Paisano volume 51, issue 13

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UTSA A unanimously passed amendment in the U.S. House of Representatives will expand UTSA’s cyber security role within the Department of Homeland Security.

Volume 51

Issue 13

April 28 - May 25, 2015

Shooting on UTSA Blvd

Pavela Bambekova Staff Writer

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano A shooting on UTSA Boulevard near Avalon Place, injures one UTSA student and another individual. The case remains open.

San Antonio Frost bank awaits a City Council vote in hopes of placing its headquarters downtown in a privatepublic partnership proposal.

U.S. Riots in Baltimore continue as demonstrators protest the death of Freddie Gray, an African American who allegedly received spinal injuries during his arrest.

Matthew Duarte News Editor

@matthew_duarte news@paisano-online.com Two men were shot and wounded as their car pulled out of the Avalon Place apartment complex on UTSA Boulevard in the early hours of Sunday, April 26. According to UTSAPD, one victim was shot in the abdomen, the other in the arm.

Students were alerted through the UTSA Alert system, urging them to “stay away from this area.”

The incident took place less than six months after two female UTSA students were the victims of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault and burglary at Avalon in the fall of last year.

Psychology Junior Roberto Guerra was surprised to hear about the shooting. “I had no idea it was this bad so close to campus,” he said.

Representatives at Avalon Place declined to comment, but the apartment complex has been adamant in reiterating that the incident did not occur on their property.

Messages to Peak Campus, Avalon’s managing company, were not returned.

“I haven’t seen any change in security since Sunday,” said junior public health major and Avalon resident Brittany Kirkham.

“I’ve seen a security guard walk around the halls and in between buildings,” said Guerra, who has lived at Avalon since last July. “I’d like to say I see him on the weekends

more … I definitely noticed him after the kidnapping incident.”

“Violent crimes that happen near UTSA are rare in comparison to other parts of the city,” according to the university. “Crimes that happen on UTSA campuses are even more infrequent.”

“I have felt unsafe since the two incidents that have occurred,” said Kirkham. “This is my first year living at Avalon and I’m not re-leasing.”

Guerra said he felt safe living at Avalon “until I heard about the kidnappings.” Now he says he “can’t wait ‘til the fall to be out of there.”

No arrests have been made in the case. However, anyone with information is asked to contact UTSAPD at 210-4584911.

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano UTSA’s 2014 Annual Security Report states that seven assaults have occurred over the course of the 2014-2015 academic

Caroline Traylor News Assistant

Sports Conference USA will hold its 2015 Baseball Tournament in Hattiesburg, Miss. May 20-24, while the Softball Tournament will be May 10-12 in Birmingham, Ala.

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com Months ago, the Great Minds in the STEM program invited several UTSA students to serve as STEM captains at Highlands High School. The one-day volunteer event entailed motivating students interested in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs.

During the event, young men and women from different socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds agreed on solutions, cooperated and created a science based project. Would this have happened 60 years ago?

“Not really,” says Dr. Craig Jordan, senior associate dean for the college of sciences. “When I went to college in 1967, it was only a couple of years after females were allowed to go out at night and study in the library. In a sense, it was not that long ago we started treating females differently, and a lot of change has occurred fairly recently.”

Given the past history of sexism in the workplace and higher education— when the Equal Pay Act was signed in 1963 women were

making just 58 cents for every dollar a man earned — it seems as if there is no better time than today to be female.

Women are definitely making strides to close the gender gap in science degrees. The male-female divide in STEM degrees and careers is smaller than ever before as more and more hiring faculty boards are looking for ways to diversify their staff. In fact, the Cornell Institute for Women in Science recently found that tenure-track faculty in engineering, economics, biology, and psychology fields are twice as likely to hire female candidates than similarly qualified male candidates; however, women are still underrepresented in some STEM fields, especially in mathematics and computer science.

UTSA’s Fall 2014 profile shows that out of the 28,628 students enrolled, there were 14,091 females and 14,537 males. Thus, the university’s female -tomale ratio is close. When it comes to specific STEM programs, however, a gender gap is still evident in engineering majors. For example, Civil and Environmental Engineering has

See STEM, Page 3

UTSA offices put forth collaborative efforts in combatting sexual assault on campus

Legislature SB 714 seeks to ban automated traffic devices including red light cameras. The bill has passed the Senate and awaits House approval.

UTSA STEM inches toward gender equality

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com According to data gathered by the National Institute of Justice, 35 incidents of rape occur each academic year for every 1,000 women attending college or university. As stated in the 2014 UTSA Police Department’s Annual Security Report, there have been just seven incidents of sexual assault this academic year.

For a university of UTSA’s size, touting female enrollment of 14,091 as of Fall 2014, the numbers do not add up.

But to say that the institution misrepresents the amount of

sexual violence occurring on campus is an oversimplification of the process of reporting and also dismisses the deeply rooted sense of shame and stigma that society places on survivors of rape who decide to report their attackers.

The National Crime Victimization Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2014 found that 80 percent of college students did not report a sexual assault that occurred, as opposed to 67 percent of non-students surveyed. Perhaps a contributing factor to this lack of reporting (as theorized by the same study) is the disconcerting fact that among college

women, nine in ten survivors know their attacker.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is the landmark federal civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program that receives federal funding.

Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment, rape and sexual assault, as the victim is deprived of equal and free access to education.

UTSA’s Title IX Coordinator is Leonard Flaum. Operating out of UTSA’s Equal Opportunity Office (EOS), Flaum is tasked with receiving, investigating and eventu-

ally reporting complaints of sexual assault to UTSAPD. Once reproted a student can then choose whether they would like to pursue charges through the criminal process or through the university’s administrative office, Student Conduct and Community Standards. All the while, the EOS facilitates the support for the student’s needs by reaching out to Counseling Services, Health Services or, if the student lives in the same dorm as their attacker and would like to move, Housing and Residence Life.

Flaum gives an example of the academic relief offered to a survivor of assault who came to the EOS Office about a year ago: “It was around March when we found out about the issue.

The student had stopped attending classes, so we then talked to that student and asked what that student wanted. We were able to work with the faculty and get that student Incompletes (on ASAP).

They were then given a timeline to complete the coursework. So, by working with the professors, we allowed that student to complete their schoolwork for that year even

though they weren’t attending classes, because of what had happened.”

Sgt. Thomas Calluci of the university’s police department believes that “the university is “far ahead of many other universities when it comes to sexual violence,” Calluci described the collaboration of the many administrative offices in dealing with complaints of sexual assault after the investigative team has gathered information as “a lot of tentacles being spread out really quickly.”

When asked to explain the exceptionally low number of assaults on the record at UTSA, Callucci stated, “If we identify an offender and the complainant does not wish to pursue criminal charges, we call that exceptionally cleared; So as far as I know, does that explain why? I don’t know.”

Sgt. Calluci went on to dispel the stereotype that rapes occur more frequently among the Greek community at UTSA. “Before I was promoted to lieutenant, I was in charge of Criminal Investigations for eight years. And quite honestly, I don’t remember one See ASSAULT, Page 2

SPORTS - Baseball

ARTS- UTSA Underground

WEB - Blog

Relive the odd terror of Courage the Cowardly Dog on Tooned In.

