The Paisano Vol. 44 Issue 2

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

08.31.2010 Vol. 44 Issue 2

The

Paisano

Celebrating Thirty Years of Independent News with a Brand New Design

Student Freedoms Jeopardize

P r o f e ss o r s ’ Priv ac y Romo serves grub UTSA President, Dr. Ricardo Romo and university administrators kicked off the new academic year serving students a free lunch at the annual President’s Picnic on the Lawn.

The aroma of barbecue-grilled favorites filled the East Lawn on Aug. 25 as lines formed for free Tshirts. As the clock struck twelve noon, the celebration began with music beats that sent a contagion of chair dancers. Among the Roadrunners waiting in line, Roxanne Loera, sophomore anthropology major said, “Free food and entertainment are exciting ways to get students together.”

The President’s Picnic on the Lawn is one of many UTSA Roadrunner Day events.

ROTC welcome home event Tuesday Aug. 31, the Army Reserve Officer Trainng Corps (ROTC) will be having its annual fall welcome event. During the event ROTC will have the change of command for the new UTSA student leadership, an award presentation for a soldiers /student that recently returned home from deployment. The ceremony will also welcome back all returning students and welcome all new students.

Afghan workers found dead (AP) KABUL, Afghanistan — An Afghan official says villagers have found the bodies of five kidnapped campaign workers for a parliamentary candidate in the western province of Herat.

District chief Nasar Ahmad Popul says residents of Herat’s Adraskan district reported finding the bodies early Sunday.

The five were snatched by armed men who stopped their two-vehicle convoy on Wednesday. Five others traveling in the vehicles were set free, according to a man who answered the phone at the home of candidate Fawzya Galani and declined to give his name.

No one has claimed responsibility for the killings, although Taliban insurgents have been waging a campaign of murder and intimidation in hopes of sabotaging the Sept. 18 polls.

Sources: Associated Press, ROTC Public Affairs

V-Ball

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Dana Messer

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net With the implementation of Texas House Bill 2504, college students will now have access to any class syllabus, book list, instructor curriculum vitae, and student evaluation reports before registering for classes.

In the spirit of government transparency, the Texas Legislature has unanimously passed, and is now applying, House Bill 2504, the first of its kind in the U.S. Starting Fall 2010, the bill requires all Texas universities to publicly post online information about the instructors, budgets, and classes.

This bill allows students and parents the freedom to preview course material and instructor qualifications before paying, but professors are worried that the access to certain information will negatively influence the classroom.

The Texas Legislature is considering the student population and their parents as consumers in the market of education. “No one would buy a house without researching it first,” Texas House Representative Louis

W. Kolkhorst (R), author of HB 2504, said. “My inspiration was to really empower the student to make better decisions with very limited dollars.”

However, professors all throughout Texas are concerned with several aspects of HB 2504 that edge into privacy and intellectual property issues.

Among many other requirements, HB 2504 involves the online publication of student end-of-course evaluations.

Before the bill was passed, student course evaluations at UTSA were conducted in class using paper surveys, and the results of the evaluations were just one of the tools used by instructors to appraise teaching performance; however, the student evaluations are now conducted and posted on the World Wide Web. Instructors at UTSA are concerned that the evaluations, once used internally by the University, will now begin to influence the curriculum and teaching methods of professors.

“Student evaluations are only moderately valid,” Dr. Carola Wenk, UTSA’s chair of Faculty Senate said, and “[Online] student teaching evaluations may

Student Leadership Center open for business

Dana Messer

HB 2504

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net

encourage professors to dumb down the course in order to keep students happy.”

Kolkhorst has pledged to monitor the effects of the published student evaluations admitting professors can be criticized by students that “don’t put forth the effort or didn’t have the intellectual capabilities.”

“We’re going to look at that and make sure it’s not a huge cost driver or done unfairly,” Kolkhorst said, However, the evaluations have met with some trepidation from professors.

See BILL, Page 4 “Why does

The Student Leadership Center has opened its doors this Fall and offering opportunities that will give students the edge they need to succeed. “As UTSA moves toward attaining tier one research status, the need for a Student Leadership Center became very apparent,” John Kaulfus, Associate Dean of Students, said. “Leadership takes all forms, and we recognized the need for students to get one-on-one direction and advice.”

Answering the call of a Leadership Center, space became available at the University Center and the UTSA Office of Student Life hired Yvonne Pena as director. “[Students] don’t remain stuSee LEADERSHIP, Page 3 dents forever,

Alumni Gala honors supporters of university Christopher Connell

paisanonews@sbcglobal.net The UTSA Alumni Association hosted the 11th annual UTSA Reflections Alumni Gala. The event was held at the Omni Hotel at The Colonnade grand ballroom on Saturday Aug. 28.

The theme of the evening was that alumni reflect on the past, present and future of the university.

The UTSA Alumni Association Reflections Gala presented Barbara Gentry the Distinguished Service Award and honored Ingrid Barth Faris ’83 as the Alumnus of the Year.

Gentry is president of the USAA Foundation and president of the USAA Educational Foundation. Her contributions to UTSA are numerous. One of the things that she is most proud of is the UTSA ACE (Access College and Excel) Scholars program.

Her support for these programs has been instrumental in their success.

In a UTSA interview, Joe Robles Jr., president and CEO of USAA, said, “With Barbara’s leadership, USAA has supported UTSA with the following endeavors: mentoring initiatives; scholarships in the colleges; support and guidance for being a

Christopher Connell/The Paisano

Weekly Beak

Dr. Ricardo Romo welcomes Ingrid Barth Faris, Alumnus of the Year, her husband Ray Faris and their son Colton Ramirez.

