Paisano Volume 48 Issue 16 8-23-13

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The Block brings entertainment and food to area page 7

UTSA basketball sees coaching changes page 13

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Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

{SINCE 1981}

UTSA UTSA officer Sgt. Hector Barrera died Tuesday August 21 following a fatal motorcycle accident.

Volume 48

Issue 16

Alive

M

San Antonio

August 23, 2013

{WWW.PAISANO-ONLINE.COM}

king it out

LOCAL

Roadrunners give advice on surviving college

Bexar County persists with poor outdoor conditions, issuing air quality alerts, a burn ban and stage three

Sarah Gibbens News Editor

news@paisano-online.com

water restrictions.

Texas Paul Foster, the executive chairman of Western Refining Inc. was recently elected the chairment of the UT Board of Regents.

Chelsea Manning has been sentenced to 35 years for illegally providing WikiLeaks with thousands of confidential U.S. documents, and seeks to begin a sex change in prison.

World Mario Armando Ramirez Trevino, a high ranking member of Mexico’s Gulf Cartel, was captured near the border on August 18.

Sports August 30, UTSA soccer will be hosting the UTSA Classic tournament featuring Lamar, Sam Houston State and South Dakota State Universities

Rafael Gutierrez / The Paisano

Bloodshed plagues Egyptian citizens WORLD Mohamed Ahmed Contributing Writer

news@paisano-online.com On June 30, hundreds of thousands of Egyptians took to the streets to demand the ousting of the democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi. Middle-class Egyptians had grown frustrated over the government’s failed effort to solve Egypt’s impending social and economic problems.

The country has seen political instability since the ouster of longtime dictator Mohamed Hosni Mubarak in February 2011. Morsi took office on June 30, 2012 after a transition period lasting for a year.

The protest was called on by a group known as “Tamarod,” or “Rebel.” This grassroots movement gathered 22 million signatures calling for Morsi’s resignation. The leaflets stated “Tamarod Campaign: Vote of No Confidence in Mohamed Morsi el ‘Ayat: Because public safety has yet to return, we do not want you…. Because the economy fell, we do not want you.”

The signatures were seen as a large enough mandate to force Morsi to step down. He won the 2012 election by a margin of 3.2 percent, or approximately 700,000 people, with an electorate of 40 million.

“We went out because we can’t handle it anymore,” said Ahmed El Mohamady, 21, who was one of the millions who signed the “Rebel” petition.

“There’s no gas, no electricity,

Courtesy of Mohamed Saeed

U.S.

Ordinance sparks LGBTQ controversy

Thousands of Egyptian citizens flock to the streets to protest the control of former President Mohamed Morsi.

no money. (Morsi) has gone back on every promise he made before he was elected. He has to go.”

It was evident that Morsi and his government had done nothing to end any of the Mubarakera human rights abuses or to reform the interior ministry and its brutal, repressive and corrupt police force.

The economy suffered, too, as inflation and unemployment reached record highs.

The country’s tourism industry, which once accounted for 11 percent of GDP, suffered tremendously, as political unrest chased away tourists and investors. Foreign reserves had

dwindled to near inexistence.

The staggering economy affected all walks of life among Egyptian society, as the country saw major power cuts, which lasted up to 12 hours.

There were also major diesel and gasoline shortages, forcing commuters to queue for hours.

Basic foodstuffs such as bread, sugar and rice were at their highest prices in history.

The Brotherhood’s rhetoric was becoming increasingly one-sided, frequently alienating any critics– even parties with similar ideologies. The Brotherhood also used religion as a means for political gain. Oftentimes, Brotherhood members

would question the faith of those who opposed the government.

On July 1, Colonel General Abdelfattah el Sisi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), gave a speech in which he laid out a 48-hour ultimatum: the president must either resign or “face the consequences.” He added that the country would be protected from “thugs, liars and terrorists.”

Forty-eight hours later, the government was overthrown via coup d’état, and hundreds of political figures were arrested. These included leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood MoSee THE FIGHT, Page 4

On Aug. 14 San Antonio City Council held a hearing to discuss the passage of the proposed Nondiscrimination Ordinance (NDO). The NDO would protect members of the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning) community from being fired on the basis of their sexual preference and orientation.

Currently, workers suspected of identifying as anything other than heterosexual can legally be fired if their employer chooses to do so. The NDO would change wording in section 2.552 of a previous bill to remove an employer’s ability to fire an employee who is suspected of being a member of the LGBTQ community.

The Aug. 14 hearing allowed citizens to argue for or against the ordinance, give testimonies of their personal experience in the workforce and state why they believed the ordinance should or should not pass.

Due to a previously scheduled funeral of a fallen officer, only five of the nine voting members of City Council attended including: Diego Bernal, Ron Nirenberg, Elisa Chan, Shirley Gonzales and Ray Saldaña.

Ron Nirenberg, who represents UTSA’s main campus in District 8, gave his stance on the ordinance. “We have crafted a law that respects the spirit (of non-discrimination)... and civil liberties.”

When asked what the average citizen can expect as effects of this ordinance, Nirenberg stated that most people, “won’t even notice this law has gone into effect,” as it is simply, “working to refine language to remove section 2.552.”

Nirenberg believes students, “should be concerned,” about whether or not the bill passes because they have, “much longer to live with the consequences.”

Councilwoman Elisa Chan faced controversy after a member of her staff recorded a conversation in which she admitted that she finds homosexual behavior “disgusting just to even think about.”

“I don’t think homosexual people should do adoption,” stated Chan. “It is actually, what you call suggestive, for the kids to be corrupt, which is against nature. I’m telling you, anything that is against nature is not right,” admitted the councilwoman.

Days following the recording, Chan held a press conference to defend her statements.

See EQUALITY, Page 3

2

ADVERTISMENT

NEWS

3 Fall 2013

A conversation with Dr. Romo UTSA President discusses methods to building a better campus

CAMPUS Sarah Gibbens News Editor

While some believe a licensed gun holder can stop a shooter, UTSA President Ricardo Romo disagrees. He believes only a very experienced gun holder can stop a shooter without furthering damage — experience that many students do not have.

“It’s not The Lone Ranger coming to the rescue,” argued Romo.

Many students and faculty, he believes, mirror his sentiments, and it is only a small few who desire to carry a gun to school.

When asked explicitly how he felt about concealed guns being allowed on campus, Romo responded by saying, “I’m totally opposed to it.”

This question was asked of Romo by editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune, Evan Smith, in light of last year’s legislative push to allow guns on campus.