Take a look at an under appreciated color: black is the new black.

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UTSA handles Southern Miss in a 2-1 series victory.

Take a look at a truly underground arts festival.

ARTS - Fashion

Please recycle this newspaper!

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NEWS

April 28 - May 25, 2015

UTSA entrepreneurs compete in $100k contest Anthony Mendoza News Assistant

@dAnthonyMendoza news@paisano-online.com Business propositions, partnerships and a chance to win a $100,000 CITE competition are at stake but UTSA entrepreneurial students only have eight minutes.

UTSA’s Center for Innovation and Technology Entrepreneurship (CITE) biannual $100,000 Student Technology Venture Competition pits 10 business teams, which consist of UTSA engineering and business students,each other as they present a prototype to a panel of judges who then decide which product is a worthy investment.

In its eight years, CITE — the largest undergraduate business plan competition in the country — has had over 1,000 students participate in the Technology Entrepreneurship Boot Camp for young entrepreneurs, with 500 of those students continuing on to the $100k CITE competition.

“What makes (entrepreneurship) attractive — in my view — is it gives you a different way of thinking,” said UTSA Chief Commercialization Officer and professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Dr. Cory Hallam. “If you look at my graduate class I teach the students about having an entrepreneurial radar so they can identify a problem that is big enough and has a large enough need that it needs to be solved and in doing so creating a business model.”

Dr. Anita Leffel, director of entrepreneurship programs and senior lecturer in the Department of Management, explained that the entrepreneurial field is full of small businesses that are most in need of innovation, which is why entrepreneurs are a necessary commodity in the workforce.

Students enrolled in Dr. Leffel’s undergraduate course are given various outlets to understand entrepreneurship; that is, students identify a product, determine whether or not that product has potential for commercialization, identify the customer and develop a business plan while learning the intricacies of their target market.

Doing so, engineering students must develop a proof of concept, showing that it has some feasibility toward commercialization.

Business students then take the product and develop a business model to answer the question ‘How will I make money?’ Combined, the two contrasting fields, whose technical language often do not mesh, both aim at identifying what Leffel describes as a real problem and finding the best logical solution that grabs an investor’s attention.

“We give (students) a road map. From day one we are giving them a road that if you follow and you come to class, and you make a presentation it will culminate into the (CITE) competition,” said Leffel. “I believe anybody can learn the skill set of an entrepreneur, and I wish everyone was taking a course in entrepreneurship

just to open their minds and eyes to the fact that anybody can learn the tools of an entrepreneur.”

Although entrepreneurship can yield prosperous outcomes, Hallam explained certain entrepreneurial components, such as being able to clearly articulate a product or service, separate successes from failures. Entrepreneurial endeavors, Hallam explained, include calculated risks rather than gambling, which considers odds instead of pre-identifying potential risks.

“I can pretty much guarantee that every young start up that does not spend a lot time talking to potential customers and discovering their customer base will fail because your customers will give you great information on what they want and what they currently don’t have,” said Hallam.

As the semester ends, UTSA CITE participants’ experiences culminate into an eight-minute pitch that determines if their product survives the drawing boards. Conceptum Biologics — a team consisting of members Paula Ngyuen, Zachary Espericveta, Daniela Arriaga, Victor Aguero, Jair Castillo and Ehab Abdelaziz — will present their Cricothyroid Membrane Detection Device.

The team explained that, normally, when an accident occurs or breathing is obstructed, paramedics must perform a cricotrhotemy, a procedure that makes an incision into the neck creating an emergency airway. The procedure, however, first

requires finding the crcothyroid membrane, which is done through touching the neck, leaving room for human error and inaccuracies that can lead to death.

The device presented by Conceptum Biologics will more accurately locate the membrane, reducing risks associated with the existing procedure.

Espericveta and teammate Paula Nguyen both describe the preparation for the CITE competition as a unique experience unlike any other course they have taken at UTSA. Unlike a typical course, the team remarked that the course isn’t something you can forget, but rather it changes your perspective on how to approach investors and communicate.

Students aren’t simply going to class and reading material, but rather incorporating their work into a business pitch, creating their own job instead of getting a job.

“It feels like real life for me. This doesn’t feel like I’m doing it for a class, this feels like it’s my job. This is what I worry about — my other courses are nothing compared to this (competition) at all,” said Espericveta. “Because this is something that could be our future, it’s not just a project that we just turn in and then it’s gone.

So preparation is different.

You want to make sure it’s instilled in you. This stuff you don’t want to forget a couple months later. You need to know it. You want to understand it.”

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Director of Counseling cites acquaintance rape as reason for under reporting .

ASSAULT: what to know

standing out that was fraternity or Greek related. Are they more frequent? No.” He concluded, stating education is key in preventing sexual crimes on campus and educating and engaging with the community are important to prevention.

Counseling Services may also get involved when a student reports an assault. The director, Dr. Thomas Baez, wants students to know that their services are free, safe, comfortable and confidential.

He noted the prevalence of acquaintance rapes and cited that as a reason students do not want to report. He stated that students being able to make their own choices whether to report or not is important to the recuperation process. Counseling Services works in tandem with the Police Department and the Rape Crisis Center to aid survivors of assault.

Another service available to survivors is the 24 hour oncall hotline available through Counseling Services. Upon calling, students are advised of their options and walked through the processes as they decide the route best for them. The number to the hot-

line is (210) 223-7233.

The office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS) is another outlet where a survivor can be heard. After EOS investigates, if the complainant chooses to pursue the matter through this office, SCCS would carry out the adjudication process.

Assistant Director Christa Winkler describes her office and its collaboration with the other administrative offices involved as a “safety net” for students, reiterating the idea that students should make their own decisions in choosing how to pursue cases.

Whichever route a survivor of an assault chooses to take, administrators want them to be aware of their options and of the support resources available to students of UTSA. “Obviously this is an underreported crime, and we want to encourage people, number one, to protect themselves so that they can prevent the crime from occurring and two, if it does occur, to please report it so that they can get the help that they need,” said Executive Director of Communications Christi Fish.

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NEWS

3

April 28 - May 25, 2015

Frontrunners contend as race nears end UTSA alumnus creates first local farmers market Daniel Shaw Staff Writer

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com Election day is right aroudn the corner. On May 9, the City of San Antonio will hold its bi-annual muncipal elections, in which the city selects its mayor and city council representatives.

Ivy Raylor picked up the reigns of San Antonio mayor after Julian Castro resigned to accep a position as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Although more than a dozen candidates will be on the ballot, most groups and outlets, including UTSA, which hosted a debate last month , have identified four clear frontrunners for the mayoral seat.

Despite Taylor’s temporary stewardship of the office, as well as previously stating that she would not run again, she has since announced her candidacy.

Among Taylor’s priorities is economic growth and development. She seeks to make San Antonio an economic powerhouse that many international companies will flock to. Taylor has stated that in order to stimulate a robust economy with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, a renewed focus must be geared toward the education of younger generations.

Taylor is also a firm believer in what she refers to as “smart government.”