Tier One university; community service projects; and support for academic programs.”

Faris graduated summa cum laude in 1983 with a Bachelor’s of Arts in psychology and minors in criminal justice, business and computer science. She served as the UTSA Alumni Association President from 1997-1999.

She has also served as a board member, committee chair and executive committee member.

Faris said that it is important to keep the alumni connected to

the university.

“I have always stayed very involved with UTSA. They [alumni] can come help raise money for scholarships and be there for (UTSA); a lot of the work is being done with President Romo,” Faris said.

Faris and her husband own a highway construction business, she credits the skills she learned at UTSA for helping to make the business a success.

“I was an older student when I went to UTSA. For me, ac-

counting and computer science were the two most important.

My husband and I are still using the programs I wrote to bid for TXDOT work,” Faris said.

Dr. Harriet Romo agreed that it is important for alumni to stay connected to the university.

“It’s a good thing to make connections and to network. A lot of successful people come back and want to find their friends,” Harriet Romo said.

Jeff Cisneros, senior history major, said See GALA, Page 3

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Doug Fine Interview

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Fabulous Fashion Tips

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NEWS

The Paisano

August 31, 2010

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GALA: Alumni Association

raises money for scholarships From Page 1

that he imagines that UTSA will make the $100,000 goal.

“The auction has everything from a Coach Coker football to Sutton Place Collection of crystal,” Cisneros said.

“I was just browsing around and they have some really nice things,” Coker said.

His football’s starting auction price of $50.

Former Alumni Association President Yvonne Katz said that is important when alumni return and help pave the way for students.

“Someone helped them and its only right that they help someone else,” Katz said.

Katz has served as president of organizations including the Texas Council of Women School Execu-

tives, University Roundtable and San Antonio Education Partnership.

President Romo said that alumni are essential for the growth of our young university.

“We are getting better and bigger every day,” Ricardo Romo said.

Christopher Connell/The Paisano

Check us out paisano-online.com Barbara Gentry, USAA Foundation President, and her husband Michael Gentry.

Hot dogs and cool cats LEADERSHP: New office ADL hosts special adoption event on Sept 2 The Animal Defense League is staying open until 8 p.m. for a special adoption offer on Sept. 2. All senior dogs (5 years and older) and a selection of other dogs will be available for adoption at $50, instead of $60. All cats (including kittens) will be available for adoption at $20 instead of the regular $30 adoption fee. All cat adopters will also receive a free “Kitty Pack” that will include cat food, a litter box, cat toy and other items; while supplies last. All cats and dogs are spayed or

neutered, vaccinated (except for kittens) and have a microchip.

Refreshments including hot dogs and lemonade will be offered between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Adoption applications will be accepted until 7:30 p.m. ADL would like to invite everyone to visit the ADL to see our animals, participate in our adoption specials, and see our beautiful 12 acre campus.

Source: ADL

prepares students for success

From Page 1

begin working on their career,” Pena said. “I think [students] are really coming with leadership experience already…What we’re having to do is take that experience to the next level.”

One way the Student Leadership Center is taking that experience to the next level is by offering students the opportunity to attend national conferences, engage in leadership talks, and network for future opportunities. In addition to attending national conferences, students can participate in a national program called LeaderShape.

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“LeaderShape is a six-day national institute that will be hosted specifically for UTSA students,” Kaulfus said. “It is an intensive, energizing and unique experience that builds leadership skills no other experience can match.”

Located under the University Center Room 1.002, the Student Leadership Center is already looking to the future. “Eventually we would like to see a leadership class for academic credit,” Pena said.

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NEWS

The Paisano

August 31, 2010

Joesph Tidline/The Paisano

Oxford Dictionary may be phased out

File Photo/The Paisano

U Don’t Even Know (UDEK) is an organization that recently developed to give dancers at UTSA a creative outlet.

UDEK President Myron Gaines said that UDEK works on performing and creating better overall dancers.

Associated Press It weighs in at more than 60 kilograms (130 pounds), but the authoritative guide to the English language, the Oxford English Dictionary, may eventually slim down to nothing.

Oxford University Press, the publisher, said Sunday so many people prefer to look up words using its online product that it’s uncertain whether the dictionary’s next edition will be printed on paper at all.

The digital version of the Oxford English Dictionary now gets 2 million hits a month from subscribers, who pay $295 a year for the service in the U.S.

In contrast, the current printed edition a 20-volume, 750-pound ($1,165) set published in 1989 has sold about 30,000 sets in total.

It’s just one more sign that the speed and ease of using Internet reference sites _ and their ability to be quickly updated _ are phasing out printed reference books. Google and Wikipedia are much more popular research tools than the Encyclopaedia Britannica, and dozens of free online dictionaries offer word meanings at the click of a mouse. Dictionary. com even offers a free iPhone application.

By the time the lexicographers behind the century-old Oxford English Dictionary finish revising and updat-

ing its third edition - a gargantuan task that will take a decade or more publishers doubt there will be a market for the printed form.

“At present we are experiencing increasing demand for the online product,’’ a statement from the publisher said. “However, a print version will certainly be considered if there is sufficient demand at the time of publication.’’

Nigel Portwood, chief executive of Oxford University Press, told The Sunday Times in an interview he didn’t think the newest edition will be printed. ``The print dictionary market is just disappearing. It is falling away by tens of percent a year,’’ he said.

BILL: HB 2504 raises issue of freedom and privacy From Page 1

Students at Rowdy Wing Fling 2009, an annual non-alcoholic event at UTSA.