On Aug. 19, UTSA and the Texas Tribune co-hosted a mental health symposium in the Business Building of UTSA’s main campus to address issues commonly faced by people with mental illnesses and to open a dialogue for solutions.

While the event featured mental health experts, state legislators and members of academia to speak on their areas of expertise, the most anticipated UTSA Ad_5.75x10.125.pdf conversation was the featured 1

Sarah Gibbens/ The Paisano

news@paisano-online.com

$220 million in financial aid every year. When asked if this was enough, Romo responded, “We always need more.”

More than 70 percent of UTSA students require some type of financial aid; however, UTSA is able to help only between 40 and 50 percent of students.

UTSA is also a highly diverse campus, another attraction for many students. This fall, 51 percent of UTSA students are Hispanic, reflecting the demographics of San Antonio which is itself 60 percent Hispanic.

“We’re very proud of our diversity,” stated Romo.

Smith believes UTSA and San Antonio are modeling the demographic changes that may soon be statewide, saying, “San Antonio was majority Latino before majority Latino was cool”.

One struggle UTSA is facing is the extremely low four-

Evan Smith, editor-in-chief of the Texas Tribune, interviews UTSA President Ricardo Romo about the state of education at UTSA and in Texas.

interview with Dr. Romo.

The conversation also addressed the condition of higher education, and the challenges UTSA faces.

Romo attributed the growth of UTSA in part to the growing demographics in Texas. With a population about to reach 27 million, Texas is one of the fastest growing states in the nation.

In 2000, 70 percent of UTSA students came from within Bexar County; today 70 percent of students will be mov1/30/13 AM ing to San9:12 Antonio from other

regions of the state, particularly the Houston area.

As admission to schools such as UT-Austin is becoming increasingly difficult, UTSA is becoming a more accessible option. Romo compared UTSA to schools in California noting that, while UC Berkeley had once been the most highly regarded school, its sister schools (UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Irvine) have now become well respected in their own right.

Smith then asked Romo what it was about UTSA specifically

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that allowed it to see so much growth compared to other UT affiliates.

Romo stated that having “a great faculty and recruiting great students,” are essential to improving a university’s reputation. He noted that, just this fall, UTSA recruited 60 new professors.

Romo also believes that word of mouth about successful UTSA graduates will draw people to campus.

One way UTSA attracts students is by awarding more than

year graduation rate of 14 percent, which Romo believes is an inaccurate representation of student success. He instead chooses to focus on the more than 5,000 degrees awarded every year.

Whether or not students came to college prepared was another difficult question.

While most students come to college with the necessary skill set, Romo believes that those who need remediation have suffered from a lack of funding to Texas public schools. “Every time we have a budget crisis, we find a way to hurt these schools,” stated Romo.

“Every time we have a budget crisis, we find a way to hurt these schools.”

Dr. Ricardo Romo UTSA President

When asked why Tier One status was such an emphasized goal at UTSA, Romo explained that it will make funding more accessible and available for students.

Looking towards the future, Romo hopes to continue student success by obtaining membership to the National Academy (an esteemed artist association), creating Rhodes Scholars and recruiting faculty from prestigious universities.

NEWS

4

EQUALITY IN THE WORKPLACE:

Citizens riot and protest in Egyptian streets

LGBTQ citizens call for end to discrimination

From Page 1

hamed Badi, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, Khairat el Shater, Prime Minister Hisham Qandeel and the president himself, whose whereabouts are still unknown.

Also arrested were presenters of private television stations owned or affiliated with the Brotherhood or their political wing. Egypt’s constitutional court chief justice, Adly Mansour, now heads the country as interim president.

On July 4, after the extremely popular overthrow, clashes between anti-coupe and antiMorsi mobs ensued, causing at least 100 deaths.

Days later, a bomb exploded in the city of Mansura, killing one policeman and injuring 19 other officers. No organization claimed responsibility for the attack. On July 24, General Sisi made a speech in which he called for mass protests against “terrorism.” Estimates vary, but on July 27, thousands of people filled the streets of Egypt’s major cities. The following day, 84 pro-Morsi protesters were killed and 299 injured in Cairo’s Nasser City.

“We didn’t have enough places in the fridges to fit all the bodies,” Dr. Hazem Hossam, an official at Zenhom morgue, told The Guardian newspaper.

The army claimed they were following the people’s demands and, again, claimed they were provoked.

In between these massacres, there were reports of violent clashes between pro- and an-

ti-Morsi protesters across the country. Casualty numbers remain unknown.

On Aug. 11, the Egyptian government vowed to clear the pro-Morsi protest center at Rabia al Adaweya mosque. There was also a massive spike in attacks on Coptic Christians and their churches.

“We then marched onward to the nearest hospital. As we marched, another ten fell dead around me and another thirty were shot.”

Mohamed Saeed

Egyptian protestor From Aug. 11 to August 17, over 35 churches were burned completely. The Brotherhood distanced itself from these acts; however, the camp at Rabia has had an increasingly antagonistic rhetoric against Egypt’s Coptic Christian population.

This has led many Morsi supporters to blame the Christian minority for the coup d’état.

As a gesture of defiance, Brotherhood leaders called for a peaceful “Friday of Defiance” protest on Aug. 15. Thousands again marched to Rabia square,

and other pro-Morsi hubs. The protesters were met with army tanks and armed soldiers.

“As we approached the bridge by the local police station, three armored vehicles arrived. We did nothing to stop them. On top of the bridge army men appeared, all armed.

The men then began firing. In the first minute, ten were dead and most were shot in the head.

I was shot in the shoulder from the same bullet that had just exploded the head of the man in front of me.” explained Mohamed Saeed about the events that occurred at the bloodbath in Ali ibn Abi Talib mosque in Alexandria’s Sammoha district.

“We then marched onward to the nearest hospital. As we marched, another ten fell dead around me and about another thirty were shot. We were then refused treatment by the local hospital. I was then left helpless. ” Saeed is now on the run from the Ministry of the Interior, who is seeking to arrest him for publishing photographs of the massacre.

The Ministry of Health estimated the death toll at 638, and at 3,994 injuries. As a result of the carnage, Vice President and Nobel Laureate Mohamed El Baradei resigned.

The army and police continue their crackdown against Brotherhood protests.

Sarah Gibbens / The Paisano

THE FIGHT FOR POWER:

A San Antonio resident opposing the ordinance testifies to City Council members, urging them to vote against it.

