The Paisano Volume 50 Issue 14

Women’s basketball captures second season win page 9

Give gifts that your friends will love, without breaking the bank page 5

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio

{SINCE 1981}

President Ricardo Romo appointed Samuel Gonzales as vice president for business affairs. Gonzales’ term will begin Jan. 17, 2015, after current vice president of affairs Kerry Kennedy retires.

San Antonio The City of San Antontio has filed a law suit against SAPD for refusual to negotiate a pension plan. In response, Mayor Ivy Taylor called for a “holiday truce” between the San Antonio Police Department and city officials.

December 2 – December 9

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2014

OUT WITH A BANG The “Original Eighteen” end their UTSA football careers with a decisive victory over North Texas

news@paisano-online.com

Robert Allen Sports Assistant

sports@paisano-online.com On an emotional senior day at the Alamodome, the UTSA Roadrunners defeated the University of North Texas Mean Green, 34-27, Saturday, Nov. 28 to close out the 2014 season. Not only was it senior day for the Runners, but it was also the final game for 18 of the original players from the inaugural season in 2011.

See OUT, page 9

UTSA football celebrates its a tribute to its original players with a victory over UNT 34-27.

Slow but steady trek to Tier One Percentage of UTSA Cohort Admitted by High School Class Rank

Marcus Connolly / The Paisano

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Texas

Police in Ferguson have begun wearing body cameras three weeks after a grand jury decided to not indict Officer Darren Wilson for the killing of Michael Brown.

Bring a book, UTSA boulevard expansion to be a year long trip News Staff news@paisano-online.com The City of San Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) will begin work next month on a series of projects aimed at providing close space relief for the congestion

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projects will widen UTSA Boulevard from two to four lanes while also providing mixed-use paths that will allow both pedestrians and cyclists to easily traverse the artery, which runs along the university’s southern See ROADS, page 2

news@paisano-online.com

UTSA’s less than ideal graduation rates were broadcasted on Interstate 35, in Austin last month.

“ONLY 1 IN 4 AT UTSA GRADUATE IN 6 YEARS. IS THAT SHIP SHAPE? TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF TEXAS” the billboard

@ t h e PA I SA N O @p ais ano m e dia

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read.

Sponsored by TAB, which represents the Texas business community, the billboard was intended to start a dialogue in favor of outcomes-based funding — a initiative that would tie a school’s budget to its graduation rates — but it also sparked dialogue, on camSee GRADUATE, page 2

See EXPO, page 2

Students say, choose responsibly produced food

Mia Cabello News Assistant

news@paisano-online.com Ninety students in the Honors sections of the Applied Inquiry and Science (AIS) course lined the Paseo Nov. 24, to discuss their insights into the the modern food industry at the

Honors College Sustenance and Sustainability Expo.

“At first I thought, it’s just food, it doesn’t affect me,” said Angel Arciva, who researched corporate monopolies in the food industry.

“But (in AIS), this semester we learned a whole different side of food.”

The educational goal of the sustenance and

sustainability research was two-fold: students applying the research and collaborative components taught in the AIS course would consume and relay relevant knowledge about American food and health.

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

ARTS - Battle of the Sexes Who is smarter, men or women? Find out who dominates UTSA’s battle of the sexes. page 7

History professor John Carr-Shanahan teaches Middle Ages and Early Renaissance.

History department invests in the future Megan Jenkins Intern

Research partners Rachel Innocenti and Devi Singh discuss concerns in the modern American food industry.

Don’t miss anything at UTSA. Add us on social media today! /t h e p ais ano

Second Quartile

Mia Cabello on UTSA Boulevard. The News Assistant

World Over 500 pro-demoncracy protestors were injured by Hong Kong police officers after officials condemned the activist group accusing them of escalating tension in South China.

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“He was the right man, in the right place at the right time,” said Dr. Maggie Valentine about John Herman Kampmann, a prominent San Antonio figure whose architectural significance has gone unnoticed.

“He knew how to work himself up in the community, becoming a leading figure. But somehow he’s disappeared off the pages of history.”

Valentine, a professor at the UTSA College of Architecture, Construction and Planning (CACP), along with 23 other faculty of the CACP, presented their research topics ranging from historical architects of San Antonio to urban planning.

