Vol. 68, Issue 11

Insomnia Cookies, Chicken Salad Chick and Smokey Mo’s BBQ set to open near UTSA

By Amber Serio

AMcChesney, this $8 million retail project located at 6010 UTSA Blvd., “is unique because it will be built as an amenity connected to the nearby Leon Creek Trail.” Santikos worked closely with San Antonio Parks and Recreation to approve the shopping center.

“We appreciate the fact that from any developer who’s willing to work with us on expanding the recreational opportunities that we have in San Antonio,” Special Project Manager with Parks and Recreation Brandon Ross said. first of the businesses to solidify a space at Roadrunner Creek was Smokey Mo’s BBQ, as Santikos Enterprises confirmed this on Aug. 4 at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project. Since August, Roadrunner Creek has made progress in its construction.

Senior Associate at CBRE Andrew Polunksy illuminated the retail project’s current status by stating: “We

Gov. Abbott unveils strategy for enforcing SB 17

By Maria Wence Staff Writer

are in discussions with numerous prospective tenants however, right now, we are only able to announce the signed deals.” In addition to Smokey Mo’s BBQ, Roadrunners can expect to see Chicken Salad Chick, Insomnia Cookies and Veneto Nails at Roadrunner Creek.

“We will definitely be adding one more sit-down restaurant user along with an additional dessert and beverage operator. The remaining few spaces will likely be leased to service/general retail,” Polunsky added.

“We have a couple deals that should move into the lease review phase in the coming weeks. The project is substantially complete, tenants are going to begin to finish out construction in the coming day,” Polunsky said.

Institute of Texan Cultures to be torn down and relocated

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

that will allow us to properly preserve the museum’s current exhibits, while building a new museum that will serve and educate visitors for decades to come,” Eigmy said. With its removal from the Hemisfair area, the Texas Pavillion will officially retire after 64 years of service. Though the San Antonio building was named eligible for the National Register of Historic Places earlier this year, UTSA declined the nomination. Despite its demolition, the Texas Pavillion will continue to live on, as the university plans to honor the original architect, Willaim Peña. Though there have been no official statements on how the school plans to honor the architect, it has been confirmed that Peña will be recognized at the building’s original and new locations.

mong the several construction projects near UTSA is the Santikos Enterprises retail project, Roadrunner Creek. In August, project members broke ground on the

Mariana Ramos/The Paisano

Miles Jones/The Paisano

Miles Jones/The Paisano

Armin Suljovic/The Paisano

Data of millions exposed after AT&T breach

By Jasmine Williams Contributor

action lawsuit against AT&T as a result of this year’s data breach. He accuses the company of failing to implement the procedures necessary to protect consumers from a preventable cyber attack. The listed injuries suffered in the lawsuit include invasion of privacy, lost opportunity costs associated with attempting to mitigate the actual consequences of the Data Breach, statutory damages and nominal damages.

Giving Day to ‘level up’ university programs

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer

The fourth annual UTSA Giving Day will be hosted on April 9 and 10 to raise funds for student success initiatives.

Since its original launch in 2021, UTSA Giving Day has raised $1.7 million from 6,268 different donors, 41% of whom are alumni. Giving Day is part of the largest fundraising campaign in university history called Be Bold: A Campaign for Our Future. Be Bold has collected over $380 million from over 46,000 donors.

“I am immensely grateful to our incredible donors, ambassadors and champions who, year after year, make UTSA Giving Day such a huge success,” UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said. “The results of this campaign affirm our community’s commitment to preparing career-ready Roadrunners who go out into the professional workforce to significantly build the economic impact of our city and state while solving grand challenges that change the world.”

“This high level of engagement speaks volumes about the affinity our alumni and donors have for UTSA and their belief in the future of our university,” says UTSA Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement Karl Miller Lugo. “I want to thank the thousands of donors who have supported UTSA Giving Day over the years,” Zachary Nepote, president of UTSA’s Student Government Association said. “Their generosity has supported critical student

success and scholarship programs that have helped first-gen students like me and thousands of others.” People who donate can expect their money to go to many student success initiatives, such as career-readiness programs, experiential learning opportunities, research and discovery efforts and overall support across the entire university.

The Klesse College Ambassador Program is an initiative that has benefitted from UTSA Giving Day. This program “rewards students with stipends to serve as college leaders at university events and/or mentors for high school students and requires 65 hours of community service, has also benefited.”

Another program that has benefitted from Giving Day is UTSA Athletics. With collected donations, UTSA Athletics can grow its Roadrunner Athletic Fund, upgrade medical and weight room equipment, providing diverse workouts, recovery and therapy options.

UTSA Giving Day will last for 1,969 minutes to commemorate the year the university was founded. This year’s campaign will garner a video game theme to help build energy and incorporate a fun competition among supporters as the encouraged gifts would “level up” university programs.

The progress of UTSA Giving Day will be tracked on its website. This site will include money raised for each participating program and goals to receive gifts from every state in the nation.

State of

the City

Week of 4/9

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay upto-date on the happenings around town? Look no further.

Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s topics range from a north side shooting to San Antonio being ranked among the best markets for first time home-owners.

Man left dead after shooting at Northside Walmart

A man was shot dead after an attempted carjacking on the Northside within the 12600 block of Blanco Road. The incident occurred at 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 7. Upon arrival at the scene, the police announced the 53-year-old dead from gunshot wounds, in what seemed to be the aftermath of an attempted carjacking. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown vehicle and is currently being looked for by SAPD. Pacific cold front to sweep through San Antonio

Starting overnight on Saturday, April 6, a Pacific cold front moved through the Hill Country, bringing back cold weather and lowering the humidity. This front brought San Antonio to 60-degree low temperatures and 80-degree high temperatures, alongside the dry air.

Following the cold front, a low-pressure system passed through starting on Monday. This brought moisture back into the air, raising the humidity. Alongside this, the pressure system is set to bring more cloud coverage and a higher chance of precipitation throughout the week.

San Antonio housing market ranked for first-time buyers

Zillow has ranked San Antonio among the best housing markets for first-time buyers in the U.S. again. San Antonio has been ranked as the seventh best in the U.S. by the online real estate marketplace. Zillow marked 33% of homes in San Antonio as “affordable,” meaning that they cost less than 30% of a family’s monthly income to purchase or rent. This follows San Antonio being ranked as the third best market for firsttime buyers by Creditnews Research earlier this year.

UTSA earns sustainability achievements

By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) awarded UTSA a Gold rating on its Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Rating System (STARS). “AASHE empowers higher education faculty, administrators, staff and students to be effective change agents and drivers of sustainability innovation.” STARS “is a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance.” UTSA has made substantial efforts to contribute to the overall well-being of the campus communities. “These efforts include enhancing campus walkability and bikeability, increasing renewable energy infrastructure, retrofitting buildings for optimal efficiency and establishing a LEED Silver standard for all new construction exceeding $10 million,” Veronica Salazar, UTSA Executive Vice President for Business Affairs and Chief Enterprise Development Officer, said. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievements. “LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits.”