From Page 1

“The comments from the staff meeting were and are my personal opinions and thoughts as guaranteed to me by the first amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It is unfortunate that a former member of my Council team betrayed the trust of my staff members and me,” responded Chan to the controversy.

“I will always fight for our freedom of speech, especially in a private setting.”

UTSA students, as well as San Antonio citizens who identify as LGBTQ in the workplace, could be directly affected by the outcome of the ordinance.

Recognizing the importance of the ordinance, nearly 300 supporters and dissenters went to City Council to ensure their voices were heard.

In keeping with the spirit of Texas civil debates, citizens showed their support with the color of their clothing. Those in favor of the bill wore red, while those opposed donned blue.

Citizens also carried signs

from, “equality now,” and “vote yes,” to “no special rights,” and “this is San Antonio, not San Francisco.”

As blue and red shirts intermingled in the audience, citizens offered their testimonies before the five present City Council members.

One of the most common arguments against the ordinance was that, by allowing members of the LGBTQ community in the workforce, women and children were in danger of sexual harassment or assault when using a women’s restroom.

Others who testified against the ordinance believed that it was a frivolous clarification and that those who identify as LGBTQ were shown special treatment.

Members of the transsexual and transgender community addressed accusations that women and children would be harassed in public restrooms as erroneous.

Comparisons were also made between racial segregation in

the 1950s and present sexual orientation discrimination, using the NDO as the modern civil rights movement.

Matthew Chandler, a UTSA sophomore undeclared major, was prepared to give his testimony at the hearing, stating the NDO was necessary to him. “It ensures that I don’t have to fear that, as a member of the LGBTQ community in the workplace, I would be arbitrarily fired,” stated Chandler.

Jorge Villarreal is a UTSA student and member of MOVE, a San Antonio based non-profit aimed at representing the youth voice.

He believes that Diego Bernal, Mayor Julian Castro, Rey Saldana, Rey Lopez, Ron Nirenberg and Shirley Gonzalez will vote in favor of the ordinance. “... we have the votes. We needed six and that is the number we will have… at least.”

Voting for the NDO will take place on Sept. 5.

ADVERTISMENT

5

The Paisano

6

August 26, 2008

{The Paisano} Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Matthew Duarte

Managing Editor: J. Corey Franco

News Editor: Sarah Gibbens

Arts Editor: Janae Rice

Sports Editor: Mario Nava

Web Editor: Jennifer Alejos

Special Issues Editor: Erin Boren

Business Manager: Jenelle Duff

Senior Copy Editor: Beth Marshall

Senior Photographers: Vicente Cardenas Rafael Gutierrez Lindsay Smith

{Staff Writers} Sheldon Baker, Jackie Calvert, Alex Camacho, Nick Castillo, Christina Coyne, Shelby Hodges, Randy Lopez, Crystal Poenisch, Paulina Rivero-Borrell, Council Royal, Mark Zavala

{Staff Photographers} Alyssa Gonzales

{Contributing Writers} Mohamed Ahmed, Sara Flores, Julian Montez, Jose Quintero, Jasmine Rodriguez, Pete Torres, Renee Rendon, Mary Caithn Scott, Chance McDevitt, Chris Rodriguez, Aaron Zachary, Rico Martinez

{Contributing Photographers} Scott Cochran, Katherine Kish, Craig Garrison {Ads Manager} Kevyn Kirven

{Advisor}

Diane Abdo

{Advisory Board}

Steven Kellman, Mansour El-Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman 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. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed towards:

© The Paisano 14545 Roadrunner Way San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)690-9301

August 23, 2013

Opinion OPINION 5

Come here, live here, stay here

UTSA is welcoming one of its most selective freshman classes this fall, but if history is any indicator, very few of them will be successful here in San Antonio.

That’s not to say that they won’t live up to expectations in the classroom, but rather that most UTSA students fail to integrate themselves into the fabric of the city. Many students go to school in San Antonio, but very few of them “live” in San Antonio.

UTSA’s main campus is at the edge of town, closer to chain restaurants and box stores than the Alamo or the Riverwalk.

There is no Sixth Street to party on, no Theater District for San Antonians to call their own.

But for a school that aspires to be the Tier One university

of South Texas, too few UTSA students take advantage of the off-campus opportunities offered by the 7th largest city in the country.

UTSA students who integrate with the city of San Antonio help themselves, the city and the university.

Downtown is going through a rapid revitalization, and there are countless bars, restaurants and coffee shops that cater to a younger crowd. Any student who spends free time solely around campus is foregoing a fun time.

Of course, college is more about preparing for the workforce than partying, and San Antonio is quickly becoming one of the hottest destinations for young college graduates.

Just a few weeks ago, San Antonio was ranked as the second best city in the country in terms of brain gain, meaning that twenty-something professionals with college degrees are flocking to the city from across the state and from all over the country. But why should companies recruit employees from out of town if the talent can be found here at UTSA? Despite being a big city on the fast track to success, San Antonio has historically lacked a large research university to feed educated professionals into its job market. However — not unlike the city it calls home — UTSA has grown by leaps and bounds in just the last few years by attracting a greater number of more successful students.

If UTSA grads choose to stay here upon graduating, San Antonio will undoubtedly be inundated with talented Roadrunners who can have successful careers at DataPoint or at Rackspace, which was recently named the top web hosting company in the world.

“We can’t recruit our way to greatness,” RackSpace Chairman Graham Weston told Texas CEO Magazine in January.

“We have an educated population, and this is an invitation to all the universities in town to up their game.”

Creating a stronger relationship with San Antonio’s booming economy is vital to any university seeking Tier One status, and especially one that saw its research spending drop more

than four percent from 2011 to 2012. The bridge to Tier One can be crossed only with more research funding, and the best way to accomplish this goal is for UTSA and its students to become an integral cog in the wheel of San Antonio’s business community.

Both UTSA and the city of San Antonio are on the rise, working hard to remove perceptions of inferiority and inadequacy. UTSA students who embrace a relationship with San Antonio — who both go to school and live here — will help not only their university and their city, but will likely be rewarded with greater job opportunities and a better college experience.

and the symbols those universities carry.

With a fraction of the milliondollar GRIP budget, UTSA could also focus on improving campus atmosphere. Giving students a symbol — something to show their friends when they come into town, something to take pictures in front of — could potentially make them feel more connected to the university and less likely to drop out or transfer, thus working in tandem with GRIP. The main campus even has a great location for such a symbol: the new green space on the north side of campus.

The recent completion of the

Bauerle Road garage project cost the university roughly $40 million, according to the UTSA Office of Facilities, $29.8 million for the garage, offices and welcome center.