UTSA Rowdy Wing Fling, a free event for the entire UTSA community, is 6:30-9:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 1 outside the Roadrunner Cafe on the Main Campus. The event is to educate and promote awareness of the risks and responsibilities of alcohol use.

UTSA departments and San Antonio community agencies will share information about their services and programs. Event participants also can enjoy free chicken wings and Tshirts, along with games and music

Oxford University Press said that many people prefer to look up words on their online service

by Westbound Departure and We Shot the Moon.

The evening's activities are sponsored by the UTSA Office of Student Activities, Be A Responsible Roadrunner (BARR), Campus Activities Board, Housing and Residence Life, Campus Recreation, Student Judicial Affairs, UTSA Police Department, Counseling Services, ARAMARK, Campus Living Villages and Student Health Services.

For more information, visit the Rowdy Wing Fling website or call 210-458-4160.

the Legislation have to watch our teaching evaluations, put them online and see what influences they have?” Wenk asked.

The bill stipulates that visitors to the university website will be able to access syllabi, book lists, curriculum vitae and other pertinent information within three links of the homepage.

Students will be able to see an online version of syllabi and book lists before ever registering for a class. They will find an instructor’s curriculum vitae, which explains what degrees and training

an instructor has acquired in their careers. Departmental budgets will also be posted bi-annually.

Texas universities already had this information available to the public, but each school had their own design for what was put online, until now. “This makes a uniformed standard in Texas,” says Kolkhorst.

Meanwhile, students at UTSA can expect to see the effects of the bill this Fall with the addition of Bluebook, UTSA’s answer to HB 2504. “Bluebook will allow a user to search items by faculty name,

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course subject, academic department and keyword,“ Carolyn Ellis, OIT Assistant Director of Customer Relations and Communications, said.

A beta version of Bluebook was launched on August 26th and can be found at http://bluebook. utsa.edu. The official version is scheduled to launch October 22, 2010.

Any UTSA student interested in participating with the testing of the beta version can contact the Office of Information Technology at oit@utsa.edu.

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OPINION

Photo Poll What are your Labor day plans?

Brienna Gray Junior/ Kinesiology “I’m going to hang out with my family.”

Henry Kahn Sophomore/ Chemistry “Partying.”

Carice Dukes Sophomore/ Pre-Nursing “I’m definitely going to Six Flags Fiesta Texas.”

The Paisano

August 31, 2010

Editorial A university without students is just a library Since the first class in 1973 consisting of nearly 700 graduate students, UTSA has grown into a research institution that now hopes to compete nationally for both prestige and recognition.

The University has increased its spending on research by 97 percent over the last five years and continues to do so in ground-breaking areas such as Alzheimer’s disease and Chlamydia. The university has received millions of dollars in grants from the National Foundation of Science and the National Institute of Health.

Each year professors publish in a variety of nationally acclaimed journals as well as individual publications that lead to new textbooks, many of which are used in current courses.

With all of this forward movement in UTSA’s development, it is easy to forget that none of this would be possible without student involvement.

The university has many undergraduate friendly programs that allow for students to not only to get involved in the various expedentures around campus but also to network with other profession-

als in their chosen field. Programs such as MBRS (Minority Biomedical Research Support) and RISE (Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement) work to increase minority enrollment in the fields of science, engineering, technology and mathematics. Many of the students who complete the programs successfully enroll in graduate and professional schools.

However, it is important that students actually make the effort to impact positive changes on the school. Students need to understand that college is an economic as well as an educational decision.

Too many of the typical first-year courses still have a 30 percent and higher withdrawal/failure rate which results in thousands of dollars in wasted credits for students. Freshmen often wait too long to contact their professors or classmates as letter-grade making assignment due dates pass them by.

The classroom isn’t the only place that needs student support.

UTSA’s sports teams still manage only a modest number of students throughout the year. At universities around Texas the sale of team merchandise and donations alone

regularly earn as much as that generated by the scientific and engineering research departments here at UTSA. There has already been a lot of conversation about what the new football team will do for the university’s prestige, but students shouldn’t allow for other sports to be forgotten.

The arts also need support. Free concerts, recitals, art exhibitions and publications by students go unnoticed by the rest of the student body each week.

The university offers free movies, poetry readings, talent shows and comedy shows during the month through the University Center Program Council. Many of these are often met with low turnouts which begs one to ask why the university even bothers.

In order for the university to gain national recognition, students must actively participate in the university’s development and not allow their undergraduate careers to pass by. Students must join clubs, sign up for competitions, show up in support of other Roadrunners and establish relationships with faculty and staff on campus.

Letters to the Editor Political correctness shouldn’t upstage righteousness The New York mosque debate is bigger than one may not want to believe it is.

Those of us who are against the building are not against the Muslim faith, but instead against the distastefulness and inconsiderateness of the Muslims who want it two blocks away from the grave site of the World Trade Centers.

On that matter, it was mentioned that the World Trade Centers were “destroyed by two airplanes.” Yes, vaguely worded. It was Muslim terrorists who hijacked those men and women on those planes and caused them to crash into the towers, pummeling the buildings into the ground, killing thousands of people.

Let’s not forget the firefighters and police officers who also risked their life for this heinous act of terrorism.

So why would anyone be upset about Muslims building a worship

center so close to the previous World Trade Center site, right? This is not a case of freedom of religion.

It is a case of what is right. Muslims who are born in this country are Americans.

On Sept. 11, 2001, I would hope that they, like all Americans on that day, were sorrow stricken and devastated by the horrific ordeal.

If so, then they should understand that the World Trade Center area should be revered and not push for the mosque to be built, especially with most of New York City against it. Why do they not care?