As San Pedro II, also known as the Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Careers building, is being built, San Pedro I has become the blueprint for a “more sustainable approach to new campus buildings.” UTSA earned the silver STARS rating in 2020 with the help of The Office of Sustainability. The Office of Sustainability was reestablished in 2019 through the Supporting University Sustainability through Action, Initiatives and Narrative (SUSTAIN) fund. SUSTAIN is a university program that funds projects that advance campus sustainability. “The Office of Sustainability seeks to make our campus more sustainable through policies and practices that align with the president’s strategic initiatives in academics, research and operational excellence. These policies and practices support ecological, human and economic health and vitality.”

UTSA has demonstrated its dedication to sustainability through the Campus Master Plan. The UTSA Campus Master Plan “serves as a roadmap to guide UTSA’s physical growth in alignment with its academic mission and strategic priorities over the next decade.” As an institution of higher education, UTSA is committed to being a “responsible steward of its unique environmental and cultural assets. Across the university, UTSA will leverage data-driven approaches and promote knowledge to ensure a sustainable future for UTSA and the wider community.”

In 2023, San Pedro I, home of the UTSA School of Data Science and the National Security Collaboration Center, earned a LEED gold status, the second highest certification tier you can achieve. San Pedro I earned this ranking because the building was “Designed and constructed with thoughtful attention to energy efficiency and sustainable site development, the building features indoor/outdoor connections and reconfigurable spaces for multipurpose use, facilitating an adaptable environment suited to serve occupants for many years to come.”

Vincent Agquiz/The Paisano

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Lauro Martinez/The Paisano

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano Armin

Paisano

Education or oppression?

Following threats made by state lawmakers to universities not in full compliance with the controversial SB 17, the University of Texas at Austin announced that they would fire 60 more employees holding positions related to diversity and inclusion. The university announced the closure of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement (DCCE).

According to the Austin American-Statesman, the firings are a response to a letter from Senator Brandon Creighton to UT System chancellors and boards of regents, in which Creighton threatens to freeze state funding to universities that do not fully comply with SB 17.

This extreme action has led many faculty and staff at UT Austin to accuse the university of overcorrecting regarding the enforcement of SB 17 on campus. According to the Austin American-Statesman, vital university programs such as Monarch — which assisted undocumented students with navigating various education and employment opportunities — and the Multicultural Engagement Center have been permanently closed due to UT’s response to SB 17.

In protest of the announcement of the closure of the DCCE, students at UT Austin began posting flyers reading “#NOTOURTEXAS” on notable landmarks around campus. This was part of a public demonstration organized by the #NOTOURTEXAS movement, which aims to combat the implementation of SB 17 in Texas. By the next morning, few posters remained on campus as most had been taken down by the university.

The firings and the closure of the DCCE announced by UT Austin are just the beginning of a rapid shift in higher education in the state of Texas. The complete implementation of SB 17 will be detrimental to the success of students overall and will only serve to oppress underrepresented populations within Texas’ higher education system. As citizens, we cannot let this oppressive law continue to degrade the quality of our state’s universities. Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives only serve to improve the quality of Texas universities, and their ban is a severe loss to secondary education.

By Marcela Montufar Soria

Tuesday, April 9, is UTSA Giving Day, a day in which the university turns into a charity and asks all members of the UTSA community for donations to help finance its operations. They try to make it a fun day, with challenges and events to tempt people — especially students and alumni — into making contributions.

Asking alumni to make donations is commonplace, with universities sending out requests constantly, even years down the line and asking them to contribute to their alma mater’s success. UTSA takes it a step further and asks current students, along with their families and friends, to donate. Their excuse? “Tuition and fees alone do not cover the full cost of educating a student.”

What are students paying for, then? How is the money being managed?

The audacity of looking at students, who are already paying thousands of dollars each semester to get an education, and telling them that it is not enough is an affront to them and their families’ efforts.

Universities need money to operate and as they say on the Giving Day website, what they get from the state covers only a small percentage of UTSA’s operating budget. It is normal and acceptable that the university turns to donors to make ends meet, and the spirit of Giving Day is one of humble inspiration. All donations go towards bettering the experiences of students, including the UTSA Fund, the various colleges, Academic Advising and other key areas of the university.

The problem with Giving Day in its current design is that its principal target is students. Everyone wants UTSA to keep operating at its best, but that is why people pay their tuition and fees. Attending college is not a prize, it represents a heavy financial effort –– if not strain, for some. Even if it is completely voluntary, UTSA should not ask for a single penny more from its students than it already does at the time of billing — especially with the end of the semester approaching and stress levels at an all-time high.

It would be a wonderful world if everyone who attended UTSA were a millionaire who could make a dozen gifts on Giving Day on top of what they are required to pay, but that is not the reality. The best way for students to help the university during this Giving Day without donating themselves is to become Giving Day Ambassadors. This way, they can spread the word to promote specific causes if they choose, and inspire their families and friends to donate if they can. Ambassadors get credit for every donation they get and can win prizes for their efforts.

UTSA should not even look at its students during Giving Day, other than to ask them to share the event on social media.

By James Haddock

The Brooks Development Authority (BDA), the entity in charge of revitalizing the Brooks Air Force Base area, spent a total of $18,540 over the span of three UTSA football games from the comfort of a suite — but it is for educational purposes, right?

Since Brooks Air Force Base was shut down in 2011, the BDA has been tasked with revitalizing 1,308 acres of land on the Southside of San Antonio. With such a monumental mission, the news of this seemingly frivolous spending was unsettling to many.

Considering that the Brooks Authority is a government entity, whose board is appointed by the city, it is not difficult to imagine why people are upset that revitalization funds were reportedly spent on Nacho Bars, four cases of Dos Equis, three bottles of Titos, Bottomless Popcorn and other game day goodies.

All things considered, an important distinction to be made is that the Brooks Authority is not directly funded by tax-payer dollars. Instead, they generate their funding primarily through leases, property sales and business partnerships like the one with the Embassy Suites Hotel & Spa.

Although the Brooks development is not directly supported by tax revenue, it does not mean, however, that their funding is not being generated from the government. The real estate from which they generate their revenue is aforementioned parcel of land, which was entrusted to them by the government for the sole purpose of attracting families and companies to

the city’s Southside. Any capital generated from the development of Brooks is not theirs to splurge.