The other $10.2 million was used for the construction of the Peace Roundabout, main campus entry signs and green space — what is collectively called the Campus Oval.

So few students currently frequent the green space, which is on a far corner of campus and bordered with administrative offices, bus stops and ridiculous $785-per-year garage parking. Since the Campus Oval came at a hefty price, why not give students a good reason to

spend time there? Give students a better, more recognizable place to congregate other than under the Sombrilla by constructing a statue, monument or icon for UTSA students to call their own.

Something that can start a tradition.

Something to make students proud of their campus.

Something that can serve as a strong, unifying symbol of UTSA.

Commentary Something to call our own The UT Tower in A u s t i n ’s skyline is a statewide symbol of UT. Kyle Field at A&M looms in the College Station horizon. At Memorial Circle, a Texas Tech seal signifies the main entry to the Lubbock campus. But what can we say about UTSA? What do we have?

A sporadically working fountain?

A border-crossing statue?

The Sombrilla’s shade?

Last year, UTSA’s budget includ-

ed $4 million for the Graduation Rate Improvement Plan (GRIP), according to the UT System Operating Budget. This cost paid for new faculty to improve class scheduling, programs to improve math and science proficiency for first-year students, scholarship incentives for students graduating within four years and costs associated with the Freshmen Focus Initiative, which was formulated to help students succeed academically.

While these are all important elements to increase student retention rates, UTSA should think even broader. What makes students choose UT or A&M or Texas Tech over UTSA? Perhaps traditions,

Erin Boren Special Issues Editor

A Letter from the Editors Welcome back!

The time has come to begin another semester! As we trek back across campus and up and down its many staircases, let’s hope fall 2013 brings cooler weather very soon.

For those of you just starting your college careers here, welcome!

You’ll soon understand the ins and outs of the university and, while doing so, make sure to take advantage of everything covered by your fees. It’s always good to use the $15 in printing cost you have at the JPL or the free check-ups at Health Services. And at some point, we hope you catch sight of the Sombrilla fountain should it ever start flowing again.

For those returning students — who know where to actually find parking — let’s hope we can continue to raise our GPAs and get those internships that are supposedly the driving force behind our future.

As a collective, though, let’s remember to keep our attitudes positive and our stress-level to a minimum. College is the last chance to have fun, make mistakes and procrastinate before the monotony

of our working lives starts. We’ve heard it again and again, but try to work hard, play hard.

In addition, work and play safe.

We’ve each been given this one opportunity, and while we should always take everything with rowdysized enthusiasm, remember to be responsible.

We are each part of the everchanging generation evolving the social norms around us. With this power, let’s make not only our university campus, but everywhere we go, a better, more pleasant, place for everyone. Especially here at UTSA, we should be proud of our diversity and embrace the lessons we can learn from our differences.

Overall, let’s wish for the best this semester: enjoyable classes, wonderful weather, intriguing research paper topics and, most of all, good memories. Okay, maybe it’s a long shot for the first three, but our lives are in our hands. Let’s make the latter happen — be responsible, be respectful, be rowdy.

Fax: (210)690-3423 E-mail: editor@paisanoonline.com

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ARTS&LIFE

7

{Local Events}

August 23, 2013

Friday, August 23 10 a.m. Exhibit The Witte Museum (3801 Broadway) presents The World Through Magic Lanterns, an extensive collection of magic lanterns from collector Jack Judson. The exhibit takes patrons through the history and evolution of early image projectors used for entertainment, education and research. Admission is $7-$10. Visit wittemuseum. org for more information.

Saturday, August 24 8 p.m. Theater

Janae Rice/The Paisano

The Overtime Theater (1203 Camden) presents a dreamscape of a play, The Screen Dreams of Buster Keaton. Writer and director Rachel Joseph provides a story following a girl who dreams of Buster Keaton, played by Andrew Thorton.

By UTSA, for UTSA: The Block trucks in something different Jackie Calvert

Contributing Writer arts@paisano-online.com “This is like Christmas for us,” Jon Onstead exclaims as he unveils the modern titanium steel of the bar in The Block, the newest food truck park located on Roadrunner Way across from UTSA. One aspect of The Block that should appeal most to students is the fact that it was built by recent UTSA alumnus with thoughts of the students in mind.

“Not only am I alumni, but we have my bar manager, his name is Cole Mayfield. He just graduated this past semester.

So far, out of the staff, five of us are UTSA graduates and students.”

Onstead graduated in 2009 from UTSA with a degree in real estate, finance and business development (RFD). He was of the first class to gradu-

ate in the RFD program. Onstead is originally from Houston, but fell in love with San Antonio when he first arrived and has yet to leave.

“I am so happy I was able to make this happen because now I get to stay here.”

“This isn’t just a place to party; it’s also a place to study or relax before class.”

Jon Onstead Owner

The Block is two years in the making. “One day I was driving to Austin and the idea slapped me on the forehead. I need to put food trucks there,” Onstead explains. The idea has evolved, though, beyond the food truck park concept.

Some of the food trucks featured include Lagniappe Today, Stout’s Pizza and B-Daddy’s BBQ. Not only will The Block feature six to seven different food trucks that will be on rotation daily, but the most inviting aspect is the bar. The modern patio bar paired with the food trucks is a one of a kind idea.

“We use the best materials and lighting. Everything is different here. It’s not cookiecutter; it’s unique.” Wifi will be available for everyone along with electrical outlets scattered around the patio area. “This isn’t just a place to party; it’s also a place to study or relax before class.”

Onstead has taken the time to install lights in both the trees and the wall alongside Roadrunner Way. He has even included cooling misters in the shaded bar area to compete with the Texas heat. The lush,

grassy area is meant as a place for students to lounge, picnic and participate in outdoor games. The concrete area is reserved for seating and there are even plans to construct a stage for live music. Students in the arts are more than welcome to perform as well.

Onstead is particularly proud of his signage out front.

The LED lights shine through the sign in various colors, including the UTSA signature orange and blue. There are plans for movie nights and even screenings of the UTSA football games.

The staff is open to new ideas though. There has been talk of Greek nights, Twenty-one and Up nights and even Sunday Funday with drink specials.

Onstead explains that nothing is irrevocable, and they are looking for any new ideas to be innovative and will keep the students happy.

Although there is an inviting

nightlife at The Block, don’t expect to get away with underage drinking.

“We expect to have a mixture of professionals, family and students for lunch and dinner. From 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., we expect a lot more students.