Criticizing Washington D.C. and even Austin for faltering under partisanship and “political games,” Taylor is campaigning on a government that is receptive and responsive to the people it serves. Finally, Taylor hopes San Antonio maintains all of its ethnic and religious diversity. Her campaign embraces the idea of all San Antonians having an equal voice and no matter how large the city may grow, it will always be one community: “Equally, we must take responsibility and actively pursue our vision for our community.”

Also campaigning for the mayor’s office is Mike Villarreal. Villarreal was previously the State Representative for District 123 in San Antonio. Villarreal states he will seek to improve San Antonio in a number of

ways, beginning with job growth and education. “I have a single heartfelt goal – to make San Antonio a city of opportunity for our children,” says the former representative. His plan intends to focus on what he considers a serious skill gap in San Antonio’s education system, stating that there are not enough students to fill every new job opening. One possible solution that he offers is for the state education system and companies to create specialized training programs for high school students as well as college students.

Villarreal also recognizes that San Antonio is the home to key military installations, and therefore a prime target for cyber attacks. His office claims that he will create a nonprofit organization whose full -time staff would promote an expanded cyber security industry as well as the success of San Antonio’s current cyber security.

With Villarreal’s stated history as a nonpartisan lawmaker, he states he will continue to reach across the aisle in order to serve his constituents. To this end, Villarreal has pledged that once in office he will remain bipartisan. “I will work with Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians (and) Green Party Members to get the job done.”

Former District 26 state Senator Leticia Van de Putte’s name will also appear on the ballot. A pharmacist and small business owner, Van de Putte hopes to take her 20 years of legislative experience to the mayor’s office. Van de Putte’s stance on infrastructure sees the quality of roads and transportation as one of the reasons job growth has not been as high as it could be. According to TxDOT, there are at least seventeen major roadways in San Antonio that require serious attention; Van de Putte believes tending to these crumbling streets will ease traffic and attract more business.

Her plans also include improvements to the city’s drainage system to prevent rain overflow into homes and greater attention to sidewalks. She believes that better lighting and sidewalk barriers will significantly

reduce pedestrian injuries and promote safety.

The artistic and cultural integrity of San Antonio is another area of importance for Van de Putte. She hopes to foster interest in supporting programs such as San Antonio Children’s Do Seum, The Magik Theatre and educational centers such as San Antonio Cultural Arts and The Carver Community Cultural Center. “A creative community is more than classical artists,” says Van de Putte.

“We must cultivate and encourage creative small businesses.”

Public safety is also one of Van de Putte’s primary concerns, and she plans to work very closely with San Antonio law enforcement.

Her office claims that it will improve the safety of the community by fostering park patrols by the police, initiating body cameras for appropriate divisions and investing in “appropriate placement” of nonviolent peoples into appropriate treatment.

Finally, Tommy Adkisson will be running in the mayoral race. A long established figure in the Texas political system, Adkisson is a devoted student of history and aims to further serve the City of San Antonio. As Chairman of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, Adkisson is focused on San Antonio’s roadways and transportation system. It is his belief that the path toward a strong San Antonio begins with improvements to the highway systems, reforms to mass transit programs and repairs to damaged roadways.

Strengthening neighborhoods is another point that Tommy Adkisson feels strongly about. He is keen to work closely with residents, merchants and commercial property owners to make neighborhood revitalization into a reality. His campaign maintains that vibrant and well maintained communities will spark job growth and provide healthier and safer environments for countless residents.

With the election quickly approaching, voters will be presented with a diverse choice of candidates with campaigns that promise many great things for the city of San Antonio.

MariaCristina Moreno Staff Writer

@ThePaisano news@paisano-online.com UTSA graduate and Sam Houston High School world geography teacher Rick Trevino is bringing Eastside Pride Market to the city’s food desert.

“Why not bring a farmers market to the East Side, and not just any farmers market ­— there is nothing unique about that — what will make it unique is we establish a Double Up on Food Bucks program,” Trevino asked himself after hearing about the program on NPR. The federal program Double Up on Food Bucks was created to promote healthier food choices to lower-income families and underserved communities.

“It turns out that they were already thinking about a farmers market, they just haven’t done the lay work,” said Trevino.

Trevino turned to his class for aid, creating a lesson plan to research on the East Side’s food desert dilemma.

Food deserts are an urban community predicament where certain communities face limited availability of quality produce. Food deserts face four problems: high poverty, scarce grocery stores, poor food quality and low vehicle access.

The proposed farmers market takes care of the first three problems. Right now he is in the process of collaborating with Meals-onWheels and Earn-A-Bike to get food delivered to those who are homebound.

Along with another

program will comply. “I don’t want a six month program — I want a six decade program, and there is no reason why it can’t be that way,” said Trevino.

Mayoral candidates have also shown their support to Trevino’s cause. Leticia Van de Putte stated in her Public Health and Wellness policy, proposing that the city “test programs like Sam Houston High School’s community garden plots and farmer’s market and see if they are successful at finding ways to spread such locally based initiatives throughout the city.”

“I really do think UTSA prepared me to actually see that I can take my lessons outside of the classroom and impact the community, and it has been fun,” said Trevino. “I’m really proud

MariaCristina Moreno, The Paisano UTSA alumnus, James Trevino hopes to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to his community with Eastside Pride Farmers Market.

teacher’s geometry class, of my students and I’m glad The program doubles the Trevino’s team put together I work here.”

SNAP funds for approved a proposal for the Eastside Trevino is confident in fruits and vegetables at parPromise Neighborhood, his students’ potential, deticipating farmers markets. presenting them with a lo- spite their socioeconomic Originating in New York, cation that will have an im- status. He encourages new Double Up on Food Bucks pact on the community and teachers to take a chance on has extended to a handful the students of Sam Hous- these students. “If you are of other states. However, ton. With hardly any hesita- single, young and energetic, the program then you has not reached got it. These Texas. Trevino is communiready to change ties need that. that energy; To get San you have Antonio in-James Trevino to be brave volved, TrevinoFounder of Eastside Pride Farmers Market and don’t be knew he needed afraid of failto convince the Eastside tion, the Eastside Promise ure.”

Promise Neighborhood Neighborhood and the San Eastside Pride Farmers program to support a new Antonio Food bank will Market will be open to the farmers market for the now fund the market for the public every third Saturday community. Eastside Promnext six months. of the month at Sam Housise Neighborhood is a comTrevino’s next move is ton High School. munity program that works to attract the Double Up with about 18,000 San Anon Food Bucks program tonio citizens facing povto their market. Having alerty and promotes housing, ready applied for the grant, education and health.

Trevino hopes by June the

“You have to be brave and don’t be afraid of failure.”

STEM: UTSA FEMALE STUDENTS FIND SUCCESS IN FAME PROGRAM

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Great Minds in STEM program provides women with opportunities to pursue their interests in science.

enrolled 122 females and 466 males; Electrical and Computer Engineering has enrolled 152 females and 868 males; Mechanical Engineering has enrolled 142 females and 1,069 males.

There is a smaller gap in Biomedical Engineering, with an enrollment of 128 females and 172 males.