And with all due respect, President Obama should have kept his mouth shut. It’s not his matter and of course people are going to think the man is Muslim after defending their case. If anyone has noticed, he doesn’t defend Christianity or even acknowledge the National Day

of Prayer, so therefore he is not Christian. It’s a simple conclusion of the president’s actions, not theory.

On another note, Christianity has been beaten to a pulp by this country and government, so actually we do not “look to the law to protect” us. Our God is being threatened to be taken out of pledges and documents every day. That is certainly not protecting us.

This great country serves freedom of religion, and I believe that is fine. But when political correctness overrides the right thing to do is when I get fed up. It may be lawful to build a mosque near the World Trade Center, but it will never be right.

Stephanie Whitlow Junior

Lydia Choi Freshman/ Undeclared “Go home to Austin.”

to those who lost loved ones at the trade center on 9/11.

This should be obvious to everyone, even to liberals. I would think they and most Americans would consider ground zero and its surrounding area to be very special, perhaps even sacred, in honor of the memory of the nearly 3000 people who died there.

Most opposition to the mosque has nothing to do with freedom of religion. You say “Freedom must be afforded to everyone in every situation.” Really? I don’t think you meant to say that.

Freedom always has limits and boundaries. We are not free to drive our cars at 100 mph on the

The Bird Seed by Megan Lovelady

Editor-in-Chief: Joseph Tidline

Interim News Editor: Christopher Connell

Features Editor: Arianne Evans

Arts Editor: Ruben Mercado

Sports Editor: Vanessa Elizarraras

Photo Editor: Burk Frey

Graphics Editor: Robert Calcagno

Web Editor: Robyn Lorkovic

Ads Manager: Kevyn Kirven

Staff: Kevin Won, Jonathan Nomamiukor, Annalise Perry, Megan Lovelady, Krysteen Villarreal, Evan Anders, Misha Yurchenko, Judd Messer, Itza Carbajal, Jose Vasquez, Steven Ordaz, Chelsea Harbin, Bradley Banks, Ariel Alvarez, Graham Cull

Contributing Writers:

Michael Gardiner, Andrew McClung, Christopher Thomas, Veronica Salinas, Marium Ayyad, Patrick Shupp, Brianna Johnson, Angela Orosco

Advisor: Diane Abdo

Advisory Board: Steven Kellman, Mansour El Kikhia, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Matt Stern The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a nonprofit, 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 Fax: (210)690-3423

The law is not the only moral criteria in society Regarding your editorial on 8/24/2010, you say placing the mosque so near to ground zero, according to Fox News, is “legal but inappropriate.”

No, its not just Fox, it’s the majority of the American people (62 %) who don’t want the mosque so close. CNN, CBS and ABC also reported similar numbers.

Of course placing the mosque within 600 yards is legal but, in my view, the law shouldn’t be the only criteria.

I think most sensible and clearthinking Americans would agree that it’s an “in your face” approach to the issue.

What a horrific insult it would be

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highway, or yell ”fire” in a crowded theater. We are not free to shoot people in anger even though we are free to own guns.

Yet, our freedoms in the USA allow us to travel a thousand miles in most any direction and not have to pass through a checkpoint or show an ID card.

Also, we are free to choose any religion we want. We can be a Christian, Jew, Muslim or even an Atheist. Try that in most other countries and you would quickly learn just how precious our freedoms really are.

Then you say: “Non-Muslims should not restrict the freedom of other religions.” This is not a

E-mail: paisanoeditor@sbcglobal. net

restriction of their freedom. It is a request to the Imam to relocate the Muslim mosque out of respect and honor to those that were killed by radical Muslims on 9/11.

If he really wants to build a bridge between Islam and other religions and have Muslims accepted and endeared in America, he will respect this request.

Assimilation means that it is the responsibility of the immigrant upon arrival to merge into our culture and become part of our society not the other way around.

James T. Jones Dept of Mathematics Math Lecturer, Level III

Send letters to: paisanoeditor@sbcglobal.net

Brandon Fox Senior/ Kinesiology “I am gonna take a ride on my boat.”

Letters must be less than 400 words and include the writer’s name, classification or title and telephone number. The Paisano reserves the right to edit all submissions.

Paisano meetings on Thursdays @4p.m.

Lindsey Sumrall Sophomore/ Geology “Watch a marathon of ‘True Blood’ DVDs.”

For more information call: 210.690.9301

Features

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into

Fall

Fashion

The scoop on fall’s latest fashion trends M

“ y favorite items for fall are all the accessories, like jackets, scarves, and boots. My absolute favorite is my leather jacket. It makes me feel like a rock star whenever I wear it,” Senior accounting major Amanda Engel said.

Fidelity Gomez / photos

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Fidelity Gomez

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It’s almost September and all the newest fall trends have arrived. For all who anticipate those 500 plus page magazines with the latest trends here’s a look into the upcoming fashion season.

The key to fashion is to make your own statement. Mix styles and design elements to create your own look.

“My favorite items for fall are all the accessories, like jackets, scarves, and boots. My absolute favorite is my leather jacket. It makes me feel like a rock star whenever I wear it, ” senior accounting major Amanda Engel This year, some designers have been inspired by the 50’s; bringing back that fabulous pencil skirt, knit sweaters, and two-inch heels. But the most defined piece from the 50’s making a comeback this season is the full skirt; a voluminous shape that is figure flattering. If

you are attracted to looks from another decade, put the two eras together.

The full skirt is back but sleek and minimalist trends are also in. Many designers have included sleek, men’s wear into their lines such as tailored pants, vest, jackets and blazers.