We will figure out which nights are our busiest and we will be carding at the entrance. Anyone who is twenty-one will get a wristband. That way it takes the load off the bartenders,” Onstead says.

“If we see anyone on the premises drinking without a wristband, they have to go.

We will have a zero-tolerance policy here. UTSA PD have toured the establishment and are working with us so people know we are not going to tolerate any underage drinking.”

Look for the opening date of The Block on Facebook (The Block SA).

Now that I am back in the states, my study abroad experience feels like an almost-forgotten fever dream that stays with me throughout each day.

Time has not stopped for my longing to eventually return to London.

Between class scheduling issues and getting ready to move into a new apartment, I’m up to my neck in double checking and opening myself up to the idea of living alone for the first time.

While I’m not going to use my newfound situation to make music with my pots and pans into the night, I will be met with a sense of new freedom in having a place all to my-

self. Though I am not quite a senior, I feel that this semester is the dawn of my own personal senior-like status.

Although living alone and living with one roommate or more can all be hectic in their own ways, I think it’s important to treat each new task as something to be dealt with head-on.

I, personally, have been known in some circles to concentrate too much on the negative outcome of things, but being out of the country taught me to roll with certain punches life may throw. When things became hard to deal with (for example; London’s heat wave, tiny dorm rooms, ten people to two showers,) I couldn’t simply avoid the

.

Sunday, August 25 12 p.m. Exhibit: Norman Rockwell: Behind the Camera The McNat Art Museum (6000 N. New Braunfels Ave.) hosts an exhibit of Norman Rockwell photographs, some of which Lbecame inspiration for his artwork.

The exhibit runs until September 1. Tickets are $10-$15. For more information, visit mcnayart.org

Monday, August 26 9 a.m. Exhibit: Art in the Garden The San Antonio Botanical Garden (555 Funston) will host art currated by Richard Hunt through March 2014. The Botanical Garden is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit sabot.org.

Monday, August 27 7:30 p.m. Film: Casablanca The San Antonio Botanical Garden presents “Starlight Movies in the Garden.” Tuesdays film, Casablanca will start at 7:30; gates open at 6:30 p.m. Picnic and lawn chairs are permitted.

Some refreshments will be available including beer and wine. For more information, visit sabot.org.

For the week’s full calendar, visit: paisano-online.com

Lindsay Smith / The Paisano

Sara Flores

Contributing Writer arts@paisano-online.com When I signed up to study in London during the summer, I hardly thought of how I would feel upon returning home. Never once did it cross my mind that I would actually miss the place I visited, as traveling has always seemed like a fleeting thing that never lasts longer than a few weeks.

Though I was hit with the homesickness that creeps up on you while you try to sleep, by the end of my trip, London

was a very homey place to be.

The first week away, I was dying to come home and sent many desperate texts to my parents, just on the off chance they could transport me back to Texas.

Once I learned the subway system and made some friends, however, London became an exciting entity for me to explore. The second and third weeks were absolute blurs; rushing back to places we had already been for one final glance, last-minute shopping, five-second eye contact with well-dressed English chaps on the street.

By the end of the third week I

felt that I had been living there as any other citizen and was packing to come home at the end of a semester.

Though the trip was filled with monumental sights and plenty of Shakespeare references, what I find myself missing the most is the intimacy of what the city has to offer. The streets are beyond crowded, but each person has an entirely private world they live in.

The beauty of a city like London is the kinship one can feel with a stranger upon looking at sculptures in museums, as well as the solitude of riding the escalator out of the Underground.

issues but find the small joys in problematic situations.

This mentality can be helpful in any facet of life, but especially when it comes to school. We, as students, learn to deal with many things throughout our time here. We become independent in different ways and must remind ourselves of that.

Whether this semester brings you fresh conditions to chew on or you find yourself dealing with the same stresses you’ve always struggled with as a college student, try to take deep breaths. If London taught me anything, it’s that I can’t control the weather.

8 August 23, 2013

ARTS&LIFE

Blomkamp creates a futuristic sci-fi paradise in Elysium Mark Zavala

Contributing Writer arts@paisano-online.com After his 2009 feature film directorial debut “District 9,” a follow up film (sequel or otherwise) from writer-director Niell Blomkamp was expected.

With the release of “Elysium,” staring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Diego Luna and Sharlto Copley, that expectation was fulfilled, and Blomkamp’s reputation as a filmmaker has been preserved.

Set in the year 2154, the film begins with a look at the fantastical world that is Elysium, a space station floating above a desolate Earth. Earth re-

sembles a war-torn wasteland; the planet’s surface no longer sports the luscious green plains it once did when viewed from space; overpopulated areas cluttered with deteriorating public housing buildings are all the eye can see from the surface. Max Da Costa (Damon), an ex-con in the midst of correcting his life, is exposed to a lethal dose of radiation in a workplace accident. Max is given five days to live with no cure available to him on Earth — the only cure is on Elysium.

Max’s fight to get off the surface of the planet and up to Elysium is violent and his sacrifices are abundant. With the help of an old friend (Luna) and a local revolutionary gang

Courtesy of TriStar Pictures

MOVIE REVIEW

Max Da Costa (Matt Damon) embarks on a mission to save himself and all of mankind.

leader, Max is fitted with an exoskeleton that will help him on his journey. Up on Elysium, an overthrow of power is in the works as well. Secretary of Defense Jessica Delacourt (Foster) schemes to take power out of the hands of Elysium’s current president and place it into her own with the help of a ruthless commissioned agent on Earth (Copley).

“Elysium” is a fantastic film.

Much like “District 9,” the film is supported with a solid story that touches on class separation, immigration and healthcare, but is also visually appealing. At the beginning of the film, it is established that the privileged live on Elysium — where there is no sickness or

violence — while the rest of the human race is left behind on Earth where the air is polluted, the resources are dwindling and rules are scarce. Any attempts to leave the planet and infiltrate Elysium are met with brutal force. Spacecrafts filled with innocent women and children are gunned down. The medical support on Earth isn’t enough to care for the number of sick individuals that flood the clinics, yet on Elysium there are machines that can cure virtually anything.

Blomkamp captures all the minute details of a life lived within a slum — the high criminal rate, the begging children, the sick and injured individuals that cannot receive the as-

sistance they need, the overall diminishing quality of life and the importance of having a reputation. At one point in the movie, Max is reminded by a friend that he “used to be a legend.” Blomkamp creates a wonderful paradise on the space station — the new habitat contains palm trees and clear blue pools, white mansions and beautiful people (not unlike a modern day Beverly Hills). Blomkamp’s use of a near future society set in South Africa (which, notably, is the auteur’s birthplace) in District 9 and mirrored to fit Los Angeles in “Elysium” is a terrific exposition of the class separation previously seen in South Africa between its black and white

citizens with plenty of the same physical characteristics.