The gender gap is smaller in some of the majors from the College of Sciences. Though males pre-

dominantly enroll in Computer Science – 793 males compared to 140 females – females tend to lead enrollment in Biology and Chemistry. There are 247 females compared to 221 males enrolled in Chemistry seeking degrees, and there are 1,661 females on the route to being biologists compared to 1,087 males.

Though more and more females are enrolling and being accepted in STEM

programs, a question arises as to how many of the females that are enrolled in such programs continue on the STEM path.

“If you were to follow people in their careers, I think that is where you see females lagging behind,” said Jordan. “Look at full professors, deans, chairs; I think that is where disparity is seen, and I don’t know why.”

During the 1800s, the

justification for discrimination against women in higher education was women would be wasting their “resources” for intellectual boost, diminishing these same “recourses” for other jobs, like child bearing.

“A hundred years ago, a young woman like me wasn’t afforded the same opportunities as today. Life placed different expectations on her, expectations of running a households and raising a family, not curing cancer or winning a Nobel Prize,” says Brianna Bal, a sophomore in the Facilitated Acceptance to Medical Education (FAME) Program. “Being a young woman in science, I want to continue on the path my predecessors paced and expand it even more. Why can’t I, as a young woman, raise a family AND be a physician?”

Change comes with evolving progress, and slowly, the US has grown out of the discriminatory mentality. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it ille-

gal to discriminate against someone on the basis on sex, and when it comes to women specifically, the act also made it illegal to discriminate females because of pregnancy or childbirth.

Also, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to pay men and women different wages if they perform equal tasks in the same workplace. These laws and many others have helped to narrow the gap.

“I think it would be interesting to see what the case would be if we did not have the laws we have today,” says Jordan. “It is very hard to discriminate against gender now.”

Today, academic institutions are not supposed to discriminate on gender for both student enrollment and faculty hiring purposes.

UTSA, on its route to Tier 1, reflects gender equality.

In fact, when glancing at the students in the FAME Program, there are noticeably more females than males preparing to become physicians.

“When applying for the FAME Program, I never once thought my gender would be something that would prevent my acceptance,” says Bal. “I think this really says something about how far we’ve come in our society.”

Great Minds in STEM offers many more opportunities similar to the event at Highlands High School that many students can benefit from. Giselle Castillo, a freshman Biology major, is a beneficiary of the program.

“Great Minds in STEM is funding a portion of my college education and for that, I am forever grateful,” says Castillo. The fact that they chose me, a girl, to receive the scholarship, solidifies the idea that girls are becoming more and more prominent in the science field.”

The Paisano

4 {The Paisano} Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Lopez

Managing Editor: Mia Cabello

News Editor:

Matthew Duarte

Arts Editor:

Beth Marshall

Sports Editor:

Shabazz I. Dawkins

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini

Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas

April 28 - May 25, 2015

Optional exam week, the smart move forward Editorial

Exam week will take a new direction beginning this spring. A new UTSA directive allows professors to choose whether or not to administer final exams during the pre-determined finals week. The refreshing change will shorten many students’ semesters from 16 weeks to 15 weeks as well as provide students with a more structured study period.

Although intended to allow

students more time to study, dead days have become days dedicated to cramming material taught during the months leading to finals week. Allowing finals to be completed the week prior to their dedicated week restricts the amount of time available for procrastination, thus creating a healthier amount of time to devote to wrapping up each class.

Some classes require a final presentation or paper in lieu

of a multiple choice exam, while other professors administer their exams online.

A presentation will take some time, but turning in a paper, especially if it’s through Blackboard, and taking a test online doesn’t really require students to physically show up on the predetermined exam date.

In addition to the academic benefits, the positive outcomes also carry over to life

Marcus Connolly

Social Media Editor: Rebecca Conejo

Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha

Ads Manager:

Edidiong Adiakpan

Senior Copy Editor: Kate Kramer

{Staff Writers}

{Staff Photographers} Robert Pistochi {Contributing Writers} Olivia Ybarra, Colleen Adams, Linda McNulty, Jordan Sanchez, Darryl Sherrod, Jordon Reese

{Adviser}

Diane Abdo

{Advisory Board}

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods.

The Paisano is distributed on all three UTSA campuses — Main, Downtown and the Institute of Texan Cultures. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tripoint and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA Main Campus.

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Rubio, the right Republican Commentary A Miami City Commissioner who worked his way up the Florida political ladder, Senator Marco Rubio, is a fine choice for the GOP 2016 candidacy.

Senator Rubio has constantly championed limited government, a principle that the country was founded and prospered on. Rubio will help return the country to this foundation. Curbing government involvement in people’s lives and the private sector has positive effects on the economy, such as job growth and lower taxes.

Senator Rubio will take those conservative values to Washington. He believes that one of the best ways to promote job growth is by indefinitely extending the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, which have

significantly lowered tax rates for millions of tax payers. On top of that, he would push to reform the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) and repeal the federal estate tax. Rubio’s focus on these two particular issues is crucial due to AMT’s capacity for abuse as it is a measure that ensures wealthier Americans don’t receive too many tax incentives. Additionally, the federal estate tax siphons money from private citizens who attempt to sell real estate of any kind.

One of Senator Rubio’s primary concerns in office would be to repeal and replace Obamacare. Although Obamacare sounds nice, it is extremely difficult to understand and it is ineffective.

Its design has led to many insurance companies going out of business. This is because millions of Americans had health insurance through their employers and it was

Letter to the Editor As UTSA students gear up for final exams, the affordability and accessibility of higher education remains at stake in Washington. Too many of our students encounter financial barriers to higher education, and too many others leave college with a mountain of debt. The level of student debt nationwide now totals more than $1 trillion – surpassing credit card debt. It is imperative that we pursue policies to reduce the student debt that burdens so many. San Antonio was recently recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as one of the top five cities in the nation in increases in Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion rates. More than half of San Antonio students graduating from high school now apply for federal financial aid to help assist with the high

costs of college.

We need to make applying for financial aid less of a burden on you and your families.

Talented students should not find the FAFSA process to complicated and difficult to complete—there are steps we can take to simplify the process. I am looking forward to working on this issue this Congress.

However, we continue to face big challenges from those in Congress who do not believe in federal aid to education and who oppose adequate funding for student aid. In their budget this year, Republicans tried to limit Pell Grants, which would make college unobtainable for many students of limited means across this country.

Unfortunately, attacks like these are not unusual. The top Republican on the Subcommittee that oversees Higher

outside of school. If students have to move, prepare for graduation or start a job earlier, getting finals out of the way can mean having an extra week to do so. After getting used to a semester so jampacked with school, work and extra-curricular activities, a few days to regroup in the midst of the busiest time of the year is a welcomed time to take a breath.

The new directive is a

smart move for students and professors, so long as the week before finals doesn’t become the new finals week.

Professors who keep to their assigned final exam day are just as helpful as the professors who choose to give theirs early. It’s about balancing, and the focus needs to remain on alleviating stress on professors crunched for time and students running low on steam.