When KSAT asked about the gameday expenditures in a televised interview, the Chief Strategy Officer Connie Gonzalez insisted that their priority, “First and foremost, was to support UTSA Athletics.” Seeing as how a donation to UTSA Athletics Department would have been much more effective than reportedly buying $126 of brisket tacos, six hard seltzer variety packs and $200 of buffalo chicken wings, Gonzalez only ends up insulting the intelligence of the viewers. What is increasingly infuriating about that interview is that after the KSAT reporter asked if the gameday suites were used to attract business to Brooks, Gonzales dodged the question by repeating, “[their] priority and [their] reasoning behind it, again, first and foremost, was to support UTSA Athletics.” The only fathomable way in which that use of public funds would be acceptable is if its primary purpose was to promote more businesses relocating to Brooks by networking and hosting industry leaders. The dodging of that lifeline of a question further implies that the suite was primarily used for recreation, not attracting business.

Even though their use of public funds was fundamentally erroneous, admittedly, the BDA has overall been doing a pretty good job of transforming the area.

According to the San Antonio ExpressNews, as of 2023, the Brooks Authority only has 307 acres to develop, and they have plans for each one. With being so close to the finish line, now is certainly not the time to get sloppy with government Commentary

Million-dollar babies? Only in the United States

Commentary By Maria Wence Staff Writer

In America, having health insurance does not mean much, somehow, the expenses always exceed the coverage. Parents have to deal with countless bills from hospitals, like being charged for waiting in the emergency room until they receive help. If there is a charge that can be made, the hospital will not hesitate to send in that bill.

In 2021, a mother who birthed quadruplets

shared the medical bill for her babies. Hanna Castle gave birth to quadruplets who were born prematurely and were immediately admitted into the NICU. Staying in the NICU in the U.S. can range between $3,000 to $20,000 per day. The quadruplets stayed between 64 and 147 days. Her smallest son, Atlas, was only one pound and 14 ounces when he was born; he stayed in the NICU for 64 days. For just him, they were charged $714,747.15, for his overall stay. Her other babies ranged from $728,625.56 to 1.6 million. The total cost of their care was 4 million dollars.

Castle decided before having the babies that she would quit her job and apply for Medicaid to afford to take care of them. Thankfully, Ohio Medicaid covered all her expenses except the bill for the birth. While cutting their streams of income in half allowed them to qualify for Medicaid, it has also left the family of six to survive solely on one stream of income. Some Americans are being forced to go to extreme lengths just to afford to give birth to their children. At this rate, the next best option for Americans looking to start a family and not incur insurmountable debt is to move to Canada.

Noah Willoughby/The Paisano

Jake Mireles/The Paisano

Kara Lee/The Paisano

Squatting in America dates all the way back to the nineteenth century. Back then, farmers who could not afford to purchase parcels of land from the federal government moved west and squatted until the title owner showed up to dispossess them. Today, squatters’ rights exist and they serve to ensure the utilization of abandoned property and protect occupants from wrongful evictions. These rights fail to fulfill their former function and have led to increased conflicts, in New York City (NYC) especially, between squatters and property owners called squatter standoffs.

In Queens, New York, a woman was arrested after yet another squatter standoff. Adele Andaloro was in the process of selling her inherited home when squatters moved in on Feb. 6, changed the exterior doors

and refused to leave. Andaloro showed up at her home with the land deed proving she was the owner. She kicked out the two squatters, one who claimed to have moved in two days ago and another who had a maintenance receipt as evidence he lived at the house. Andaloro immediately had a locksmith change the door locks despite police warning her against it.

According to squatter laws in New York, after 30 days, squatters can claim tenant’s rights and can only be removed from the property via the full eviction process. Changing the locks on a tenant’s home, deliberately shutting off utilities or removing a tenant’s belongings are all criteria for an unlawful eviction, which is a crime. The squatter with the receipt, named Brian Rodriguez, returned to the home, and the police soon followed. Andaloro locked Rodriguez out of the

OpiNION

house he claimed to be residing in for over 30 days, and she was arrested for unlawful eviction. While it feels entirely outrageous that someone can show up at their own home with a land deed in hand and not be able to remove a squatter who claims to live there with a maintenance receipt as evidence, it also indicates a greater issue at hand. There is an extreme lack of affordable housing, and opportunities to build more are being overlooked.

In 2002, after a squatting movement in the 1980s and 1990s, the borough of Manhattan formulated a plan to sell its abandoned buildings occupied by squatters to a non-profit, the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board, for one dollar each. The non-profit would then take out loans to bring the dilapidated buildings up to code and convert them to low-income limitedequity co-operatives. The illegal

Richard Nixon, the great sigma

Commentary

By Nicholas Kingman Assistant Opinion Editor

and the losers’ song is lost within the pages of history books. This rings true for the martyrs of ancient times to the presidents of today. History is cut and dry, but an individual can become a part of lore when their lies are looked upon fondly through edits made by their foundation or library Instagram account.

The 37th president of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, is an individual who has been dragged through the barrage of public opinion or political commentators since the day he walked into office in January 1969. Nixon is not a favored figure in the present, but during his two presidential runs in 1968 and 1972, he was one of the most famous figures of the day. Looking at his history, Nixon did the unthinkable. After being Eisenhower’s vice president in the 50s, he would run for president in 1960, ultimately losing to John F. Kennedy. Then, he lost in his home state of California’s Gubernatorial election in 1962.

Nixon proclaimed to reporters after his failed ‘62 campaign, “You don’t have Nixon to kick around anymore, because gentleman, this my

last press conference.” But luck and a perfect storm of societal factors propelled the disgraced politician to the presidency in 1968. Four years later, Nixon would win in a landslide against South Dakota senator George McGovern. It took the worst political scandal in American political history — Watergate — to take down the mammoth that was Nixon.

Now, 50 years after his historic resignation from the presidency, his foundation’s social media accounts spread interesting content for a new generation’s love of shortform content. As stated on the website, one of the Nixon Foundation’s goals is to foster discussion and debate on the nation’s thirtyseventh president and they sure have completed that specific goal. When you dive into the Instagram account, it seems harmless on the surface. Historical photos of

Nixon’s trip to China in 1972 or the White House Easter Day celebration. Typical presidential library activity that you would not second guess.

Then the videos begin, and they cannot be described as anything more than “Sigma Edits” of the former president. The videos are bizarre and admittedly funny when given the context of political figures. Most people would not bat an eye if it were a David Goggins or American Psycho movie clip but with politicians, especially the highest office in the United States, it comes off as something more sinister. Making content is one thing but creating soft-core propaganda to affect the nation’s collective memory is another.

This is the issue that comes with this form of content, and this generation’s laziness. Besides history majors or obsessive history buffs, most

squatters would then become indebted homeowners. By 2013, only five of the 11 buildings had been converted into co-ops. This was a perfect opportunity to kick start a movement to convert abandoned, city-owned buildings into affordable housing, but it fell through. As of 2015, NY owned 1,131 vacant lots.