The symposium showcased the published works of UTSA faculty and recognized their contributions to UTSA. Valentine’s most recent work, “John H. Kampmann, Master Builder: San Antonio’s German Influence in the 19th Century,” recaptures a forgotten history of an architect who helped bring the European building style to San Antonio’s urban construction. Kampmann studied architecture in Germany and masonry before moving to Texas in 1848. Collaborating with other notable architects, Kampmann renovated the Alamo as well as other significant missions in the San

Mia Cabello / The Paisano

U.S.

UTSA Boulevard expansion will begin in January and continue until 2016.

Fall 2013

Mia Cabello / The Paisano

The Legislative Budget Board approved $86 million funding to protect the U.S.-Mexico border and prevent Central American immigrants from illegallycrossing over into the U.S.

Architecture expo discusses past, present and future of the industry Olivia Ybara Contributing Writer

Courtesy of Jeff Huejn

UTSA

Vol. 50, Iss. 13

news@paisano-online.com History has the word “story” in it for a reason.

“The middle section of history is the story. To me, the stories that I can find are really exciting,” said Dr. Catherine Clinton, the UTSA Department of History’s new Denman Endowed professor. “(And through teaching), I love

showing that you are in charge of your own story.”

This semester, Clinton and Dr. Andrew Konove, a new assistant professor of history, started teaching at UTSA where they will add their own chapters to the ongoing story of the university’s history department.

Their arrival echoes the changes that the departSee HISTORY, page 2

WEB - Cover to Cover

SPORTS - UTSA vs. N. Arizona

Check out this week’s review of Scott Westerfeld’s “Afterwards” by our book review blog, “Cover to Cover” Online @ paisano-online.com

Men’s basketball will play the N. Arizona Lumberjacks.

Wed. Dec., 3 @ 8:30 p.m.

Please recycle this newspaper!

NEWS

2 DECEMBER 2 – DECEMBER 9, 2014

Graduate: Conflict over the significance of university graduation rate From Page 1

pus, 90 miles away.

Improving the graduation rate is a central pillar of the university’s campaign to Tier One status — even so, some current students lament that administrators inflate the merit of incoming freshmen, underselling their own collegiate experience.

“The billboard brought up some very strong reactions from professors and students alike,” said senior communication major Lauren Cesmirosky. The board’s message was a hot topic of discussion in English courses.

“No one seemed very impressed with the message the billboard sent out about our university and our students’ work ethics,” she said. “It’s almost insulting.”

UTSA’s student body is unique, said Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communications officer. While the academic caliber of UTSA students has risen in the past 10 years, the composition of students still differs from that of other Texas universities.

“Most UTSA students work fulltime, have families, and support themselves and maybe take a little longer to complete a

degree,” said Cesmirosky.

Approximately 70 percent of UTSA students work part time or full time.

Additionally 70 percent of students receive financial aid.

“It is almost like even though we are becoming a traditional university we do not have traditional students,” Cesmirosky said.

Accessible, high-quality education stands as a cornerstone of the university’s 1969 charter. At its inception, UTSA functioned as a commuter campus for local students. Despite the proliferation of on-campus and close to campus housing, UTSA remains a majority commuter campus (most of its students living 10 or more miles from campus).

However, the Tier One campaign has implicitly challenged the part-time character of the study body.

Tier One distinction stipulates admission selectivity, as well as elevated research funding.

The university accepted approximately 60 percent of the applicants for Fall 2014 — about 42 percent accepted and enrolled — said Dr. George Norton, UTSA director of admissions. Before 2008, UTSA accepted nearly 99 percent of applicants. Since 2008, UTSA

Retention/Graduation Rate for First and Full Time UTSA Native Cohort

has changed its admission criteria three times.

According to Norton, it is in UTSA students’ best interests to have fewer part time university colleagues.

Although not an explicit requirement for Tier-One, high graduation rates affect the university’s image.

UTSA touts a 30 percent six-year graduation rate for first-time students who begin, start and complete their undergraduate careers at the university and 49 percent six-year graduation rate for transfer students.