Satire

I’ll just sit here by Christopher Breakell

Photo Editor:

Anthony Mendoza, Patrick Martinez, Robert Avila, Pavela Bambakova, Savin Weerasinghe, Brittany Brink, Maria Cristina Moreno, Daniel Shaw, Teia Herrera, Alysha Gallagher, Christopher Breakell, Brayden Boren, Caroline Traylor, Julian Gonzales

OPINION

not long before many, if not all of them, were informed that their coverage would soon be cancelled in accordance with the “new government plan.”

A product of the American Dream, Rubio’s family history is a testament to the relevance of the American Dream. Rubio’s parents risked their lives coming to America from Cuba and worked hard to build a future for their son; their story gives Americans hope. The American Dream may not be the same “a car in every garage and a chicken in every pot” dream that it was generations ago, but the idea behind it hasn’t changed. The American Dream is about anyone having the capacity to be happy and to forge his or her own destiny.

Daniel Shaw Staff Writer

Education policy in the U.S. House of Representatives has told her colleagues that “it is not the role of the Congress to make college affordable and accessible.”

Despite challenges, I continue to work to help ensure that all Roadrunners are able to achieve their full God-given potential. In the past year, I have supported legislation to avoid the doubling of interest rates on federal loans and to continue adequate funding for Pell Grants and other types of federal student financial assistance. I successfully authored the “More Education” tax credit to encourage those seeking education beyond high school.

Also known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), this law provides a tax cut to students or their families by up to $10,000 over four years as reimbursement

Finals begin next week, which for students means a steady flow of late-night cramming in the JPL to prepare for the most heavily graded exams of the semester. During this time, students’ hard work, effort and progress all semester can be assured or destroyed by a single exam. Finals week is often the most difficult time of the year when many students struggle to overcome issues of loss of focus and sleep deprivation. To combat this and to better help students prepare for their finals, UTSA has elected to turn the McKinney Humanities building (MH) into a Starbucks.

To accommodate the overwhelming student need, the MH will be cleared out and each room will serve as its own, fully functioning Starbucks franchise. Students will be able to get their coffee 2-3 minutes quicker than usual and will be able to order stronger drinks than were previously available.

“Each drink will contain the maximum amount of caffeine legally consumable by the adult human body,” explained M.H 3.021 franchise owner Xavier Spresso. To minimize the risk of cardiac arrest, it is recommended that students do not drink more than one cup every six hours.

The new addition comes after complaints of the low number of Starbucks on campus. “There are only two Starbucks on campus,” explained student Cara Mel. “I had to wait in line for more than thirty minutes during midterms. That is unacceptable.” The long wait times accompanied by an emergency shortage of whipped cream, sparked many students to complain of a low coffee supply during mid-terms despite coffee being available for purchase at the university bookstore, the JPL food court, Einstein’s, the university convenience store, in

over 100 vending machines on campus and passed out for free by organizations under the Sombrilla. Students, however, cited these sources as “not as good” or “not the same” and elected to wait in lines often extending outside of buildings instead.

Student response to the added Starbucks has been overwhelming positive.

“Coffee helps me stay awake when studying for finals,” explained geometry major Venticent Grande, crediting the future tier-one university on its new caffeine addition.

“I also take prescription Adderall which keeps me focused,” he added. “I mean, it’s not my prescription, but my buddy’s girlfriend’s roommate. It really helps when I need to stay up like 4-6 days in a row.”

Recent studies have shown that cramming three to four days in advance for a final is often the best way for students to retain and process over four months of material.

The study suggests that with the addition of the Starbucks building and subtraction of normal sleeping hours, students should be far better prepared for final exams than a consistent study schedule and full nights rest. The study did not go into detail about adverse health effects.

Starting this week, the 24 hour building will be available until the last day of finals. Exams that were previously scheduled in the MH will still meet in the building, but students are required to keep quiet and accommodate paying customers. To consolidate the costs of the building, coffee pricing will increase 12 to 14 times its normal rate and the number of therapy puppies on campus will be reduced from 37 canines to two Pugs and a Beagle.

for tuition, textbooks, and other higher education expenses. This $2,500 annual credit can go a long way in making ends meet.

Even those attending school and working part time, who do not have as much as a $2,500 tax liability, can still claim up to $1,000 in a refundable tax credit for eligible educational expenses, which is similar to the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit. I have introduced a bill again this year to make this tax credit permanent at UTSA and to make it work better for students who also receive Pell Grants.

During my visits with students at UTSA, I have heard time and time again about the difficulty students face when trying to finance their education. It is important that students and families affected by the cost of higher education

contact their elected officials at the local, state, and federal level to express their support for programs that help students afford college and reduce the level of debt that burdens so many. I believe that an investment in our students is an investment in the future of America, but to maintain that investment, it is essential that UTSA families continue to make their voices heard.

I have been happy to have many Roadrunners serve as interns in my San Antonio and Washington, DC offices.

If you would like to apply for an internship or if I can be of assistance on any federal issues, please contact my office by calling 704-1080.

Robert Avila Staff Writer

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett Senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee

ARTS & LIFE

5 April 28 - May 25, 2015

UTSA Underground: Art for the 99% Assuming everything goes as planned for UTSA Underground’s first goround, the group hopes to see this become an annual event that future music marketing students take on themselves.

“The audience should expect all of this and more since this event is for them to become more immersed within the community of UTSA by seeing their fellow colleagues perform,” Villanueva explained. “Perhaps they would become interested in performing in the next Underground event as well.”

Take a study break and wander down to the tunnels for some free entertainment. Your brain will thank you, and you can always head right back to the JPL afterward, conveniently located directly above ground.

Beth Marshall Arts Editor

@bmarshallmedia arts@paisano-online.com South by Southwest?

Check. San Antonio Book Festival? Check. Fiesta Festivities? Check.

UTSA Underground?

Consider adding this one to the list. Featuring a wide range of artistic abilities, this free event was created by UTSA students for UTSA students and will literally take place in the tunnels under the Multidisciplinary Studies Building. Don’t miss the debut of UTSA Underground this Tuesday, April 28 from 9:30 p.m. – midnight.

The idea was born in Dr. Steve Parker’s Music Marketing classroom, where senior Jesus Villanueva and six of his classmates were tasked with getting a feel for what business people in the music industry do on a daily basis. From there, they were given total control of what their final project would be, and now they’re witnessing their work coming to fruition.

“After some brain storming, we decided to make it an all-around artistic event in a unique location that nobody would think to use as a venue,” Villanueva said.

“The phrase ‘Art for the 99 percent,’ stemmed from our final decision.”

While the event is coming together in its final stages, it hasn’t been without difficulty. From getting approval from the university to host the event, to obtaining pub-

Photo Courtesy of Jesus Villanueva

lic safety permits, UTSA Underground came with its fair share of hurdles. Villanueva’s exact words were that the planning stages were “tedious and difficult.”

“After hashing out several ideas, we settled on UTSA Underground,” Villanueva said of the event’s name. “It not only stood for the venue, but for the hidden talent within the university.”

The group’s goal is to give non-music majors with artistic talent an outlet for, not only music, but also vi-

“It not only stood for the venue, but for the hidden talent within the university.”

Jesus Villanueva

UTSA Underground showrunner

sual art, poetry and dance.

By doing this, they hope to bring more attention to all that the music department at UTSA has to offer students of any classification or major.