This guy style can be very polished look, but you can make it playful as well by belting a vest over one of your favorite dresses.

To make your style a bit more interesting designers have taken in a military color palate and structure to their designs. The cargo jackets and pants are in, from the roomy and comfy side of military to the tight cargo leggings and more structured and fitted jackets and coats.

Fall is characterized by animal print, leather, faux fur, and other wild trends as well as bold colors like orange, red and blue. The way to wear leather this season is with the leather leggings one of my favorite items. If the leather pants are not for you, try a leather biker jacket or a pair of boots.

Senior marketing major, Sarah Garcia said, “90’s grunge, heavy boots, long dresses and skirts, the military look and layers are the perfect look for fall.

You can choose from a variety of boot styles– from the ridding boot, thigh high boots, or short boots. Your boots can have a heel, wedge, peep toe, or for the ones that like comfort, flat.

Fur is also big this season.

You’ve probably seen the furry vest everywhere. Another way to add fur into your closet is by adding a jacket or sweater with a fur collar or detail.

Animal prints can be considered a neutral item.

Fashion magazines are featuring leopard prints–dresses, jackets,

August 31 2010 purses and shoes. Some ways to incorporate animal print into your wardrobe with a pair of leopard pumps, a belt, a cardigan, and if you really like prints a trench coat or dress.

But be careful how you use this wild trend; it can look fabulous or it can borderline sleazy.

Here are a few more ideas on how to work with the new fall trends. Since Texas is notorious for mild weather, mix up layers to make a statement! Look through your existing wardrobe and find new ways to use what you already have.

Jeans are an American classic, and the jean button-down shirt is back, as well as the strapless jean dress. So use your favorite pair of jeans, but for a twist wear them with a militaryinspired jacket for a casual look.

If you already have an awesome leather jacket, wear it over a dress or pair it with fall’s newest pair of pants– the leggings, which are great for tucking into boots.

If you want to soften the rocker look wear a lacy top underneath or pair the leather leggings with a knit sweater or a cardigan. Mixing leather with more feminine fabrics like lace and chiffon can look great.

“I’m looking forward to wearing argali sweaters with a collard shirts underneath, leather boots, wool skirts, and bright colored tights, “ senior marketing major Lorena Suarez said.

Have fun with your style.

This semester layer, add bright colors, and don’t be afraid to mix some of falls new trends into your wardrobe.

Remember: Don’t ever say you can’t pull it off. If you like it, wear it, own it, LOVE IT! Here’s what some of UTSA’s students can’t wait to wear this fall.

Features

The Paisano

August 31 2010

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New report shows record low ACT scores

How UTSA is helping students

Jacqueline Calvert

paisanofeatures@sbcglobal.net The dreaded ACT and SAT tests.

The part of high school no one likes to remember.

Waking up at an ungodly hour, (on Saturday of all days), paying money for turtoring sessions, and spending nights preparing for the test that determined whether we went to our dream college.

But maybe those standardized tests that we obsessed over and prepared for (or not) don’t really mean students are or are not “college-ready.”

According to a new report by the Associated Press, ACT scores took a downward spiral this past year.

The report further goes on to explain the phenomenon of a growing and more diverse group of test-takers, highlighting that many are likely scoring lower overall, but more are also meeting benchmarks used to measure college readiness.

The report however, is contradicting--students’ scores are not as high, but students may still be prepared for college.

The Associated Press reports, last spring high-school seniors averaged a composite score of 21.0. This composite score is

Arianne Evans

slightly down from last years 21.1.

However, 24 percent of ACTtested students met or surpassed all four of the test’s benchmarks measuring their preparedness for college English, reading,math and science.

The numbers yield to the fact that three in four test takers will likely need remedial help in at least one subject to succeed in college.

Sophomore psychology major Laure Nadal said, “I took the SAT--my highest was 1600 and my lowest was 1100. I was in remedial math and a reading class to improve my reading skills.

“UTSA did a fantastic job, though, of tutoring and helping me. They are very understanding and nice. They work really hard and do the best they can.”

Junior Anthropology major Jean Chartier prepared more for the SAT than for the ACT. “I got a 20 on the ACT. I couldn’t care less about that test. I studied really hard for the SAT, took it twice, and ended up with an 1850. I have never been enrolled in remedials.”

The University provides a variety of educational outlets for students to ensure academic success. With aids such as The Writing Center, The Tomas Rivera Center, and the Q-Lab, UTSA students have

the opportunity to receive the help they need to get college ready.

The Writing Center provides help to students from an English paper or a Chemistry paper.

The Writing Center is located in the HSS but will be moving

to a new location in the library.

The space is larger, with more computers and resources that can better accommodate students.

Graduate student and tutor Ryan Reavis said, “We have been fighting for this space for a long time. It’s great we finally have more room!”

Senior English major and tutor Jason Martinez went on to explain the purpose of the The Writing Center.

“We want to make it known that we are not just a remedial program. We help anyone who needs help with writing. We don’t want to be perceived as a remedial service, we help students as well as faculty!

Everyone can come.”

The Writing Center tutors vist classes to explain services. They also teach workshops that and cover undergraduates,graduates, writing citation styles, and letters of intent, for graduate school and scholarship applications.

The Writing Center currently is located in the HSS (rooms 2.02.22 and 3.03.08) but will be opening a new location in the library soon. The Center is open Monday-Friday, 9a.m.-6p.m.

The Tomas Rivera Center is also another source for academic help. The TRC has tutors that help in any subject. There are even sessions held outside of class from 9a.m.-8p.m, MondayThursday.

Pre-nursing junior and tutor Britney Roberts said, “Most students get a lot of help and their grades definitely improve after visiting us. We have specific tutors for every class.”