“District 9,”considered a sleeper hit, was met with immense critical acclaim and was nominated for four Academy Awards in 2010, including Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Visual Effects and Best Editing. So far “Elysium” has been hit with mixed reviews. What was an anticipated movie unfortunately did not live up to the hype for many critics and doesn’t seem to be a real Oscar contender just yet.

ARTS&LIFE

9 August 23, 2013

COLLEGE LIFE

Pam’s Patio Kitchen

Off-campus eats Location: 11826 Wurzbach Road Sandwiches and Salads What to Order: Vietnamese Chicken

Taqueria Datapoint

Ye l l o w f i s h S u s h i

Sandwhich, Spinach Strawberry

Location: 4063 Medical Drive

Location: 9102 Wurzbach Road

Chicken Salad

Mexican

Sushi/ Japanese and Mexican

$$

What to Order: Guacamole,

What to Order: Marmol Roll and

Barbacoa

Kubo Roll

$

$$$

Janae Rice / The Paisano

The Flying Saucer Location: 11255 Huebner Road #212 Pub Food What to Order: Space Club and Breckenridge Vanilla Porter $$

ARTS&LIFE

10 August 23, 2013

Brindles Awesome Ice Creams Location: 11255 Huebner Road #210 Ice Cream What to Order: Banana Split, Azteca Chocolate $$

Staff Picks Taqueria Aguas Calientes Location: 15409 White Fawn Drive Mexican What to Order: Huevos Rancheros

{

Big’z Burger Joint

The Paisano / File Photo

$

Location: 2303 North Loop 1604 W

10

What to Order: Big’z Famous #2 Double with American Cheese

Pasha Mediterranean Grill

{

Burgers

$

Location: 9939 Wurzbach Road Mediterranean Grill

Costa Pacifica Location: 434 North Loop 1604 Seafood What to Order: Ceviche $$

Freetail Brewing Co.

What to Order: Gyro Plate,

Location: 434 North Loop 1604 W

Chicken Shwarma Plate

Seafood

$$

What to Order: Ceviche $$

Graphics by: Rafael Gutierrez

SPORTS

11 August 23, 2013

Paisano Sports Column

Welcome to the suburbs of college football Mario Nava Sports Editor

sports@paisano-online.com UTSA is moving into a new neighborhood. It’s in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. Their street is Conference USA (C-USA). Here, the houses are built with full amenities and plush extras to make their stay as welcome as possible. They have new neighbors moving in at the same time, and some old neighbors that will be sure to welcome them. It’s an exciting time just three years after beginning this new football life.

But there are some things that UTSA will start to notice as they move in their furniture and get the cable wired. The houses around them all tend to look the same. Every neighbor’s car in the driveway looks expensive – makes and models all alike. Each yard is immaculate with precise attention to detail, leaving it hard to distinguish what makes them unique.

So how does a new tenant like UTSA make themselves stand out? Can UTSA find a place at the community table?

Ultimately, does UTSA have the stability and desire to prove their presence will not go unnoticed?

Well, since hindsight is a lazy tool and trying to predict the future is a fool’s errand, why not

be practical in the now?

The UTSA Roadrunners’ football program can succeed in this modernized Norman Rockwell setting of college football because they have what many start-up programs don’t have.

On September 3, 2011, 56,743 fans filled the Alamodome to watch the first-ever UTSA football game. That means as soon as the first kickoff commenced UTSA had already started breaking records. Although the numbers averaged out by the end of the season, people could tell the San Antonio community was hooked on Roadrunner football – and that is what makes UTSA football a lucky program.

They just so happened to build a university, an athletic program and a football program in one of the most loyal and dedicated sports cities in the nation.

You don’t always get to choose where you live, but sometimes places can choose you. San Antonio has been clamoring for football since the New Orleans Saints made themselves welcome in the Alamodome in 2005. While this is not the NFL, some would say college football is even better.

Given the city has historically wavered between supporting the Texas Longhorns or Texas A&M Aggies, UTSA has now had time to put their brand out there. This is the time to persuade those fans eager to end the expensive trips to Austin or College Station – where college football is not always at its best.

This brings me to another key point – the Alamodome in San

UTSA Preseason Announcements

•Roadrunners picked to finish seventh in the C-USA West Division.

•Junior offensive guard Scott Inskeep given first-team preseason All-Con ference USA honors.

•Senior quarterback Eric Soza named to the Manning Award and inaugural Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award watch list.

Antonio.

Opened in 1993, it was built originally in hopes of attracting an NFL team to occupy its facilities. That idea never seemed to materialize. Still, the Alamodome has gained notoriety for its domed visual and ability to hold up to 65,000 people. It was at one time the home of the San Antonio Spurs, and it has hosted numerous major sporting events, including the NCAA Final Four.

In September of 2012 the San Antonio City Council and the UTSA Athletics Department announced they had agreed on an extension to keep UTSA football playing in the Alamodome until 2035.

Now how is that for impressive? Imagine being UTSA President Ricardo Romo or Athletic Director Lynn Hickey or Head Coach Larry Coker hosting vendors, sponsors and recruits.

“Please join us in our backyard patio. Yes that is a dome above your head. And right across the way you can see the

UTSA Football on TV Aug. 31 7pm @ New Mexico KMYS-CW 35 Sept. 7 11am vs Oklahoma State Fox Sports 1 Sept. 14 9:30pm @ Arizona Pac-12 Network Sept. 21 7pm @ UTEP Fox College Sports Sept. 28 TBA vs Houston Fox Sports Oct. 5 1pm @ Marshall TWC Oct. 12 3pm vs Rice TWC Oct. 26 4pm vs UAB TWC Nov. 2 2:30pm @ Tulsa Comcast Sports Southeast Nov. 23 2:30pm @ North Texas TWC Nov. 30 2:30 pm vs Louisiana Tech Comcast Sports Southeast

UTSA Roadrunners Needed Interested in sports writing and photography?

Join paisano sports for opprtunties to cover: UTSA Athletics San Antonio Spurs San Antonio Rampage San Antonio Silver Stars San Antonio Scorpions {email sports@paisano-online.com}

River Walk. We are the only home with that view. No other neighborhoods have that.”