“We decided to not only make ourselves known, but to make other students within different departments known as well,” Villanueva said.

While everyone in the group is classically trained, some of them also like experimenting with other

styles and genres. Jesus spends a lot of time composing classical guitar music, and he plays in the worship band for CRU, a Christian student organization that meets on campus.

Despite their talents, however, the team will not be performing.

“We planned on having others take the stage for the first time,” Villanueva said.

“We will be working in and around our individual stages to make sure everything is running smoothly.”

“We decided to not only make ourselves known, but to make other students within different departments known as well.”

Jesus Villanueva

UTSA Underground showrunner

Interested in Photojournalism?

Start now and join the Paisano’s Photo Team!

Contact manager@paisano-online.com

6

Fashion Column

ARTS & LIFE

April 28 - May 25, 2015

Black is the new black, and here to stay

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano Black is back in style! Some of the hottest stars in fashion and pop culture, from Rihanna to the Jenner sisters, are rocking the shade as the newest fashion trend. Restock your closet with black for this summer – if you can stand the heat.

Teia Herrera Staff Writer

@ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com Black has escaped its somber stigma and is now a symbol of style, a way to be effortlessly chic.

Over the years, trends have changed. What was once considered risqué

or tacky is now being embraced. Wearing fishnets, a crop top and black lipstick is stylish. Stars like Rihanna and Cara Delevigne have helped demonstrate how liberating it can be to dress however you choose.

In Michel Pastoureau’s book “The History of Color,” the author notes that it was common for people

of a higher class to wear bright colors up until the 14th century. After, it was customary that dukes and counts dressed in black. Europeans saw it as the color of power, dignity, humility and temperance. By the end of the 16th century, it was the color worn by almost all monarchs in Europe. Now, black is back.

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Black may symbolize mystery, but lately it has been seen as more of an expressive color that shows an edgier side.

Fashion is considered a form of expression, but the way a person dresses should not define who they are.

Wearing all black does not mean that you are morbid or listen to punk rock all

day.

Culturally, there has been a notion that black is reserved for funerals and rock-n-roll, but that simply is not the case anymore.

With this shift in opinion on fashion, black has grown to be more than just a drab color worn in mourning; it is a way to stand out.

The color black has be-

come so popular that people are choosing to wear black wedding dresses instead of the typical white or crème colors.

“Do these blacks match?” has become a joke on social media that represents the color’s comeback. Even though it is a joke, I find myself checking my black shirt against my faded black jeans to ensure that it doesn’t clash.

The all black trend can be seen on celebrities, models and even their children.

North West, Kim Kardashian’s daughter, has been spotted rocking black on black on black.

Considering how frequently trends change, it is hard to say what is going to stay or what is going to leave. However, with celebrities like Rihanna, Rita Ora and many others donning mesh and a bralette on a regular basis, it is easy to say that many people will continue to follow the risqué black trends. The clothes may change, but the color never will.

The color black is expected to be incorporated into the spring and summer trends. There are some people who believe that black is a dreary color, while others feel it is a color that promotes power. But for those who love the all black trend, continue to embrace it, because black is the new black.

I expect to see more black incorporated into summer styles. Even if it attracts the heat, you will stay looking cool. Wearing black crop tops, shorts and bathing suits is a way to keep cool in this color year round.

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ARTS & LIFE

Arts & Life Events Calendar:

7 April 28 - May 25, 2015

Rowdy Radio makes sound waves in San Antonio

Tuesday 4/28 9:30 p.m.

Music marketing students are taking over UTSA from underground at a concert event aptly named UTSA Underground. The six-stage, multi-artist lineup will kick off at 9:30 p.m. and wrap up around midnight.

Step away from the studying for an hour or two and head to the tunnel system running underneath the Multidisciplinary Sciences building, or just follow the bass – whichever comes first.

Thursday 4/30 6 p.m.

Stop by Terminal 136 in the Blue Star complex (136 Blue Star St.) to support UTSA graduate student Jenna Wright.

Jenna’s Masters of Fine Arts Thesis Exhibition, titled “Surface Trending” will open on April 30 at 6 p.m. and will run until May 16.

Thursday 4/30 All Day The UC North will be open for 24 hours through May 7, to accommodate studying for finals. The HEB University Center will have regular hours, but the UC Starbucks and Taco Cabana will be open until 2 a.m. each night. Snack delivery and massage chairs will also be available. Snack delivery. Enough said.

Saturday 5/2 7 p.m.

Texas Country music fans rejoice! Kacey Musgraves is stopping by Floore’s Country Store (14492 Old Bandera Rd.) as part of the “Same Tour Different Trailer” series.

Give your ears a break from the pop country on the radio and take in hits like “Blowin’ Smoke” and “Merry Go Round.”

Tickets for general admission are $23, the show starts at 9 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m.

Sunday 5/3 8 a.m. - 2 a.m.

Stop by Halcyon (1414 S. Alamo St.) for great deals on brunch. Most menu items are under $8 and mimosas are only $1.

After that, take a look at what the flea market next door has to offer. Vendors will be selling items from handmade coasters to custom teas. There is even a psychic on-site who will reveal your future. What’s in your cards?

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Ramos The first annual Sol Fest was held this Saturday at Josabi’s Bar in Helotes. The festival, put on by Rowdy Radio, showcased some of San Antonio’s best and brightest new talents. Whether it was for music or visual art, crowds were present and pumped.

Catherine Forsyth Contributing Writer @ThePaisano arts@paisano-online.com

Recently formed UTSA organization Rowdy Radio is making waves in the San Antonio community. On Saturday, April 11th, Rowdy Radio held their first annual music festival, Sol Fest, at Josabi’s Bar in Helotes. The festival ran from 3 p.m. – 1 a.m. and featured local artists, bands and rappers alike.

If you haven’t heard of Rowdy Radio, they are the organization on campus bringing you music 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just six months old, the student-run organization already has an app for Android and iPhone up and running.

Rowdy Radio also has a live online stream that is open for music submissions from the public. The station plays different genres at different times of the day.

Eight different radio shows have been airing this semester, including shows for news, sports and the nightshift hours.

Despite some challenges

the group faced, Rowdy Radio members all took part in the event, helping out with sound checks, parking and any maintenance necessary to ensure the event would run smoothly.

Despite concerns about the rainy weather that hit the surrounding areas, Sol Fest managed to have a good turnout. Rowdy Radio made sure to book musicians that would result in a well-rounded line-up, with truly something for everyone.

Distinguished blues artists, Dos Blues, succeeded in bringing the crowd to their feet. The hip-hop artist Peanut Gallery hyped listeners with an energetic set, captivating lights and a fog machine. San Antonio natives Parallelephants brought the funk during an impressive performance later on in the night that earned them an encore. Listeners experienced a wide variety of music styles and some pretty incredible voices like soul singers Amea and Coco.

Sol Fest not only included music in the festivities, but also incorporated visual elements with San Antonio College students Austin

Farar and Aaron Snyder making live art. The artists had some remarkable personalized prints for sale, again showcasing more of the talented people in the San Antonio community.