With 62,692 homeless people sleeping in NYC homeless shelters and 79,190 vacant rental units, it is no surprise that NYC has such a significant squatter problem. Rather than sleep on the street, exposed to the elements, homeless individuals opt to squat in vacant or abandoned properties. If they stay there long enough, they gain tenant rights, making it harder for property owners to evict them and leading to squatter standoffs. The way to resolve the rampant squatter problem is to tackle the affordable housing problem.

people’s knowledge about Nixon pertains to Watergate and his title as the only president to resign from office, surface-level American history. Now, Nixon can have his entire historical memory changed with the help of a couple of naive zoomers ready to begin their radicalization process. Nixon is a very interesting case study within American politics and still continues to be. His work on strengthening international ties, the increased spending on social programs such as Social Security and the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 should be commended. But his mistakes, such as sabotaging peace talks during the Vietnam War before he was president, ending the gold standard and beginning the war on drugs paint an interesting portrait of number thirty-seven.

Trump’s legacy: selling Bibles to pay off lawsuits

By

When it comes to uncommon campaign merchandise, one cannot deny that former president Donald Trump is king. Throughout the course of his three presidential runs, Trump has accumulated a cult following, building his political brand into one of the most recognizable in our nation’s history.

One of Trump’s most successful tools that contributed to his success in politics has been merchandise.

The red Make America Great Again (MAGA) hat has become one of the most recognizable symbols in the American political landscape.

MAGA flags, lawn signs and bumper stickers have donned the houses, lawns and cars of Trump’s supporters since his

2016 presidential campaign

— even surviving his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

However, while most of his campaign merchandise is relatively tame, Trump also has multiple lines of unusual — and at times controversial — merchandise he has marketed throughout his political career.

Some of Trump’s most outlandish merchandise has come in his most recent presidential campaign — one where he has faced mounting legal bills due to multiple lawsuits against him.

For example, Trump’s campaign released Trumpbranded digital trading cards. These trading cards — basically glorified NFTs — were released for $99 each and featured “2,024 limited edition physical cards with ‘different rarities’ that will

be mailed to anyone who purchases 47 cards or more in a single transaction.” The limited edition cards featured a picture of his mugshot from the Fulton County Jail and a piece of the suit he wore in the mugshot. Additionally, 25 cards will come hand-signed by Trump himself, and some will come with an invitation to Mar-a-Lago for dinner with the former president. Trump’s campaign also debuted Trump-branded sneakers at SneakerCon, retailing for $399. The “Never Surrender High-Tops” feature a shiny gold fabric base with American flag detailing and a large gold “T” on the side. The sneakers are “Bold, gold, and tough, just like President Trump,” and are sold out on the retailer’s website. According to the Associated Press, the debut

of these sneakers came just one day after a judge in New York ordered Trump to pay $355 million in legal penalties. Tumps’ campaign recently revealed his latest attempt to relate to his political base with campaign merchandise — ‘God Bless the USA” branded bibles. Retailing for $59.99, the bible features the famous lyrics from Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” on the front cover. According to the Associated Press, along with the King James translation of the Bible, this edition also features “copies of the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence and the Pledge of Allegiance, as well as a handwritten chorus of the famous Greenwood song.”

La vie en film

UTSA French Film Festival projects French-language films

Arte de San Antonio

By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer

Although San Antonio has a lot of history to showcase, it may still be surprising to discover its influence on film history. In the early days, French director Gaston Méliès briefly settled in the city to operate his production company around the Alamo and the Missions before taking off to the rising neighborhood of Hollywood. France even had a colony in Texas at one point and it is one of the six flags that lends its name to the amusement park.

Over a century later, life through the French lens has returned through the UTSA French Film Festival.

The festival opened on March 27 with a showing of “The Super 8 Years,” a home movie documentary made from footage shot by the husband of Nobel Prize laureate Annie Ernaux. Contemporary French films have been shown for free to the public with English subtitles on the Main Campus every Wednesday and Thursday since the festival’s debut. The second screening was

“Gagarine,” a comingof-age film about Youri, a teenager, and his friends as they try to save their homes from demolition in the projects of Paris. It is also the favorite film from this year’s selection for coorganizer Juan Rocha Gómez.

arts & life

“This is a very good social criticism of urban expansion and how a lot of people are left behind in that process [through] government neglect. It’s also very cool because visually, the story itself has a lot of magical realism,” Gómez said, later drawing similarities to the French film classic “La Haine (Hate).” His recommendation of the festival’s lineup for entrylevel French film viewers was the most recent showing, “Retour à Séoul (Return to Seoul).”

“It’s about this young lady that was adopted by a French family from [South] Korea. She’s going back to Korea and she wants to rekindle with her identity, her family, her country, her language.

they have immigrant parents [or] immigrant relatives, so they can follow with the themes of identity, migrating, growing up in another country different than yours, speaking another language.”

The film was presented in collaboration with the UTSA Korean Culture Club. A previous showing of “La Reine Margot (Queen Margot)” was shown in partnership with the History Club. The festival was funded through a grant provided by Villa Albertine, an institution established by the French

Affairs to promote French arts and culture in the United States. After being given a list of films to choose from, organizer and UTSA faculty member Dr. Robert Watson hand-picked the varied selection. Dr. Watson also moderates audience discussions after the screenings. The following selected film, “Rewind & Play,” features famous jazz pianist Thelonius Monk’s experience in Paris in the late 1960s. The festival’s closing film is “De Humani Corporis Fabrica (The Fabric of the Human Body).” It is a unique movie

‘Monkey Man’: Dirty, grim and intense Reviews

By Ezequiel Pena Staff Writer

“Only God can forgive you now.” These words uttered by the protagonist to the main antagonist of “Monkey Man” perfectly sum up the grim atmosphere that is apparent throughout the film’s runtime. Not only that, it also perfectly encapsulates the heavily religious undertones that are shown in the examination of Indian culture present throughout the feature. These aspects, paired with the excellently choreographed action, make for an entertaining watch that will have most interested in looking out for whatever future projects Dev Patel, star actor, writer and director of this film, chooses to partake in.

However, the film was not all that memorable due to an unoriginal story with lackluster villains and a poorly executed

backstory. At first sight, “Monkey Man” seems to be able to handle its goals relatively well as it presents the audience with an intriguing commentary on the sociopolitical stasis of India and how their government can use religion as an excuse to take over the homes of innocent people. However, commentary can only be as interesting as the characters used to enforce it, and unfortunately, this film is unimaginative when it comes to its characters. None of them are memorable and are just cardboard cutouts of the cliched hero’s journey formula. The film constantly keeps

filmed almost entirely inside the human body as surgeons explore its workings across five Parisian hospitals. The dean of the College of Liberal and Fine Arts, Dr. Glenn Martinez, is anticipated to speak at the final showing.