In addition to the services the TRC already provides, a new programs being offered– alternative remedial math programs. Roberts went on to say, “We have two developmental math programs called the JumpStart program and Math Bootcamp. Both are more individualized, Roberts said, there’s a lot more one-on-one time. Incoming freshmen attend the math bootcamp, which helps prepare for college algebra. The JumpStart program is for the new calculus exam. It’s a two day program to help students place as high as calculus I.” No matter your ACT or SAT score, UTSA is equipped with the educational tools for providing academic support for students in need.

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paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net I’m going to have to credit UTSA for my parking rage. It wasn’t until I got a parking pass that I learned the true art of stealing a parking spot. I didn’t realize I had a problem until I was at Target stalking people in the parking lot for their spaces. Then, there was that poor women at HEB with her three children. (Seriously, parking for people with children, oh come on!)

Incase you missed the parking situation that occurred the past week because you

were busy being crammed like a sardine into a shuttle, here you go! Did all of the freshmen decide to bring their cars?

The first week of school I was reduced to parking three miles away from the school. All kidding aside, I paid $105 for a parking pass when last year I paid $80.

I’m already not enthusiastic that I have to pay $25 more to be late to class.

It isn’t going to take much to push me over the edge. What’s with everyone showing up for the

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second week of school– really?

Usually, the plan is to wait for everyone to stop going to school, which happens during the second week.

Maybe I’m a little ahead of myself, but still parking is out of control. For all of you who prefer to back into your parking spots, I would advise you to be careful.

One morning I woke up late and I was running behind on parking time. I drove up and down every single aisle. I asked everyone how close their parking spot was.

All I kept hearing was, “I’m sorry I don’t know where I parked” and my personal favorite, “I’m not leaving.” Finally, I found a parking spot that was just close enough for me to make it to class on time.

There was only one problem; there was a car in front of me.

I thought it was kind of strange how this car passed up a perfectly good parking spot. I swooped in and took the parking spot! Little did I know, a car was trying to back in (not my fault). As I’m

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getting out of my car, all I’m focused on is getting to my class on time. Out of my peripheral vision I see this man glaring at me very angrily. I turn and I look over at him and he says, “Nice parking job! I reply, “ Thanks!”

And then he began speaking French.

The saying “come here, park far” still rings true even after building parking garages and the making of additional parking lot spaces–who would’ve thought it?

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ARTS

The Paisano

How to Go

August 31, 2010

Green B l u e Without Being

Doug Fine, author of “Farewell, My Subaru” explains how he became more environmentally friendly while keeping his normal life.

Doug Fine spends time with UTSA students during his visit to campus.

Jenelle Duff

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net Just as America was feeling hopeless and on the verge of giving up our mission to be more eco-friendly, a hero in the form of author Doug Fine intrigued us with his book “Farewell, My Subaru”: A book filled with promises that America wouldn’t have to give up the electricity, the car, the hot water or the Internet if we embarked on a ‘go-green’ mission.

Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Fine who was more than eager to discuss more about life after his book, his famous goats and his Kung Pao craving.

Why did you choose “Farewell, My Subaru” as the title for your book?

When I set out to engage in this, what I call my Hypocrisy Reduction Project, I wanted to be able to keep driving. But, of course, we all know that most of our cars use petroleum products like unleaded fuel and diesel. My Subaru had been an awesome car for 12 years, but I wanted to see the possibilities of driving without petroleum. I had to say farewell to my Subaru reluctantly because I needed a diesel engine to drive on vegetable oil. I said goodbye to it about 3- 3 ½ years ago. I wanted to drive without petroleum. I didn’t want to give up driving.

In today’s society, many individuals always say that we want to reduce our carbon footprint. Yet, seldom any of us actually follow through on that promise.

What propelled you to follow through with and complete that goal?

My whole purpose in writing “Farewell, My Subaru” was to show that anyone can live sustainably without giving up their digital age comfort.

In your book, you mentioned that you had never grown a tree or used any farming tools. How hard was it to make the transition to rearing chickens, milking goats and planting your own crops?

The transition to raising animals was not a problem. When I was a kid I always wanted to be a vet and I always loved animals. We just had two goats born on the ranch. Some of the other stuff has been harder like installing solar panels and growing a good garden so you might say I’m engaged in a learning process.

With 49 other states to choose from, was there a particular reason you chose New Mexico as the central location for your “experiment”?

Actually, I could have done this anywhere, I just happened to like New Mexico a lot.

Was there anything specific about New Mexico that made you choose it?

It’s sort of indefinable. The state motto is “the land of enchantment”, and I like being enchanted. It’s very beautiful. The state itself is very varied.

That’s a very interesting motto. Typically, whenever a person gets a sudden desire to do something outside of the norm, society offers more criticism than support.

That’s a good point and really one has to be an individual with the courage of one’s convictions no matter what one does. But I also believe that sustainability can and must be incorporated no matter what the lifestyle one chooses now because it’s critical for the survival of the species.

It takes courage to fulfill one’s dreams in spite of what others may think. Did you share your plan to embark on this mission with anyone?

No, I just set out to pursue my own dreams.

Since you didn’t tell anyone, did you get any feedback from family and friends?

By the time I moved to Funky Butte Ranch, I’d been reporting from five continents and had lived in Alaska. So I think at this point I had received all the feedback I was going to receive. The print journalism and NPR links on my website (www.dougfine.com) has my journals from the five continents and Alaska.

What kept you motivated to continue your goal?