Not to mention UTSA has just opened their multimillion dollar Park West Athletic Complex less than two miles west of the Main Campus. According to the plans, the new space will have a brand new football stadium that will be the Roadrunners’ main practice field, including temporary locker rooms and offices for the team.

“By the way, we are building a guest house in the backyard just for convenience. Would you like some more tea?”

Now it’s the head of the household’s job to make things work. Enter Larry Coker. How many start-up programs began with a head coach with a National Championship under his belt?

That is what Coker brings, along with a track record of recruiting and coaching major football talent. Having his presence in the neighborhood is the key to networking in the community. He already knows

some neighbors because he has visited their houses before.

At one time, he had the biggest house on the block in MiamiDade. The reliability and trust he brings to UTSA is what will keep the yard trimmed and the house stocked full of football talent.

The first year in the neighborhood will come with the least amount of pressure. No one can reasonably expect UTSA to start knocking down their neighbors doors and taking their sugar. And the Roadrunners won’t be bowl-eligible until the 2014-15 season.

But that is how UTSA likes it. They want to be the underdog. They want the community to look past their presence and assets. Then UTSA can make some noise and have their nextdoor neighbors, Mr. Hurricanes and Mr. Owls, call the cops and tell them to keep things quiet.

There is also something to be

said about the UTSA players calling C-USA home. The Roadrunners have been fortunate to bring back 20 starters from last season and a total of 50 letter winners. Plus, joining the community allows UTSA to bump up their scholarships from 67 last season to 85. The dramatic jump in competition is easier when you have the leaders and experience that UTSA has on its roster – it makes dolling out household chores easier when you have the older brothers running the show.

Now, as UTSA approaches the first community games of the season, the Roadrunners can open their garage door and sit out on the porch for a few moments and reflect on how fast three years gone by. Then, they can remember how much fun those early days in the one bedroom apartment were.

That is until the pool is put up.

UTSA Students’ Tweet Your Voice

UTSA joined C-USA on July 1, 2013, and that means the Roadrunners have joined the big show of college sports.

But we want to know what you think about all UTSA atheltics. Follow and tweet to @ paisanosports1 @ThePaisano.

Or like and send your Facebook commetns to facebook.com/ThePaisano

SPORTS

12 August 23, 2013

This Week in Sports Local SA Sports

UTSA Athletics

Saturday, Aug. 24

Friday, Aug. 23

6pm Scorpions

7pm UTSA Soccer

Uniondale, NY

Waco, TX

@New York Cosmos

@Baylor Bears

Sunday, Aug. 25

Sunday, Aug. 25

3:30pm Silver Stars

7pm UTSA Soccer

San Antonio, TX

College Station, TX

vs. Seattle Storm

@Texas A&M Aggies

Tuesday, Aug. 27

Friday, Aug. 30

7pm Silver Stars

TBA UTSA Soccer

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX

vs. Seattle Storm

UTSA Classic Tournament

Friday, Aug. 30

TBA UTSA Volleyball

Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium

Vicente Cardenas/ The Paisano

AT&T Center

Katherine Tesno is a freshamn goalie for the UTSA Roadrunners soccer team.

Meet a Roadrunner

Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field

Ellis Field

AT&T Center

Park West Athletic Complex

LSU Soccer Stadium

7pm Silver Stars BOK Center

Baton Rouge, La.

Katherine Tesno Class: Freshman Sport: Soccer Position: Goalie Game Day Meal: Pasta (w/fruit in the morning) Game Day Song: Katy Perry “Firework” Game Day Superstition: “I always have to wear my left sock on the right foot and right sock on my left foot.

Tulsa, OK

Tigers Classic Tournament

@Tulsa Shock

Saturday, Aug. 31

Saturday, Aug. 31

8am UTSA Soccer

vs. Minnesota United FC

University Stadium

Why soccer is her sport of choice: “I have played since I was three – so that’s 14 years. It’s about the friends you make. I feel more at home on the field with my friends playing soccer.”

7pm Silver Stars

Albuquerque, N.M. llis Field

Tesno is from Conroe, TX and played soccer for Oak Ridge high school. In 2012, she earned District 14-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player, first-team All-District 14-5A and second-team All-Greater Hous-

7:30pm Scorpions

Alamo CIty Opener

Toyota Field

San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, TX

7pm UTSA Football

AT&T Center

@New Mexico Lobos

San Antonio, TX vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Football program arrests

Roadrunner Sports Park West Opens

and locker rooms for the team.

‘Runners lose to UIW The UTSA Roadrunners soccer team lost a competitive exhibition match on Friday, August 16, to the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals (UIW), 2-1. The match was the first game played at the newly opened Park West Athletics Complex.

The soccer field hosted a standing room only crowd of 1,117 fans. The stadium is built to hold 1,000 people on both the soccer and track field sides of the complex.

The Roadrunners team went into the exhibition match not

at full strength with some key players sitting due to injuries.

UTSA did manage to stay in the game after giving up two first half goals to the Cardinals thanks to freshman goalie Katherine Tesno, who saved five shots on goals under constant pressure from UIW. Down 2-0 to start the second half, Roadrunners forward Taylor Wingerden scored on a penalty kick in the 47th minute of play. The ‘Runners controlled the ball for most of the second half but could not tie the game in the final minutes of play.

UTSA finished the game with 18 total shots to the Cardinals 12.

The UTSA football program was not immune to controversy over the summer. Current player Will Ritter and future recruit Raymond Kelley were arrested in separate incidetns.

On Monday, July 15, KSAT reported that senior defensive end Will Ritter was arrested outside an Austin bar on Sixth Street and charged with aggravated assault and public intoxication. Ritter would be released on a $5,000 bond. The following Monday UTSA announced he would be suspended indefinitely from all team activates.

As of August 4, Head Coach Larry Coker announced that Ritter would be reinstated. The

Tomasz Zahorski signed with the Scorpions in July and has scored three goals wih the team.

San Antonio Sports Scorpions beaten again The San Antonio Scorpions entered their match on Saturday night with the hopes of jump-starting what had been a very slow start. Unfortunately the Scorpions suffered their third straight loss of the fall season with a 2-1 loss to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers at Toyota Field in front of 6,105 fans on August 17.

The Scorpions started the game just as poorly as they started the season. After just

two minutes of playing time, the Scorpions gave up a free kick and the set piece that followed was poorly defended.

This allowed Strikers midfielder Mark Anderson the chance to find teammate Martin Nunez free on the back post for an easy tap-in to take an early 1-0 lead.