The statewide average graduation rate for public universities is 60 percent, a percentage largely inflated

by Texas A&M and UT. “In my opinion a part of the university is the problem,” said senior Aubrey Zimmerman. “My parents can’t simply slap thousands of dollars down at the school — I have to take care of me too.”

Perhaps UTSA’s quest to recruit the best and brightest students — a population of new, “native Roadrunners” — is becoming synonymous with the university’s quest for Tier One. The university established the Graduation Improvement Rate Plan (GRIP) in 2011, demonstrating that producing top

students is essential to the university’s improvement goals. Too early to measure GRIPs success, its policy implementation began in the fall with the freshman class of Fall 2014.

“There is a GRIP-inspired tendency to want to encourage taking 15 hours if at all possible,” said UTSA adviser Stephen Cheney.

“The advising restructuring is another example of a GRIP-motivated change,” continued Cheney. “The idea is that a single point of contact goes along way toward facilitating expedient graduation.”

Norton believes that raising the admissions criteria raises the caliber of students attracted to the university.

But does raising the admissions standards contradict the university’s initial design?

“As we have raised the admissions criteria, at UTSA,” said Norton, “the incoming class has been just as racially and ethnically diverse as it has ever been, perhaps even more so — the reason that I think is, because these has always been a lot of well prepared minority students out there.”

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Construction: Roadrunner Blvd. will be a two-for-four lane special From Page 1

border.

Construction on the projects will begin in January and is expected to finish in early 2016.

The $18.7 million projects are being jointly paid for by the City of San Antonio and by the Texas Department of Transportation with funds coming from local, state and federal sources. UTSA Boulevard is administered by the City of San Antonio between Babcock and Edward Ximenes Avenue and TxDoT. Unlike earlier proposals for expanding UTSA Boulevard — which would have closed the road to traffic between Valero Way and Ximenes Avenue — the street will remain open while construction is ongoing, according to Laura Lopez, a spokeswoman for TxDoT. Currently, when a driver must turn left from UTSA Boulevard, drivers behind them must either wait until the turning vehicle can make the turn, they simply drive around them. Additionally, the lights along UTSA Boulevard are on separate timers, making congestion and long waits typical for anyone traveling to or from campus.

While UTSA Boulevard is currently only wide enough for one lane in either direction between Babcock Road and Utex Boulevard, the project will widen the street to accommodate more traffic during peak hours. The preliminary schematics state that from Utex Boulevard through

Ximenes Avenue there will be two lanes of traffic in either direction with an additional center turn lane, and from Ximenes Avenue to Babcock Road there will be two lanes in each direction separated by a median.

The construction will allow room for more cars, According to Lopez, as many as 23,000 cars per day currently travel UTSA Boulevard at its busiest point — the intersection with Interstate 10. However, traffic lights along the artery will be synced to allow traffic to flow more easily than the current system.

In addition to widening the road, a sidewalk will be constructed on each side of UTSA Boulevard for the road’s entire length, allowing students to safely walk from Babcock Road to Interstate 10 without hassle.

From Valero Way to Babcock Road this sidewalk will be widened to 10 feet, allowing for use by both pedestrians and cyclists; a bike lane will be implemented between Utex Boulevard and Valero Way to accommodate cyclists traveling to and from campus.

The project is expected to take two years to complete, suggesting that more construction and traffic woes are in UTSA’s the immediate future. However, there is some relief on the horizon for drivers commuting to UTSA from Interstate 10. According to Josh Donat, a spokesman for TxDot, the westbound exit to UTSA Boulevard should be reopened by Spring Break.

Expo: Architecture symposium features lectures from nationally acclaimed faculty members From Page 1

Antonio area. He also as established San Antonio’s second fire company.

“He was a man of all trades,” explained Valentine. “As a founding member of the Casino Club, which was the social club and only legitimate theater at that time, he was always in the public eye, and he enjoyed every minute of it.”

Valentine’s work uncovers Kampmann’s substantial involvement with various recognizable buildings throughout San Antonio.

Some buildings include

the architecture seen at the San Antonio Museum of Art (formally the Lone Star Brewery), St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, St. Joseph’s Church on Commerce Street and the famous Mengar Hotel.

