in this country has a problem with sexual assault and interpersonal violence,” Tracy said. “I’m very proud of the UTSA Athletics department for taking a stand on these issues and doing their part to make the campus community safer. I hope the NCAA and other schools will follow their lead.” This policy does not require the university to perform formal background checks, but potential student-athletes have to fill out

the UTSA Minimum Expectations for Due Diligence Inquiries questionnaire. This asks students seven questions regarding Serious Misconduct. Transfer student-athletes are required to fill out a form that addresses the same components. Their form also requires a signature from their previous institutions’ Title IX Office to verify whether the student was a respondent and, if so, whether they were found responsible. “For those that perhaps lie Continued on page 2 See “Athletic eligibility attached to serious misconduct”

Student government approves remaining $32, 423 budget By Joseph Torres Co-News Editor Students hold signs in protest to student government budget.

Robyn Castro/The Paisano

Student organizations protest student government spending

By Breahna Luera Assistant News Editor Texas Rising and #ChangeRapeCulture united to work alongside student protestors at the Student Government Association (SGA) general assembly meeting on Sept. 19. During the open forum segment of the meeting, students have the opportunity to voice their concerns with a two-minute time limit. Multiple speakers participated in this open forum, and SGA members granted time extensions to speakers until they finished speaking. One of the main concerns students had was a lack of communication between SGA and the student body. Other concerns included services that UTSA students view essential around campus, inefficient notifications about SGA elections, a lack of

fresh produce in the Roadrunner Pantry and a request to defund SGA due to their decision to spend $14,000 of the overall SGA budget on a leadership summit. SGA president, Jack Rust, responded to the students with promises to recognize the flaws in SGA and to make improvements. “If we’re a student organiza-

tion whose mission statement says that we’re the sole voice of the student body yet, this many individuals are coming for open forum completely contrasting what we say we’re doing, then we’re obviously not that and that’s a false statement,” Rust said. “We’re an imperfect organization that’s trying to get better and we need you guys here in order to do so.”

Student government senators address concerns.

Rudy Sanchez/The Paisano

The 2019-2020 budget for UTSA’s Student Government Association (SGA) was approved during the 8th Session of the 44th General Assembly. The budget is funded via Student Services Fee S001 which mandates students to pay $16.18 per semester credit hour with a maximum charge of $194.16 per semester. “The Student Services Fee is allocated by a committee comprised mostly of students and is dependent on student enrollment numbers. SGA currently receives less than one-half of one percent of the Student Services Fee,” LT Robinson, UTSA senior vice provost of student affairs and dean of students, said. “SGA approves an operating budget each year that includes an evaluation of its functions and costs and how to allocate resources to them.” Student Body Treasurer Joshua Rebel presented SGA’s full annual budget of $47,183. $22,550 has already been spent across three line items: $3,200 for Committee Programming’s rain garden; $10,850 for SGA’s Leadership Summit meals and lodging and $8,500 for executive stipends. The proposed budget also includes $24,633 in leftover funds assigned to the following line items: $1,000 for Public Rela-

tions; $3,060.10 for Director and Committee Programming; $3,080 for the SGA Leadership Summit; $2,108 for Homecoming; $880 for Hail and Farewell; $3,000 for Member Resources; $2,000 for Office Operations; $1,500 for Composites; $830 for the Judicial Branch and $1,000 for president funds. The proposal left $6,174.90 unallocated. After the presentation, Kaitlyn Law, executive assistant, motioned to move $6,000 of the unallocated funds into a University Life Awards (ULA) line item under Director Programming. “Just to give insight into why we’re moving $6,000 into the ULA line item: Dean of Students LT Robinson has asked, and since we are for the students, and we do provide things for the students, that we pay for what the students actually receive from the ULA,” Law said. “The $6,000 will cover the cost of food for the ULA banquet and the cost of all awards for the ULA banquet. It is half of the money that we would typically spend on ULAs.” Gage Martin, sophomore senator, seconded the motion, which then moved the topic into discussion. Taylor Edwards, College of Liberal and Fine Arts senator, took a stance against the motion. “I am against this because I Continued on page 2 See “Budget deliberation concludes”


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