“Rewind & Play” will show on April 9 at 6:30 p.m. in room 2.02.36 in the McKinney Humanities Building and “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” at the same time and location on April 10. The UTSA French Film Festival is expected to return next spring following a successful reapplication for the grant.

Album of the week: Alice In Chains’ ‘Jar of Flies’

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

At 30 years old, “Jar of Flies” serves as a testament to the greatness of the grungeband legend, Alice in Chains. Its melodic riffs combine with the band’s eerie themes to produce one of the greatest albums of all time. Despite taking a unique approach to the project, the group continues to deliver a sound that is both memorable and enjoyable. Heavily borrowing from blues and hard-rock influences, “Jar of Flies” offers a gritty and twangy sound. The exceptional guitar playing of Jerry Cantrell serves as the perfect match for the loud vocals of the late lead vocalist Layne Stayley. The group’s mix of

powerful lyrics, along with beautiful instrumentation, makes “Jar of Flies” a legendary album. Incorporating darker themes for the majority of the album, the lyrics speak powerfully about addictions and supporting friends through their battles. Such is the case with the leading single of the album “No Excuses,” in which Cantrell and Stanley combine to sing, “You, my friend, I will defend, and if we change well I’ll love you anyway.” Songs like “Nutshell” and “I Stay Away” also deal with the struggles of dependency, making them extremely relatable for anyone who has dealt with or had a loved one deal with addiction.

reminding the audience of the protagonist’s backstory, which at first properly gains sympathy, but the more it is shown, the more bland the story seems to get. The villains do not have much to offer either, as they just come off as the usual bad government cliche without adding anything new or interesting to it, despite the religious aspect of Indian politics that could have made these villains more interesting and unique. In the end, most people will end up enjoying the film for its incredible choreography and editing that truly

demonstrate how dirty and grim both the environment and the actions portrayed are. Despite the unrealistic rate at which characters survive blows from fists and the clear influence that the John Wick franchise had on the look and feel of this film, it still has to be appreciated when a director goes out of his way to have his action look and feel as grim and harsh as possible. To that extent, the film succeeds wonderfully, causing the audience to endure every blow and punch shown on screen. Dev Patel walked away from shooting his debut with many broken bones and infections, and that damage is clear on screen, making the action feel much more effective. So, despite the film’s problems with its story, its cinematography and action will be worth watching for most audiences.

Juan Manuel Rocha Gómez/The Paisano

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Reviews

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Practicing commitment during the month of tranquility

By Ruben Solis Staff Writer Cultura

In March, the new moon starts Ramadan, and for one month, over a billion people use these 30 days to reflect and set goals for the rest of the year. It is important to recognize the purpose of this month. By voluntarily abstaining from food and water, individuals can gain a deeper understanding of the challenges billions of people face each day.

College students face unique challenges during Ramadan: adjusting to waking up before dawn and having enough energy to complete assignments, scheduling time with professors and friends around prayer, keeping the body hydrated and getting an adequate amount of sleep. Andrew Snyder, a junior studying real estate and finance, was asked about his experience during this special month.

The first day is said to be the hardest. One must wake up before dawn to fuel their body both physically and spiritually. At dawn, the Fajr prayer takes place.

“Ramadan doesn’t really have a set day when it begins. For the past few years, it has started sometime in March. I am so used to grabbing a quick snack when I am feeling hungry. But during Ramadan, I can not do that anymore until sundown.

So you really notice the hunger and thirst,” Snyder said.

“Each morning begins with me waking up super early in the morning for Suhur, where I just load up on food and water. Then I go back to sleep, wake up, and I’ll do my usual routine of working on homework. However, I do try to refrain from doing too much physical labor to make fasting much easier. Though, usually after the first week or so, I’ll get back into doing more physical labor work after getting accustomed to fasting. The whole thing goes by and once the clock reaches sundown, it’s time to break fast. I’ll start by drinking water and then eating whatever is for dinner.”

From dawn to dusk, there are five prayers: Fajr the pre-dawn prayer, Dhuhr the midday prayer, Asr the afternoon prayer before sunset, Maghrib the evening prayer after sunset and Isha, the night prayer.

The purpose of this schedule is for participants to draw closer to Allah through their sacrifices. If you break your fast, it is advised you start over, but the reward you feel when you complete the 30 days is said to be enlightening.

Andrew further explained the benefits of committing to this schedule.

“Aside from the weight loss from not eating

during the day, fasting during Ramadan brings me closer to Allah spiritually despite me honestly not being the most religious person. It’s nice though to believe in something and that doing this will bring me closer [to] God. The only drawback to fasting is having to deal with feelings of hunger and thirst sometimes.”

Many students are fighting fatigue but building a strong resilience that carries them to the next Ramadan. Fasting can also create a greater sense of empathy for people in the world who may have limited access to food and water. Reflecting on consumption intake is a catalyst for hunger awareness, prompting individuals to take action to address underlying causes such as wars, poverty and inadequate access to resources.

The sighting of a new moon marks the conclusion of Ramadan with a festival that takes place that evening during which friends and family gather to enjoy a meal and reflect on their experiences. Students interested in learning more about Islam can check out the Muslim Student Association at UTSA. The organization meets at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Student Union room 2.03.08 and holds events where you can have fun and diversify your network.

Revisiting Robert Pattinson’s brilliant performance as Batman

Reviews

By Michael Rios Staff Writer

the past 60 years, more than a handful of actors have portrayed Batman. Actors such as Adam West, Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck and most recently, Robert Pattinson have all had the chance to show movie and comic fans different perspectives of the caped crusader. performance that stood out among the rest was Pattinson’s in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman.” When Warner Bros announced in May of 2019 that Matt Reeves cast Pattinson as the new Batman, it was met with a lot of skepticism. Casual movie fans who were not familiar with Pattinson’s work after the Twilight trilogy were not very happy, but the ones who had watched his other performances knew he would be a good choice for the role.

Compared to the other liveaction performances of Batman, Pattinson’s might be the best

ever. Not only does he have the best liveaction Batman suit, but he also has the perfect voice for the superhero, which is not raspy or a voice changer. Pattinson shows a lot of emotion in the film by using his eyes behind the mask. He makes sudden movements while wearing the Batsuit, making it feel like Batman is a real, tangible person.

One great thing about Pattinson’s Batman is that he does not call himself Batman, he calls himself Vengeance. The decision from Matt Reeves to have Bruce Wayne call his Batman persona Vengeance is genius, because throughout the movie Wayne is out for vengeance for the death of his parents. It is not until the movie’s end that Wayne realizes that he has to be a symbol of hope rather than revenge.