Josabi’s bar provided refreshments, while Gilbo’s Grill, a food truck parked outside, supplied the festival with food. Rowdy Radio had their own merchandise table that sold trendy Sol Fest items and signed posters of the night’s lineup.

Excitement was buzzing backstage with interviews

and camera flashes between each of the featured artists’ sets. For those that didn’t get a chance to attend – the lineup, as well as the talented artists that performed – is on Rowdy Radio’s website. Many of the artists perform locally, making it easy to see them play live around San Antonio.

Videos to recap the event are available on the Sol Fest website, but the festival is not something to miss out on next year. Each year is predicted to getbigger and better, with new San Anto-

nio artists and more spectators to join the fun.

Rowdy Radio will be working hard over the summer to plan more events, and next fall you’ll be able to catch them tailgating at UTSA football games. With their music library and fanbase constantly growing, Rowdy Radio expects new shows and new music.

Rowdy Radio has made a sudden appearance on campus, but they will remain on the airwaves for semesters to come.

Photo Courtesy of Victoria Ramos Attendees were treated to a variety of activities on the Sol Festival grounds. A festival-goer checks out some of the custom pieces that SAC students Austin Farar and Aaron Snyder have drawn up at their Live Art table.

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SPORTS

8 April 28 - May 25, 2015

{Sports Events} Tuesday, April 28 6 p.m. UTSA baseball

UTSA CLUB SPORTS

The UTSA baseball team hosts Baylor in a one game showdown at Roadrunner Field.

Friday, May 1 7:05 p.m. San Antonio Missions baseball The San Antonio Missions continue their homestand against the Midland Rockhounds at Wolff Stadium.

The first 1,500 fans at the ballpark will recieve a Missions replica home jersey.

Saturday, May 2 1 p.m. UTSA softball The UTSA softball team kicks off their weekend with game one of their doubleheader against conference rivals Louisiana Tech at Roadrunner Field.

3:15 p.m. UTSA softball The softball team continues with game two against the visiting Louisiana Tech at Roadrunner Field.

Sunday, May 3 1 p.m. UTSA softball The softball team ends their series with Louisiana Tech before gearing up for the Conference USA tournament this weekend in Miami, Fl.

{Recent Results} Tuesday, April 21

UTSA triathlon goes to nationals

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano

UTSA wins series over Southern Miss UTSA BASEBALL Julian Gonzales Sports Assistant

@PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com The UTSA Roadrunners (26-18, 12-9 C-USA) stole the weekend series over the visiting Southern Miss Golden Eagles (23-16-1, 1010 C-USA), winning game one 7-2, game two 11-7 but dropping game three 7-10.

Interim manager Jim Blair handled the managerial duties over the weekend after UTSA Head Coach, Jason Marshall, earned a four game suspension for disputing a call during the series against Rice.

During Friday’s contest, UTSA right-handed pitcher Brock Hartson dazzled in his 11th start of the season.

The junior pitched eight strong innings while striking-out seven and allowing two earned runs in his third win on the season.

Hartson was provided with some early run support, as the UTSA bats brought in four runs in the second inning. UTSA maintained the lead, coasting to a 7-2 victory in game one.

“If we can get a couple victories in the series, then it’s just going to continue to build momentum.”

Brock Hartson

Junior UTSA pitcher “This victory is a huge momentum booster for us because that’s a team that’s right behind us in the standings,” Hartson said. “They’re a good hitting team and when you make a mistake, they’re going to take advantage of it. I just had to get back up there and continue to shove my stuff into the zone and rely on my defense to make plays. When I did that, good things started to happen.”

Junior second baseman Jesse Baker collected three hits over five at bats on the night, smacking his 12th homerun of the year all while batting out of the leadoff spot.

In game three, the Golden Eagles assigned Kirk McCarty the starting duties.

The freshman southpaw gave up six earned runs on

eight hits over 3.1 innings.

Southern Miss also drilled two solo homeruns in the contest.

Currently fourth in CUSA, the Roadrunners face a highly contested race for the division lead as the baseball season dwindles to an end.

“If we can get a couple victories in the series, then it’s just going to continue to build momentum. These are the last few weeks of the season, and if we keep playing good baseball, then good things will keep happening,” Hartson said.

Next, the Roadrunners host conference rivals Middle Tennessee in a three game series starting on Friday, May 8, at 6 p.m.

Jordan Sanchez Contributing writer

@PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com The UTSA Triathlon Club was invited to the 2015 USAT Collegiate Nationals at Clemson University in South Carolina on April, 25, despite being an established club for just three years.

Juan Pablo — an already experienced triathlete — started the Triathlon club at UTSA in the fall of 2012.

“When I came to UTSA, I wanted to train with more people instead of training with myself,” Pablo said.

“We were five people in the beginning.”

At the UTSA Club Sports Banquet, the Tri-Club received the 2014-2015 Club Sport of the Year. The club now has 21 registered members, 10 of which competed in Clemson.

The club has made several strides since gaining the direction of Head Coach Mark Saroni.

“I think it’s really cool because when we started I was also kind of training everyone” said Pablo. “Comparing my training to (Saroni) is not the same thing because I also wanted to do the workouts. Right now, looking at how everybody has improved with Mark… it really makes a difference,” Saroni and Pablo were teammates growing up.

“J.P. (Juan Pablo) and I, we’ve known each other since 2007. We did some Triathlon camps here in San Antonio, we use to have the

same coach,” said Saroni.

When asked about his first encounter with the clubs current President Garrett Kneese and Vice President Leah Taylor, Saroni couldn’t help but smile.

“I saw Garrett (Kneese) and Leah (Taylor) at the pool trying to swim. I was like ‘Hey do you guys want some help?’,” Saroni said with a laugh.

Kneese was happy to have Coach Saroni hanging around the team’s swim practice.

“Not many of us were very experienced swimmers,” said Knesse. “After that and seeing how well everyone improved just off of the swimming, we decided to just hire him full-time, (the process) was absolutely phenomenal,” After initially working with the team part-time, the Club officially named Saroni as head coach in the fall of 2014. Saroni has been thrilled with the teams overall progress this season.

“This is the first year we’re taking an actual squad to Nationals,” said Saroni. “The majority of the people going to Nationals could not have done an Olympic distance triathlon six months ago; they were not physically capable. So to see how hard they’ve worked to get where they are, to be able to go there and compete is really exciting.”

To read more, visit us online at www.paisano-online.com

UTSA baseball W, 11-3 vs. Texas A&M-CC

Wednesday, April 22 UTSA softball L, 0-1 at Houston Baptist

UTSA women’s golf 3rd/11 at Conference USA Championship

Friday, April 24 UTSA baseball W, 7-2 vs. Southern Miss

Saturday, April 25 UTSA baseball W, 11-5 vs. Southern Miss

UTSA softball L, 2-3 at Florida Atlantic L, 0-1 at Florida Atlantic

Sunday, April 26 UTSA baseball L, 7-10 vs. Southern Miss

UTSA softball W, 4-0 at Florida Atlantic

Megan Low reflects on UTSA career

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano

PLAYER PROFILE Patrick Martinez Staff Writer @PaisanoSports1 sports@paisano-online.com

This semester, one of the most decorated softball players to ever play in the program is graduating. As told by her many honors, Megan Low’s hard-hitting has propelled her from being a high school and college four-year starter to being drafted to the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).