In truth, it’s really easy and anyone can do it. Sure it took me a little while to adjust, but much of the book ‘Farewell, My Subaru’ is making fun of myself and how bad I am at all kinds of things. In truth living sustainably is not that hard. It doesn’t take much time.

It’s something anyone can do with just a few small decisions.

After the experience, how would you describe it overall?

Well, it’s the happiest I have ever been and I’ve always been a pretty happy guy. I’m having a lot of fun and I’m optimistic that a critical mass of other people can help us transition to a sustainable society and have fun while doing it. I’m having a blast on solar panel energy. It would be saving me thousands of dollars every year between the solar panels, fuel and vegetable oil.

What would you say were the easiest and most difficult parts of your experience?

Almost everything is easy. I love raising goats. They’re so cute.

They’re part of the family. I meditate in the goat corral with them every day so that’s the easiest. The hardest part is probably growing enough vegetables.

How many different vegetables have you grown?

I’ve got corn, squash, anasazi beans, tomatoes and edamame. I just planted more fall crops like lettuce, spinach and peas.

Several times in your book you mentioned that you love Kung Pao chicken. Can you tell me more about that?

The funny thing about Kung Pao is my vegetable exhaust smells

Coulier and Johnagin pack a Full House

Comedians Dave Coulier from Full House and Tommy Johnagin from Last Comic Standing performed at UTSA’s Night of Comedy on Wednesday, August 25, and the Paisano got the exclusive interview!

To read the interview, visit paisano-online.com

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like the chicken because a lot of the fuel comes from the Chinese restaurants near me. Speaking of which, by the time we finish this interview, I’m going to have to get something to eat. You can see the video about my driving munchies on the Funky Butte Youtube Channel.

I was wondering if you have names for all of your goats?

My goats are named after singers that I like but whose voices I think sound somewhat goat like Natalie, Melissa(after Melissa Ehtridge), Nico, after this singer from 60’s, who I think in real life might be part goat. And Nico recently had two baby goats who I named Bjork and Bette, after Bette Midler. So I’m always naming the goats after singers that sound goat like. Currently, I have four goats in total.

So you’ve got goats and chickens. Besides these, do you have any other animals?

I’ve got ducks, dogs and cats, the only things we feed. Owls, lizards, toads, and coyotes, who we beg to pass along on their path.

Looking towards the future, do you have any other go-green experiments or anything that you plan to try out?

Well I’m going to be writing more books and making films about what I call my blog of carbon neutral misadventures, specifically with efforts to move towards sustainability. One of the things I’d like to do is green-housing, so I can grow things in the winter. Another is rain-catchment where I catch harvest rain water for use in irrigation. It’s a really great way to do it.

Is there anything else you’ve changed in your life since your experiment?

The main thing that has changed is that I stopped being a wanderer. As I mentioned I was a journalist for five continents. I’ve become more grounded to a home space with a family to go home to and that’s the main thing that’s changed. I enjoy travelling to speak to people. I very much enjoy that. The big change in my life on the ranch has been really becoming attached to a place.

Would you say that you see yourself living on the ranch for the rest of your life? Or do you plan to live elsewhere?

I certainly don’t see myself deciding on either right now. During monsoon season, there are wild flowers everywhere. It’s totally gorgeous and this is the time of year when it’s really beautiful to be around and it really does feel like home.

Is there any suggestion or advice you’d like to give to readers of your book and your fans?

Have fun as you live sustainably. Have a great time. You can still party and enjoy life. Just think about sustainability. Think about where your food comes from, how you get around or how your iPod is made. Think about it and it’s all going to work out great.

The Paisano

August 31, 2010

ARTS

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Water Cooler

Creative Corner Creative corner is a regular arts and entertainment feature that showcases the talent of UTSA students.

Submit all contributions to paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

College in a nutshell Lacole Spraggins

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

College is fun. College is exciting. College is adventure. College is boring.

College is ambiguous. College creates life-long friendships.

Warning three friends can’t live together in college; that is a volcano waiting to erupt.

College is success. College is failure. College is ambition. College is motivation.

College is discovery. College is recovery (from drunken nights). College is learning.

College is curriculum. College is achievements. College is real world circumstances.

College is trial and error. College can be beneficial or 4 years of terror. College is adult world.

College is so damn immature. College isn’t anything like high school. College is for the young.

College is for the old. College is for the wealthy. College is for the poor. College is identity.

College is hormones. College is experimentation. College is sex. College is love. College is betrayal.

18% of college men are good men.

69% of college boys are only looking to have a “good time” (wink wink).

7% of college boys are followers, and 3% of college dudes are confused.

27% of college women are good women. 63% of college chicks are sluts.

7% of college ladies are virgins, and 3% of college girls only go to college to find a husband.

College is so damn funny (lol). College is sickness. College is health. College is anxiety.

College is weight gain. College is weight loss. College is studying. College is all-nighters.

College is time-management. College is balance. College is liberal.

College is about finding your voice. College is expression. College is color blind.

College isn’t about fashion. College is about grades. College is about results.

College is about knowledge gain. College isn’t for the weak. College is for the brave.

College isn’t for those who have the “I want my mommy syndrome.” College is stress.

College is depression. College can be so damn over whelming that some commit suicide.

College creates hunger. College creates addicts. College will leave you broke with a bad habit.

College is survival of the fittest. College is a dog eat dog world. College creates memories.

College is College.

After experiencing College you might wonder what you got yourself into.

However, once people complete College, they discover that the time spent in College was the best time of their lives.

Hollywood Sucks I love movies. Usually, when time and money allow, I like watch a new interesting movie and just hang out with my friends. However, this summer I saw only three movies.