Just 10 minutes later, after consistent attacking pressure, the Strikers earned another free kick on the edge of the 18-yard box. This time Anderson punished the Scorpions himself – hitting the ball with flawless technique to get it over the wall

Vicente Carenas/The Paisano

Photo Courtesy /San Antonio Scorpions

On Friday, August 15 2013, the UTSA Athletics Department held a dedication ceremony for the multimillion dollar Park West Athletics Complex.

The ceremony was held under the bleachers that divides the new UTSA soccer and track fields. The event coincided with the first UTSA soccer game to be played at the complex.

The panel of guest speakers included UTSA President Ricardo Romo, UTSA Athletic Director Lynn Hickey and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff

who all took turns thanking each person or organization who helped in the funding and building of Park West.

The new complex is less than two miles west of the main campus and will consolidate the needs and functions of all UTSA athletic teams with the exception being volleyball and basketball.

The ground breaking was held in April of 2012 and the entire complex will be completed in four phases according to the plans. With Phase 1 complete, UTSA will look to finish Phase 2 which includes the completion of two football practice fields and temporary offices

football team began fall camp on August 6 and Ritter has been participating since then.

No further discipline has been announced.

The Austin American-Statesman reported that UTSA football recruit Gregory Kelley was arrested on Monday, August 12 and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The Austin-area recruit played high school football at Leander as a safety where he earned all-district honors last season.

Due to NCAA rules, a UTSA spokesman explained the athletic department can’t make any comments on recruits who have not signed a letter of intent to play or are not yet enrolled at UTSA.

Larry Coker is looking to lead his team to success in the first season playing in Conference USA.

and find the back of the net in the 15th minute that pushed their lead to two goals.

As the first half was coming to an end, the Scorpions managed to get a goal back when a deflected corner kick found its way to Scorpions’ forward Tomasz Zahorski’s feet inside the box and the recently signed Polish striker calmly knocked the ball past a beaten goalkeeper for the only Scorpions goal of the game.

The team is now 0-3 to start off the season, and they are sitting in last place by three

points.

Scorpions player honored

Tomas Zahorski, who scored the Scorpions’ only goal against the Strikers on August 17, was honored by being selected for the NASL Team of the Week award.

The Polish native joined the team in July and has scored three goals in the fall season.

The selection marks the first time during the fall season that a Scorpions player was given the weekly honors.

Rampage summer news The San Antonio Rampage will prepare for the 2013-14 season with a three-team exhibition at the Cedar Park Center in Cedar Park, TX. The Rampage will play the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday, September 28 and then will follow up with a meeting with the home team Texas Stars on Sunday, September 29.

The Rampage hopes to rebound after a dismal season where they finished last in the South Division with 67 points (29-38-2-7).

In June, the Rampage announced Peter Horachek would take over the head coaching duties former head coach Chuck Weber is having his role expanded as the new San Antonio Director of Hockey Operations and Associate Head Coach.

The AHL revised the divisions for the new season. The Rampage are now a part of the West Division in the Western Conference with Abbotsford, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Texas.

SPORTS

13 August 23, 2013

Roadrunners Basketball

Sports Editor

sports@paisano-online.com UTSA made the switch to Conference USA (C-USA) for the 2013-14 season in July. Coinciding with the move were two major UTSA basketball decisions that came to a head over the summer.

On July 26 UTSA Director of Athletics Lynn Hickey announced men’s basketball Head Coach Brooks Thompson had signed a contract extension.

The terms of the contract were not specified, but Thompson will remain with UTSA at least until the end of the 2016-17 season.

Just 13 days later, women’s basketball Head Coach Rae Ripptoe-Blair announced she was officially resigning her position effective August 15, 2013.

She cited personal reasons as the determining cause.

Thompson has been head coach of the Roadrunners since April 18, 2006. Under Thompson, UTSA basketball has reached its highest level of success, culminating with the university’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win on March 16, 2011 over Alabama State in the first round.

In an official statement Hickey praised the work Thompson has done during his tenure at UTSA both on the court and in the classrooms.

“We are very appreciative of the job Brooks has done for this program,” Hickey said. “When he arrived, he was faced with a tremendous challenge, and he and his staff have turned things around both on and off

“WE are very appreciative of the job Brooks has done for this program.”

Lynn Hickey

UTSA Athletic Director the court. When you look at the things he has done with our APR and graduation rate and then see the quality and high character of the student-athletes he has brought to UTSA, we wanted to show support in return. Our recent conference moves have created another tremendous challenge for men’s basketball, and this extension provides stability that is deserved as we enter a very competitive league in Conference USA.” Last season, the 43-yearold Thompson endured one of his toughest seasons as a head coach. UTSA finished with a 9-21 regular season record, and Thompson tied own careerlow at UTSA with only three conference wins. The ‘Runners were able to make the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tournament last season as a No. 9 seed. They upset top-seeded Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals to Texas-Arlington.

Ripptoe-Blair leaves UTSA after 13 seasons at the helm.

The Roadrunners produced only two seasons with a losing record with her as coach – she also collected two 20-win seasons. During that time, she garnered three Southland Confer-

ence Coach of the Year awards (2001, ’03, ’09) and led UTSA to two NCAA tournament appearances (2008, ’09).

Last season, Ripptoe-Blair missed 3 ½ games over twoweeks of the season due to an undisclosed illness; however, she managed to direct the Roadrunners to a 16-14 regular season record and a 10-8 conference record. In last season’s WAC tournament, UTSA lost as a No. 4 seed to fifth-seeded Louisiana Tech in the quarterfinals.

Hickey’s official statement was also complimentary and appreciative for Ripptoe-Blair’s accomplishments.

“The women’s basketball program reached new levels of success under Rae and I’m very thankful for all of her hard work throughout the last 13 years,” Hickey said. “She will always be part of the Roadrunners’ family, and I wish the best for her and her family in the future.”

UTSA Associate Head Coach Lubomyr Lichonczak has taken charge of the program under an interim head coach title. The UTSA Athletics Department has begun a search for Rippetoe-Blair’s replacement.

“I would like to thank Dr. Ricardo Romo, Lynn Hickey, all of my assistant coaches and players throughout the years along with my extended Roadrunners family for all of their efforts and support during my tenure,” Rippetoe-Blair said in an official statemnt provided by the email from the UTSA Athletics Department.

Brooks Thompson will begin his eighth season as head coach in Conference USA.

File Photo/ The Paisano

Mario Nava

File Photo/ The Paisano

Coaches choose different paths

Ripptoe-Blair leaves after 13 seasons as the head coach.

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14 August 23, 2013