Unlike Kampmann’s era, San Antonio architects must now consider the economic and local impact of shopping centers.

Dr. Ian Caine’s publication, “Changescapes: Walmart Supercenters as Catalysts for Territorial Change,” presents the idea of realigning the financial life cycle of big business develop-

ment with existing urban topography. To minimize the peripheral burdens that are often associated with underutilized supercenters such as empty parking lots, Caine proposed a threepart strategy to prepare local communities for the “inevitable (industrial) vacancies that (will) emerge as the economy rises and falls.” Caine further explained, “The project (concept) reconceives the civil infrastructure as a large scale public works project capable of fully integrating civic life within the pace of capital exchange.” Fur-

thermore, Caine recommended partitioning the land bought by industries so that they are only given the amount that is needed for business operations.

Municipalities would then own and utilize surrounding parcels to accommodate suburban growth. Caine proposes that Walmart and other supercenter parking lots be minimized Extra space would be overseen by the local public works department.

Presenter Dr. Azari continued the theme of architectural innovation with his presentation on the

“Integrated Energy and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Office Building Envelopes.” Azari explained the environmental impact of proper building performance. The modifications of buildings determine the overall energy consumption.

Using the Energy Use Index (EUI), Azari examined the average dependence and energy expenditure of commercial infrastructure on building characteristics.

Azari’s results indicated that an increase in window to wall ratio had an inverse proportion to energy

consumption resulting in a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. According to Azari, about 45 percent of industrial energy is used for thermal regulation. Incorporating energy efficient technologies will decrease the negative environmental impacts of everyday office energy consumption.

“I think the purpose of research is primarily for new discoveries and finding solutions,” explained Azari.

“We all have ethical and professional responsibilities of finding solutions to those problems, and that is the right direction.”

History: New departmental theme and million dollar donation energizes students and faculty From Page 1

ment has undergone as part of a three-year strategic plan.

“We need to continue to grow,” said Dr. Gregg Michel, the chair of the history department. “To grow, we need to continue to hire top-notch faculty, highlight faculty research and continue to draw students toward us.”

Michel believes creating a departmental theme, hiring new professors and adding a scholarship program will grow the history department.

The department’s new theme — Empires, States, and Borders — was added at the beginning of the year — in hopes of attracting more history students to UTSA. According to Michel, the theme summarizes the department’s ongoing research.

“We haven’t changed

our courses. We haven’t changed our research,” explained Michel. “It’s a way to concisely articulate what we do that clearly reflects the type of works historians in this department do.”

The idea is that a stated focus will help students, particularly M.A. students, who are interested in researching a topic within the theme, choose UTSA. “San Antonio is an ideal place to study empires, states and borders given the city’s long history, its diverse population, its strong military presence and its wealth of local historical resources,” said Michel.

Though senior history major Gregory Casarez had not heard about the theme, he believed it would improve the department. “I wish they had this (theme) when I was coming in,” said Casarez. “Things would have been completely different. I would have been

more focused.”

Besides assisting prospective students, the theme will also attract professors whose studies relate to the theme.

According to Konove, a former Yale student and current UTSA professor, “The department’s theme was an attraction of the job.”

His research, which examines Mexico City’s street economies from the late colonial period to the beginning of the twentieth century, relates to the department’s theme. “The street markets I study, while centrally located in Mexico’s capital, were marginal spaces on the imaginary borders that separated socalled ‘modern’ and ‘traditional’ Mexican society,” explained Konove.

Clinton, a prominent Civil War historian who taught at Harvard and worked as an adviser for the movie

“Lincoln,” also embraced the idea of the theme.

“I’m so pleased that they have picked these very large, exciting areas. Of course, I have some that are my favorites more than others,” she said. “But, I have to say I’m thoroughly feminist, and all of these particular areas allow me not only to use feminist theories but also feminist analysis.”

Though the arrival of two new professors is exciting, their arrival is ultimately the result of many recent retirements in the department, something which Casarez felt hurt his experience with the department.

“It feels like all the professors that were here when I started are gone,” lamented Casarez. “And now, there’s no one for me to go to (for advice).”