Movie theaters are entirely too damn expensive. I’m not throwing down almost ten bucks and just hoping Will Ferrel brings the funny this time. I have to really feel that I’m going to get my money’s worth, and lately that just hasn’t been happening.

I can’t remember the last time Ashton Kutcher did anything worth noticing, so I failed to see the point in paying to see him and Katherine Hiegel run around in some formulaic action/ romantic/comedy mess.

I wasn’t interested in the new Twilight film at all, because lets face it, I’m not the target audience. And don’t even get me started on Marmaduke.

That’s easily a new low for Hollywood.

A movie based on a comic strip is already a bad idea, much less Marmaduke.

Granted, the movies that I did see were all pretty good. Toy Story 3 was easily the best animated film I’ve ever seen, and a satisfying conclusion to a journey most fans started at a young age. Inception was original and entertaining from start to finish. Iron Man 2 was fun, even if it is not as great as the first film.

Ruben Mercado

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net Despite the best efforts of a few movies, this summer, for the most part, was a disappointment. And that made me sad, since going to the movies has become less and less worth the price due to the lack of quality being produced by Hollywood.

Instead of accepting the mediocrity that big Hollywood puts out, seek out worthwhile entertainment. Rent more movies from Netflix and Redbox; support more independent films; or even watch old movies that are already of proven quality. For the most part, there is nothing going on in Hollywood worth all of the effort and money to go to the theater.

It’s hard to tell what direction the film industry is going in, but if this summer is any indication, its nowhere good. So instead of riding the sea of mediocrity look for other forms of entertainment.

Play video games. Find a new band to listen to. Or maybe even read a book.

Remember those?

If you’re interested in writing about:

Music

Art

Theater

Film

Poetry

Then let us know!

The Paisano is looking for writers to work in these areas. If you or anyone you know is looking to get involved, contact us at:

paisanoarts@sbcglobal.net

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SPORTS

The Paisano

August 31, 2010 Hat Trick Bob isn’t going anywhere Vanessa Elizarraras

File Photo

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The Roadrunners start this season with one goal in mind, the SLC tournament.

Roadrunner set for new season, new challenges

Vanessa Elizarraras

paisanosports@sbcglobal.net This past weekend the Roadrunners started their season playing in the Rice Invitational I. They won their tournament opener against Mississippi 3-2, but then fell 2-3 to Rice and 1-3 to Texas Tech.

The results weren’t exactly favorable, but the Roadrunners still have 11 games to look forward to before Conference play starts. That means that there is time to fix weaknesses, work on strengths and gain confidence.

So far these past three games have shown a mix of accomplishments and shortcommings for the runners.

In their first game, the team was able to overcome a two-set Mississippi lead for a come-from-behind victory. In the same game sophomore Kelsey Schwirtlich made her debut at the setter position.

Schwirtlich had 59 assists in her first

game, which is also the most sets by a player in a single game since 2007.

In their second match against Rice UTSA squandered a 2-1 lead that led to a come-from-behind victory for Rice.

Finishing games has been a point of concern for the team.

Last season the Roadrunners had four five-set losses. In two of those losses the Roadrunners had a twoset lead that evaporated by the fifth set, and once again the team would find itself on the losing end.

“It comes with confidence,” head coach Laura Groff said in regards to the team becoming a more concrete finishing team. “I think that the lack of finishing sometimes is just a lack of faith and believing that you can do that.”

One of the players, Senior Outside Hitter Kendra Rowland, is already confident in the team’s abilities.

“I really do think that this year we really have a chance to take the whole tournament, and get into the

NCAA for once,” Rowland said.

Rowland is one of four returning seniors, another being Briana Mason. Both provide a core foundation for the team.

Rowland led the team in kills last season with 324 while Mason was pivotal on defense with a total of 94 blocks. Her performance combined with that of Briana Mason were critical to the Roadrunners all of last season.

Since most of the players from last season have returned, they are well aware of what they have to work on to be a better team.

One of the areas is blocking. Last season the Roadrunners were beaten by their opponents in blocking solos and assists. The team also had 21 more ball-handling errors than their opponents.

The team also has to work on attacks. Last season the team committed 674 attack errors, 105 more than their opponents.

However, the addition of five play-

ers, although new to the college game, are still an important part of the team.

These five new players add a couple of stregths for the Roadrunners this season.

The new players add height. This undoubtedly will make them better both offensively and defensively.

With the extra height, the Roadrunners can be more efficient at the net and be able to block more kill attempts.

Secondly, the team has at least three players at each position, which gives them depth. Now if the team has a very deep bench, they can call on a bench player to come in when there’s an injury.

The Roadrunners still have a long way to go before the season, but they seem to be on the right track.

“When you have a good team chemistry and you believe in each other then you can just go all out and be a stronger team, and an individual” Groff said.

It’s official: Bob Bradley is staying on as head coach of the U.S. soccer.

On Monday Aug. 30 U.S. soccer agreed to a contract extension to the end of 2014.

I’m actually pretty stoked that Bradley is staying with the team and here’s why: He led the team to a first place finish in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup. The U.S. hasn’t been able to do that since 1930.

U.S. soccer is still developing and, in order for it to be successful it needs consistent coaching. If you have a team that’s constantly changing coaches, all you’ll have is a team with no real sense of direction. Teams without direction don’t win games.

Bradley is perfect for this team because he knows the U.S. game and what U.S. athletes need to succeed. Yeah, it might sound like a dumb reason, but so far no foreigncoached team has ever won a World Cup. The bottom line is the team will only be playing friendlies.

So really this is the time to call upon young, untested players to see what they are capable of at the world stage, and who better to do that than Bradley.