Pattinson’s performance as Batman gets all the attention, and rightfully so. It is a great performance, but the way he portrays Wayne is also brilliant. In “The Batman,” Wayne is so immersed in the Vengeance persona that he basically

‘Mission Impossible’ from best to worst

By Marcela Montufar Soria Multimedia Editor

Impossible”

Inspired by a TV show from the 1970s, the “Mission: Impossible” (M:I) film franchise follows the adventures of Ethan Hunt — played by Tom Cruise — a super spy who operates under the IMF, the Impossible Missions Force. More than just an American agent, Hunt is a rebel who fights to keep the world safe alongside his ever-changing gang of friends and allies. Apart from Cruise, Ving Rhames as Luther Stickell is the only actor to appear in all M:I films.

To be a good M:I movie, the installment needs: daredevil sequences, good stunts, including Tom Cruise running at some point, a car scene either as a chase or another display, a chase scene of any kind, at least one emotionally impactful side character death, funny sidekicks, a hard-core female character and Ving Rhames.

1: “Mission: Impossible III” (2006)

Directed by J.J. Abrams, the third installment in the franchise is the best of the bunch. It meets all the aforementioned requirements to be a good M:I film and goes beyond to be a truly thrilling blockbuster. It demonstrates excellence in acting, cinematography and writing. It features, without question, Tom Cruise’s best performance as Ethan Hunt in the entire film series, beautifully accompanied by Phillip Seymore Hoffman as his adversary.

2: “Mission: ImpossibleRogue Nation” (2015)

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie, Rogue Nation is the film in a multi-

film storyline that pits Hunt against Solomon Lane, an English terrorist. The movie is filled with heart-stopping stunts and features the franchise’s best car chase and motorcycle chase scenes so far. It introduces the character of Ilsa Faust, played by Rebecca Ferguson, and solidifies the role of Benji, played by Simon Pegg and first introduced in M:I III as one of Hunt’s closest friends. The film’s highlight is its extended action sequence set during an opera performance, demonstrating excellent fight choreography and sound design.

3: “Mission: ImpossibleFallout” (2018)

The direct sequel to Rogue Nation and also directed by McQuarrie, Fallout introduces Henry Cavill as Hunt’s newest nemesis and brings back his most impactful love interest, Julia, after being gone for two movies to bring fans closure to their story. The film has the best final act of the entire franchise, filled with amazing stunts, including a helicopter fight sequence and a well-choreographed hand-to-hand fight sequence that nearly sees the hero defeated.

4: “Mission: ImpossibleGhost Protocol” (2011)

Directed by Brad Bird, Ghost Protocol has a different feel to the rest of the franchise and stands out due to its great use of spy gadgets and elaborate stunt sequences, most notably a Russian prison escape and Hunt free-climbing the side of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The film has the best Cruise running scene of the franchise, with Hunt trying to outrun a sandstorm to catch a bad guy. However, the movie runs a bit slow at times and features Ving Rhames only as a cameo at the end, making fans feel his absence from the main cast throughout the movie.

5: “Mission: ImpossibleDead Reckoning Part 1” (2023)

The latest of the franchise to come out and also directed by McQuarrie, Dead Reckoning is the first of a two-movie storyline that pits Hunt and his friends against artificial intelligence, throwing them in the middle of an international plot of corruption, with the American government right in the middle.

chooses not to be Wayne. Whenever Pattinson is out of his Batsuit playing Wayne in the movie, he is awkward, antisocial and vulnerable.

This version of Wayne is something audiences were not expecting when the movie came out and it led to them believing that it was a “bad” Wayne, but it makes sense when you realize that Wayne has been Batman every night for the past two years without being the charismatic playboy that Batman fans know him to be.

Pattinson’s performance as Batman and Wayne should not be looked at as “trying to be different,” it should be viewed as a breath of fresh air. Audiences have seen the typical brooding Batman and the charming Wayne archetype on the big screen for way too long. What Robert Pattinson and Matt Reeves were able to do with the iconic character — mixing a mysterious Batman with an antisocial Wayne for the noir-styled movie — is brilliant, fresh and adds more depth to the legend of Batman.

Spoiler warning: This article discusses spoilers for the “Mission:

franchise.

Kara Lee/The Paisano Storm Goodman/The Paisano

Armin Suljovic/The Paisano

Following a midweek upset win over Baylor and a conference series sweep against Tulane, junior outfielder Mason Lytle was named the American Athletic Conference Player of the Week. “It’s an honor. I put in a lot of work with the coaches and the team,” Lytle said. “It’s an honor to be AAC player of the week but it’s even better to get six wins in a row. It’s a blessing, all glory to God.”

During the four-game win streak, Lytle was 12 of 20 at the plate, scored seven runs and notched five RBI. In the series against the Green Wave, Lytle had three hits in each game. This adds to his already impressive season, where he leads the conference in batting average at .405.

In the four games since being named Player of the Week, Lytle’s performance has not dropped in the slightest. Facing the crosstown rival UIW Cardinals and conference foe Charlotte 49ers, Lytle posted seven hits and five RBI, helping UTSA to first place in the AAC.

Prior to his arrival at UTSA, Lytle spent time at San Jacinto Community College and Oregon. A stellar stint with the Ravens led him to the Ducks, in which he appeared in just six games before suffering a season-ending injury. Familiarity with the coaching staff and proximity to home drove Lytle to UTSA for his junior season. “Of course, I wanted to be closer to home, but me and the coaching staff have had a relationship during my three years at San Jac,” Lytle said. “When I decided to transfer, I had been talking to coach Aguayo since day one.”

With over 20 games left to play, Lytle looks to continue his outstanding season and etch his name into the record books at UTSA. Lytle and the Roadrunners are back in action for a road conference series against Memphis. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Friday at FedEx Park.

Tiago Torres named athlete of the week third year in a row

By Haley Aguayo Assistant Sports Editor

with three weekly conference awards under his belt, an unsuspecting Torres credited his team for his accomplishments. “I didn’t expect to actually win it,” Torres said. “I mean it’s really good to receive an award like that. Me and my team really work hard every day to get better, so it’s really good to receive an award like that. I didn’t expect that surely because we just played once last week.”

Though only playing once last week, Torres won in both his singles on his own and doubles alongside teammate and double partner, Tomás Pinho, to take down the then No.62 Oregon Ducks. “I’m really proud of myself and it’s my teammates that helped me every day to get better, as well, to receive and to achieve the rewards,” Torres said.

Torres may be surprised to win his third weekly honor, but it’s surely no surprise with the experience the junior has. He has won six national No.1 championships in tennis 18’s and five in tennis 16’s. He has also won the national Portuguese Masters U16 and competed in the Junior Olympics in Győr, Hungary back in 2017. Over the summer, Torres was able to represent his home country of Portugal in the World University Games in China where he competed in both singles and

Softball gets swept on the deck of the Pirates

doubles matches.