However, Clinton points out that the hiring demonstrates how well the department is doing. “A lot of uni-

versities are not, shall we say, ‘restocking,’” explained Clinton. “Coming here to see that they are hiring the chair and building on their strengths really heartens me as a scholar and a teacher, so I hope we get more students keenly interested in history.”

Besides the addition of the theme, one of the other major attractants for students to the department may be the Nau Scholars Program.

Started two years ago after a $1 million donation from John and Bobbie Nau, the program awards fellowships ($5,000-$10,000) to advanced undergraduates, teaching assistantships ($10,000-$16,000) and fellowships ($8,000-$12,000) to graduate applicants.

“It’s an excellent tool for us to recruit high-achieving students,” said Michel.

“Funding for graduate education is declining across the United States right

now, and to have funding for masters’ studies, as opposed to doctoral work, is really unique. There are very few masters’ programs (that provide) the type of support we do.”

While this program will only be available for five years, Michel hopes the department will continue to work with the Naus. Continual funding could help form a history doctoral program, which according to Michel, “will not happen within the next year or two,” but is a possibility if the department continues to perform well.

“We are working in sync with the university’s goals,” said Michel. “I think sometimes the broader community needs to be reminded that the liberal arts has an important role to play in advancing the university’s Tier One goals.”

NEWS

3 DECEMBER 2 – DECEMBER 9, 2014

VOICES Of TheWEST

Briscoe Western Art Museum’s Distinguished Lecture Series Join us this fall as we illuminate unique perspectives on the history and future of the American West.

Thursday, December 4 6:30 pm Dolores Huerta Labor organizer and civil rights activist Dolores Huerta has a long and distinguished career as a champion for social justice. She co-founded the National Farm Workers Association alongside Cesar Chavez and was a 2012 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. As founder and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation, she travels across the country engaging in campaigns and influencing legislation that supports equality and defends civil rights.

FREE admission for all Briscoe Museum members

and UTSA Students, Faculty, and Staff with valid ID. For all other guests, lecture tickets are $10 each.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Register or purchase tickets online at: briscoemuseum.org/voices

210.299.4499 | BriscoeMuseum.org 210 W. Market Street, San Antonio, TX 78205

Bris_10.5x10.25_Lecture_Ads01.indd 3

9/26/14 10:00 AM

{The Paisano}

OPINION

The Paisano

4

December 2 - December 9, 2014

Editor-in-Chief:

Ferguson calls for cultural change

Managing Editor:

Editorial

News Editor:

In the aftermath of the Ferguson shooting, President Barack Obama announced a plan to tighten the police department’s use of military-style equipment. He also announced a $263 million program that will provide upward of 50,000 body cameras for police.

The hope is that these cameras will help document circumstances involving deadly conflicts such as the one in Ferguson.

However, the root of the problems in Ferguson stems from racial issues, as countless protesters have

Sarah Gibbens Jakob Lopez

Lorenzo Garcia

Arts Editor:

Beth Marshall

Web Editor:

Michael Turnini Special Issues Editor: Jade Cuevas

Business Manager: Lizzette Rocha

Photo Editor:

Marcus Connolly

Senior Copy Editor: Paul McIntier

External Affairs Manager: Hector Torres

Social Media Manager:

Rebecca Conejo

Editor Assistants: Mia Cabello, Jennifer Vannoy, Cameron King, Nate Archer, Kate Kramer, Anelia GomezCordova, Anthony Mendoza, Miriam Adamjee, Robert Allen

{Staff Writers} Patrick Martinez, Rohit Chandan, Megan Jenkins, Lonnie Harris, Penny Blalack, Madi Jones, Robert Avila {Staff Photographers} Daryl Smith, Vicente Cardenas {Contributing Writers} Matthew Tavares, Jane Powers, Therese Quinto, Acacia NawrocikMadrid, Pavela Bambakova, Sebastian Oates {Ads Manager} Edidiong Adiakpan

{Adviser}

Diane Abdo

tried to point out. Police in Ferguson arrest African Americans at a rate three times higher than people from other races. And these issues aren’t unique to Missouri — in the United States, African Americans are incarcerated at a rate of nearly six times that of whites.