On Wednesday, April 1, Low was selected with the fourth pick in the sixth round (30th overall) of the NPF draft. Drafted by the Akron Racers in Ohio, Low is the first UTSA student to be drafted to the NPF in program history.

“I knew I had the potential to be drafted, but I didn’t think it would actually happen,” stated Low. “If I did, I thought I would go

to a Texas team and stay a Texas girl. When they called my name, I got all excited. I was with some of the (softball) girls at Buffalo Wild Wings watching it. The whole place went crazy; it was really cool.”

Low came to UTSA as a little-known recruit from Spring, Texas. At Spring High School, Low was a First-Team All-District honoree her sophomore, junior and senior years and received Second-Team honors her freshman year. She was named as the District 13-5A MVP and received an All-State honorable mention recognition in her senior year. Despite Low’s many accolades throughout high school, nearly every big time program in the nation overlooked her.

“I didn’t really get recruited (in high school), and I didn’t really have any plans to go to any big schools,”

Low stated. “I was supposed to go to a junior college, so ending up at UTSA was the best it could have been.”

Low immediately became an impact player for UTSA upon her arrival. Initially slotted as a catcher, Low started all 52 games her freshman year and earned Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. She also received First-Team All-Conference honors after hitting .375 with 28 RBIs while leading the team in eight offensive categories.

Since her freshman year, Low has led the softball team in nearly every major offensive statistic. In her junior year, she earned second-team NFCA All-South Region honors and a FirstTeam All-Conference USA selection.

In her ongoing senior campaign, the Akronbound Texas native is batting .363. With 15 home

runs Low is tied for first in Conference USA with teammate Randee Crawford.

Low currently owns the school record for walks with 102 free passes. Additionally, Low is ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in batting average (3rd/.364), RBIs (3rd/139), homers (4th/43), doubles (4th/41) and extra-base hits (5th/86).

When asked about her progression since freshman year, Low said, “I think the main thing that I’ve grown in is my mentality and mental game. My stats have kind of always stayed the same, but my mental strength I think has grown the most.”

After she graduates, Low has plans to continue her academic and softball careers.

“I’ll be in Akron for the summer — the NPF is just a summer league — and then I’ll be going to A&M for

grad school for sports management in the fall.”

As for Akron, Low says, “I know there’s people better than me defensively, but I try to be the best offensive hitter in the nation.

(I will) definitely (bring) my offense. My hitting, that’s what I kind of push myself to be the best at.”

Over the last four years, Low has been an integral part of the softball team’s success. Once she is gone, she will truly be missed.

“Being at UTSA is probably the best experience I could have asked for,” said Low. “My coaches, I’ve had a couple coaches in the past years and they’ve been great. I couldn’t have asked for a better coaching staff or any better teammates.”

SPORTS

9 April 28 - May 25, 2015

From Serbia, with love: Dusan Makevic PLAYER PROFILE

Shabazz I. Dawkins Sports Editor @shabazzvs sports@paisano-online.com

Marcus Connolly, The Paisano

Serbian-born UTSA distance runner and junior computer science major, Dusan Makevic, wants nothing more than to improve himself everyday.

Despite starting his running career later than most, Makevic has transformed himself into one of the finest athletes on the UTSA track & field team.

“I started running really late, my junior year in high school,” admitted Makevic.

“Before that, I was playing soccer for five years.”

The majority of Serbian youth athletes play soccer at some point; it is the most popular sport in the country by a large margin.

For Makevic, the progression from soccer to running competitively was natural, and in some ways, coincidental.

“Over there (Serbia), there are no (official) high school sports, but all the high schools in the town compete against each other,” began Makevic. “So my professor asked me, ‘Hey can you run one kilometer?

I know you play soccer, so you might run fast.’ It was a Friday so I wanted an excuse to not go to school that day. I went to the race without any practice and I won there. That’s how I started.”

Despite having no official training in running crosscountry, Makevic’s natural

“I’m focusing on improving myself and competing in college” Dusan Makevic

Junior UTSA distance runner abilities gained the interest of a local coach by the name of Milisav Stanojcic. Under the tutelage of Stanojcic, Makevic quit playing soccer and began to focus on competitve running. “(My first race) was in November 2009, and in February (2010) I ran at the (U19) State Cross Country Championships and I won in Serbia,” asserted Makevic confidently.

“In 2011, I competed in Europe for the (European Cross Country Championships) and I was 23rd out of 109,” said Makevic. “That’s when I started getting offers from colleges in the USA to come (to America) and compete in the NCAA.” Makevic received offers from multiple schools but ultimately decided between Iowa State University and the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM). Electing to live in a warmer climate, Makevic selected ULM to begin his collegiate career.

Makevic was an impact athlete at ULM immediately after arriving. In his freshman year, he received All-Conference Third-Team honors in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) for crosscountry. He also received All-Louisiana First-Team

and All-Louisiana Freshman of the Year, for crosscountry.

As a competitor on ULM’s track team, Makevic was on the 2013 Indoor AllConference Second-Team.

He set a school-record in 2014 for the 3000m, clocking in a time of 8:15.27 — a record that still stands — which gained him a spot on the 2014 All-Louisiana First-Team.

Despite his decorated stint at ULM, Makevic grew unhappy with the conditions at the school, prompting him to seek a transfer.

“I went down to Louisiana (Monroe) and it was not what I expected,” said Makevic. “The coach that was there (Karoly Varga), left and took a job in California. The team became worse, so I wanted to find another school, another team to help me improve my results. I tried to find a few schools around here (southern USA) and (UTSA assistant coach David Hartman) was interested in me and said, ‘Yeah, we need you here’, and that’s how I got here.”

Since his arrival at UTSA, Makevic has been a productive member of the track team. He currently holds

team-best times in five different events.

“I like it,” said Makevic when asked about UTSA. “I’m in computer science, the professors are good that I’ve had so far, and plus, we have a new track (Park West). It’s a good facility, so I have all the things I need to improve myself.”

After his time as a Roadrunner, Makevic would like to continue working on his craft as a runner. “(After I graduate) I’d like to find a job in that field (computer science) but I’ll probably continue running for myself, and maybe compete just for fun,” said Makevic. “To compete in the European Championships or the World Championships for Serbia, you have to run the Olympic standard. So who knows?

Right now, I’m focusing on improving myself and competing in college.”

Makevic and the UTSA track & field team have a busy month of May ahead of them. The team’s next event is on May 2, in Austin, TX, for the Longhorns Invitational. After the event, the team will compete in the Conference USA Championships beginning on May 14, then the NCAA Championships beginning on May 28.

Opens May 15, 2015

Carmen Lomas Garza

Encounters between Spanish, Mexican and indigenous peoples created a mestizo, or mixed population we call Tejanos. Overcoming struggles, adapting to the environment and melding with other cultures, Tejanos created new identities and endured, forever shaping the cultural landscape of Texas. This exhibit is a glimpse into the story of the Tejano legacy from the eighteenth century to the present day.

Free with UTSACard

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April 28 - May 25, 2015

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