Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio
10.26.2010 Vol. 44 Issue 10
The
Paisano
Celebrating Thirty Years of Independent News with a Brand New Design
25 percent of
human trafficking occurs in Texas
Weekly Beak
Free concert After Dark
Daniel Herrera
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net
After Dark, a one-night event of the year will make its first visit to UTSA. Jon McLaughlin, Island Records recording artist will perform in concert 8 p.m., Oct. 26 in the grand ballroom. Joe White, public speaker and former Texas A&M coach, will discuss the topic: “Is Jesus relevant today?” UTSA head football coach, Larry Coker will share his story with students. For the past 10 years, After Dark has toured over 170 college campuses nationwide. For more information visit, www.whatsafterdark.com.
University Oaks will be sponsoring Impact Hunger, a charity food drive event on Oct. 26. Participants will join RAs from University Oaks in a walk spanning The Avalon, The Outpost and The Reserve apartment complexes in an effort to raise a goal of 1,500 pounds worth of food to be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank for the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday. The program is headed by Anna Boyer, the Residence Life Coordinator for the apartments, and will be continued until this coming Thanksgiving holiday.
Alamodome San Antonio City Council approved a contract allowing UTSA to play its home football games in the Alamodome during its first five seasons. The contract ensures the Roadrunners will host contests in the 65,000 seat facility beginning with its inaugural season in 2011 and extending through 2015. The contract also includes a provision for two one-year renewal options. Under the contract, UTSA will receive revenue primarily from tickets, merchandise, sponsorships and program sales. The City will be reimbursed for its expenses and will retain all concession and parking revenue. UTSA will receive all revenue from 40 of the Alamodome’s 52 suites. The City and UTSA will split revenue from 10 suites and the City will retain two suites for internal use. Sources: UTSA Today. University Oaks and RA Amy Broomfield, Jennifer Cisneros
Photo illustration: Burk Frey
University Oaks
Among the most profitable industries listed in the Invest in Texas brochure, one particularly lucrative business is omitted: human trafficking. Human trafficking is the illegal trade of human beings with commercial purposes such as sexual exploitation and forced labor. With revenues estimated by the United Nations near $32 billion, it is the second largest criminal activity in the world after drug trafficking. Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte hosted a panel discussion at the UTSA Downtown Campus, including police officers, attorneys, human rights experts and social workers. They discussed ways to enhance the fight against this type of organized crime. The U.S. has become a pivotal point in the transportation and destination of the victims of human trafficking. Around 25 percent of all victims are brought and held here, deep in the heart of Texas. The I-10 corridor is considered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to be one of the main places in the nation where cases of human trafficking occur. “People don’t want to believe See TRAFFICKING, Page 2
Girls are sold for sex in Texas and other states every night.
Local food market makes university question campus food Allison Tinn
paisanonews@sbcglobal.net In The Shops at La Cantera,near the beginning of October, a Chinese restaurant was shut down for failing a health inspection. The restaurant had the option of cleaning the restaurant and going through another inspection, but chose to close. When KSAT 12 visited the food court with the “Behind the Kitchen Door” camera crew, they found Charley’s Grilled Subs and the aforementioned Chinese Restaurant failed the inspection. Lester, the supervisor of Charley’s, said, “I worked 27 hours straight to clean it up, but they [Chinese restaurant] just shut down completely.” “The restaurant’s ice machine was broken, the floors are still dirty, and the counters are stained.”
To pass an inspection, restaurants are enforced to follow and keep up with health guidelines required by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District. One requirement that must be met is proper cooling for cooked/prepared foods (cold 45 degrees Fahrenheit and hot 135 degrees Fahrenheit) and rapid reheating at 165 degrees Fahrenheit in two hours. Each restaurant must also have a designated hand washing area and be clear of any rodents. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District inspects the food court every few weeks. “We don’t know when, but we get inspections and audits every few weeks at random” said a Sonic employee. Aramark supplies the students, staff and faculty of UTSA with food. As a part of their safety commitment, which is accessible from their online website,
Aramark promises to “comply with food and workplace safety regulations, to ensure that our purchasing through authorized suppliers, as well as our handling, cooking, service and storage practices, contribute to the safety of the food that we prepare and serve, and to strive to continuously improve our food and occupational safety performance.” Graduate students Sofia Morutes and Ashley Skrobarak both agreed that the “cleanliness is not so great, but they have a lot of dining options.” “I have noticed birds flying around in the cafeteria,” Skrobarak said. Morutes would “like to see more plug outlets for students who are eating and studying at the same time.” While some think that the cafeteria could be improved, other students such as senior psychology major Gabriella
Soccer
P8
Reynosa said, “ I haven’t had any problems; it’s pretty decent in there.” “I like the new island bar that was just put up, you can make your own fruit cups and parfaits there.” Transfer student Mackenzie Watson said, “I have noticed [the food on campus] is very accessible, so when I get out of class late I can still get food if I needed to.” With a campus as diverse as UTSA, the food court must have a wide variety of selections. Senior biology major, Courtney De La Rosa, is pleased with the choice selection. “The food is decent. I have only eaten there a couple of times only because its always so packed but they have a lot of choices and pretty much have something for everyone,” De La Rosa said.
P6
wins!
P9
P6
Franky Stein
paisano-online.com
No sweatshop clothes