“It’s not the first time that I represented [my country], but the first time that I represented the country in the [World University Games],” Torres said. “I didn’t know that China was really fun to be in and I really liked it, actually, it was a good experience.”

UTSA’s matches against Rice this past weekend were canceled due to rain, but Torres is currently on a two-win streak in singles and won his most previous doubles match alongside fellow Portuguese teammate Tomas Pinho.

“We just made the number three in the country, so we’re doing good,” Torres said of Pinho. “He’s from my country as well. I’ve known him since we were six or seven. He’s probably one of my best friends in the sport.”

Pinho happens to be Torres’ second doubles partner this season, but the two have found success since their pairing. “In doubles, you have a teammate. If you’re not playing good, he can help you,” Torres said. “But it depends on the chemistry. Sometimes you’re not playing good and you win matches and you don’t know why, and sometimes you play great and the other guy is way better than you. So it’s hard. It’s a different sport. It’s not just about you, it’s about your opponent. Sometimes you’re playing amazing, but if your opponent is playing better than you [it] doesn’t matter.”

Torres hopes to continue the momentum and earn a spot in the NCAA championship this year.

UTSA men’s tennis will play against Incarnate Word University at 11 a.m. Saturday at the UTSA Tennis Center.

Baseball routes Charlotte for third consecutive series win

“The mentality was just to attack and let the defense work,” Quiroga said.

A 12 pitch seventh inning shutout from senior pitcher Fischer Kingsbery was all UTSA needed to seal the 13-1 victory. Game two was tied 4-4 through three innings.

In Sunday’s series finale, the ‘Runners brought in two runs in the opening inning. After Matt King, Broc Parmer and James Taussig managed to load the bases, junior infielder Hector Rodriguez was hit by Charlotte pitcher Cameron Hansen, bringing King home. Hansen walked the next UTSA batter, Zane Spinn, to score Parmer. After Charlotte brought in a run the next inning, UTSA scored 11 runs unanswered. “We had good at-bats yesterday and we did it again today,” Hallmark said.

On the bump for UTSA was starter Ulises Quiroga. Through six innings Quiroga allowed six hits, one run and earned seven strikeouts.

Over the next four innings, UTSA scored 10 runs. King got the rally started with an RBI double to center field, allowing Mason Lytle to score. King reached home on a wild pitch and Caleb Hill scored off a fielder’s choice, making the score 7-4 entering the fifth. With the lead, Hallmark brought in sophomore ace Ruger Riojas to keep the 49ers at bay. Riojas tossed four strikeouts across four scoreless innings en route to a 14-4 UTSA

Courtesy of UTSA Athletics Rylan Renteria/The Paisano

Why is there no official men’s soccer team at UTSA?

By William Barnes Multimedia Editor

With soccer being the number one most popular sport in the world and the fourth most popular sport in Texas, soccer’s popularity is undeniable, yet its presence within fully funded men’s collegiate athletics, especially at UTSA, remains absent.

Currently, UTSA is among six out of nine universities within the UT system lacking an official men’s soccer program. The lack of such programs could be due to universities prioritizing resources towards programs that align more with trending demographics, financial considerations, and adhering to Title IX, which mandates equal athletic opportunities for male and female athletes, accounting for participation rates. For example, if female athletes make up 45% of the athletic participation, they should receive roughly 45% of available athletic financial assistance.

With UTSA enrollment trending toward more females than males attending college with 53% to 47% ratio as of Fall 2023, Lisa Campos, the vice president for intercollegiate athletics at UTSA, highlighted this prioritization based on this trending demographic by emphasizing “The UTSA student body is more than 50 percent female and all indications point to that number continuing to grow. Part of our opening assessment [to evaluate various athletic activities] is to look at these types of trends and identify ways to support programs that ensure both male and female students have the chance to take part in a variety of athletic activities.”

men’s soccer club found that the self-run club is constantly grappling with financial constraints, relying heavily on volunteers’ and participants’ contributions to cover club operations as they barely receive much funding from the school. This is even more emphasized by Colin Harper, a team leadership member for the club who said “We get some funding from the school, that keeps getting reduced every year.” Due to these struggles, there is growing fear among the players that the club could potentially be disbanded.

The 2021 C-USA championship team and where are they now?

By Rylan Renteria Distribution Manager

The 2021 UTSA football team garnered national attention with its undefeated record through 11 games. The Roadrunners were ranked as high as No.22 in the College Football Playoff Poll. Capping off its historic season with the program’s first-ever conference title, let’s take a look at where those key contributors ended up.

fifth-round by the Seattle Seahawks. Woolen earned a 2022 Pro Bowl nod as a rookie and finished third in the AP-Defensive Rookie of the Year race.

Zakhari Franklin, wide receiver

Campos went on later to emphasize that the university works collectively to promote shared interests among students through intercollegiate athletics, campus recreation programs, and student organizations with “A good example of this [being] the Men’s Soccer club that is flourishing on campus,” says Campos.

However, a prior conversation with the

The absence of an official collegiate men’s soccer team isn’t unique to UTSA. Disparities between official women’s and men’s collegiate soccer teams could be due to Title IX, the institutions. Currently there are 24 NCAA Division 1 women soccer teams in Texas, including UTSA, while only four NCAA Division 1 teams for men. This has raised concerns from stakeholders who believe that many universities including UH, Rice, and Baylor have the

Wembanyama is here to stay

Sincere McCormick, running back McCormick was the heart of the Roadrunners’ offense in 2021. Posting an impressive 1,479 rushing yards along with 22 rushing touchdowns, Mccormick left UTSA after his junior season to pursue the NFL Draft. After going undrafted, Mccormick signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. His Raiders debut was delayed due to a torn ACL that sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. In the 2023 preseason Mccormick had a threegame stretch where he totaled 15 rushes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. With Josh Jacobs out of Las Vegas, 2024 could be the year

Mccormick gets his shot.

Woolen, defensive back Arguably the most famous former Roadrunner, Tariq Woolen is one of three UTSA players to receive a NFL Combine invite and be selected in the NFL Draft. Woolen impressed scouts with his blazing 4.26 second 40-yard dash and was selected in the

Once regarded as the best receiver in program history, Franklin was nothing but consistent during his time with the ‘Runners. Before transferring to Ole Miss in 2023, Franklin held program records for receptions and receiving yards; he still holds the record for career receiving touchdowns. His first season with the Rebels was marred by injuries as he totaled just four receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown across four games. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was unsure of Franklin’s future with the team last season after Franklin decided to not play against Louisiana-Monroe. There has been no update since.

Corey Mayfield Jr., defensive back

Another key piece of that star-studded 2021 defensive back unit, Mayfield Jr. has had a busy post-UTSA career. He went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free-agent. His stint with the Ravens was less than ideal and was waived before the regular season began. He described his time in Baltimore as a “humbling experience” in an interview with FOXSA but now looks forward to his next opportunity back in San Antonio with the Brahmas. In his debut, Mayfield played limited but key snaps in the Bahamas win over the D.C Defenders.

Spencer Burford, offensive line

A stalwart on the offensive line for four years, Burford was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was a second-team allconference member for UTSA in 2020 and a first-team all-conference member in 2021. He was a consistent starter in his rookie year and played meaningful snaps for the 49ers in their ill-fated 2023 Super Bowl trip. He is the only UTSA alumnus to reach a Super Bowl.

Before the season’s end, the rookie sensation is already a premier face in the NBA

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

There weren’t many doubters in the San Antonio Spurs’ plan 10 months ago when the franchise landed its third No. 1 overall pick, almost guaranteeing the can’t-miss French prospect, Victor Wembanyama, would be the team’s savior.

And there weren’t many doubters on how Wembanyama would turn out. Most people would say when his career is all said and done that he may win an MVP or two, while bringing the Spurs back to title contention and even winning an NBA championship. But there were consternations on how long it would take for Wembanyama to adjust to the league, and how fast he could enter the “best players in the NBA” conversation.

But now in the final month of the regular season — and just a few games left for the 19-59 Spurs — there’s no discussion among any honest basketball watcher about how successful Wembanyama’s rookie campaign has been. The once-debated debate between him or Oklahoma City’s Chet Holmgren for Rookie of the Year is over. The question of

By Alessandra Avila Assistant

PGA golfer Akshay Bhatia won his first Valero Texas Open on Sunday evening at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. After losing a six-shot lead, Bhatia and Denny McCarthy tied up before taking the 18th hole. When both players knocked in a birdie, a sudden death playoff at the 18th hole would become the deciding factor as to who would take the 89th and final spot at the Masters.

Although McCarthy already had a secured spot at the Masters, Bhatia was hoping to punch his ticket to Augusta.

“I knew it was a two-man race,” Bhatia

who the best player is in San Antonio is set ––and for years to come. And now Wembanyama is a heavily marketed player, with his 8-foot wingspan being shown off holding H-E-B grocery bags on a billboard off I-35, multiple Louis Vuitton advertisements placed around the city and his recently announced “Alien” mid-top Nike shoes dropping in May.

After missing out on the first two NBA Rookie of the Month honors to Holmgren, Wembanyama has been the recipient of the trophy in all three months since. As the season has progressed, it’s become more obvious that the Frenchman has not only become the penciled-in Rookie of the Year, but is now a no-doubt premier player in the league.

It didn’t take long for Wemby to separate himself from the rookie class to among the faces of the NBA. The real jump came after the All-Star break, when the Spurs played the Los Angeles Lakers and Wembanyama and LeBron James went toe-to-toe in Crypto.com Arena, with the 7-foot-3 sensation becoming the youngest player ever to record a 5x5 stat line in the 113-108 loss on Feb. 23. Wembanyama had arguably his best game to date with his 40-point performance against the New York

Knicks in a 130-126 win on March 29.

The Spurs have since gotten to showcase Wembanyama as a solo act. Since San Antonio announced that starters Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan were out for the remainder two weeks of the season with injury, Wemby has gotten four games to be the opposing teams’ focal point.

His averages in that span? 26.3 points, 13.5 boards and seven assists per game, compared to his 21.1, 10.6 and 3.8 season averages. Sunday’s 133-126 double overtime loss against Philadelphia notched another feat for Wembanyama, where he finished with his 25th 20-point and 10-rebound game of the season. The rest of the rookie class has 19 of those games combined, with no one else having more than six.

“I was surprised sometimes by what was actually hard in this league and what was actually easy,” he said of his nearly concluded rookie season. “You can’t know before you experience it.”

Wembanyama elaborated on his astonishment.

“I would’ve thought that it would be way harder on the body, like the pain and everything.

A race to the Masters

his enthusiasm for his first Masters. What made this moment special for him was that Saturday marked the 10th anniversary of Bhatia’s participation in the Drive, Chip & Putt competition, where he placed sixth. Winning the VTO and placing in the Masters has officially made him the first person to compete in the Drive, Chip & Putt as well as the Masters.

“I played Agusta in 2020, I had a member take me out, I remember how amazing that place is,” Bhatia said of the famed Masters’ golf course. “But to realize that I’m playing in the Masters next week is crazy. It was on my mind all week but I tried to stick to my game plan. I have more and bigger goals

during the playoff round so that Bhatia’s physician could tape up his shoulder. “When I made the putt in regulation, I raised my arm and put it in kind of a uncomfortable spot, kind of dislocated it,” Bhatia said. “It’s happened before, I had it happen in Bermuda but it’s just gonna feel a little loose. My physio [will] take care of me, so I’m not too concerned.”

This was a great experience, not only for him but for the fans as well. Despite his nerves, he had the vision to stay focused and earn his spot at the Masters. “I wrote ‘WTW’, so ‘wire to the wire’ was

What was harder than I imagined was going out every night against superstars and actually applying the scouting, and the coaches [on] what he wants you to do.”

Perhaps his 20-year-old body won’t face the aches and pains his 30-year-old body will, but for Wembanyama to already have never-beforeseen highlight compilations posted all over the internet and having several historic outings before being legally allowed an alcoholic beverage can only be compared to legends such as James or Michael Jordan or Kareen AbdulJabbar. This isn’t to say that he will complete the Mount Rushmore of the NBA. But it has to be acknowledged that through 78 games of the 82-game season, Wemby, who has out-dueled the game’s best players, finished with multiple 30-pluspoint games and leads the league in blocks by a mile, is already one of the best players in the world.

And just remember: this is supposed to be the worst he’ll ever be.

to

know I’m on the right path,” Bhatia said. “I did a great job this week, I played some phenomenal golf and I learned a lot about myself last week and I think it carried over to this week.” These two players proved to be the highlight of the tournament based on the size of the crowds, and the spectators showed a huge amount of support to all the players who showed up this year at the VTO. Although spectators loved to see Bhatia play, McCarthy was not too far from him. Although the sudden death round was important for both parties, McCarthy had already secured a spot at the Masters, making this moment for Bhatia that much more memorable. magnitude and enthusiasm of the surrounding specific players witness to their significance and influence on the competition. It provides unforgettable experiences for both players and spectators. The VTO both established stars and coming talents a stage where they could display their abilities and interact with golf fans. Bhatia will have his chance to make a statement at the Masters, but for now, he can enjoy his time as VTO champion.

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