With protests in over 150 cities contesting the grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson — the white police officer who shot and killed unarmed black teenager Michael Brown — and with President Obama proposing modifications

to police operations, will these changes be enough?

Throwing money at a problem will not fix it.

We first need to recognize that the problem is rooted in historical and cultural inequality that has been present in America for hundreds of years.

According to CNN, last week a 12-year-old black boy was shot and killed by a white police officer in Cleveland, Ohio, after the police officer was investigating reports of someone pointing a gun at people.

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

All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to:

14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210)-690-9301 {Letters to the Editor}

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

Send letters to: Editor@paisano-online. com

© 2014, The Paisano

Cultural change must take place before any real change can occur.

We should not divide African American males into two categories: the entertainer-athlete and the potential criminal. Instead, we must look past color and see not the stereotype but the neighbor, the son, the teenager, the father or the child.

If not, we will continue to have the young black boys with air guns, the Trayvon Martins and the Michael Browns.

Comment or threat: drawing the line Commentary Unlike VCRs, beepers or frosted tips, social media is one trend that is here to stay.

From maintaining familial connections to applying for jobs to reading the morning news, social media is increasingly becoming an integral part of people’s daily lives.

As such, debates about freedom of speech on social media are becoming prominent. The case of Elonis v. the United States, which is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court, hopes to set a precedent for what constitutes a threat on sites such as Facebook.

After undergoing a divorce and losing custody of his two children, Anthony Elonis took to Facebook to vent his frustrations. His exwife soon filed a restraining order against him after reading threatening Facebook messages, but his threats continued.

Elonis was eventually charged with five counts of interstate communication of illegal threats and sentenced to 44 months in prison.

His case, however, has been appealed all the way to the Supreme Court.

According to Elonis, he was simply exercising his freedom of speech rights. He likened his Facebook posts and messages to an Eminem rap song in which the rapper fantasizes about killing his ex-wife.

The Facebook messages reveal a more sinister intention beyond therapeutic expression. One of Elonis’ most violent posts reads: “There’s one way to love ya, but a thousand ways to kill ya. And I’m not going to rest until you body is a mess, soaked in blood…”

Surely Elonis’ ex-wife didn’t read this as harmless artistic expression.

Elonis went on to post other messages threatening to shoot his exwife and children.

The Supreme Court, which is not expected to reach a decision until this summer, will debate not only whether these messages can be interpreted as threatening, but also if Elonis intended to incite fear.

Those who do not believe Elonis should be charged with making threats are not necessarily Elonis

sympathizers, but argue that condemning his comments could have larger implications for free speech rights and artistic expression.

As a journalist, it’s difficult to not instinctually side with freedom of speech rights, but Elonis was clearly targeting his ex-wife’s well-being.

While forums like Facebook have the potential to foster important discourse among peers, more often those who comment turn to petty aggression, and some serial commenters, perhaps empowered by their anonymity, take advantage of every opportunity to bully strangers.

I have personally experienced these online attacks on Twitter and Facebook. Often I tweet my political opinion and occasionally

receive anonymous threats from men I have never met who are desperate for a confidence boost.

Had I personal relationships with these strangers, like Elonis’ ex-wife, I might have pressed charges, but thankfully I know these are empty— albeit unwarranted— threats.

Behind every keyboard sits a person. Shouldn’t we hold those people who make threats accountable for their actions? If a threat isn’t tolerated in person, it shouldn’t be tolerated on a forum that has become such a fundamental part of our lives.

Sarah Gibbens Editor-in-Chief

Letters to the Editor We would love to hear your feedback!

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

Send Letters to the Editor to: editor@paisano-online.com

{Advisory Board}

Steven Kellman, Jack Himelblau, Sandy Norman, Stefanie Arias, Diane Abdo

The 12-year-old boy had an air gun that looked real.

Protesters in Ohio and other states have tied this incident to the Ferguson case, labeling the deaths of the two black males as the result of negative cultural perceptions of African Americans.

Additionally, police officer Darren Wilson notably justified his actions by describing Michael Brown “as like a demon” who was charging him, determined to take his life.

Demonizing anyone is culturally unacceptable.

I’ll just sit here by Christopher Breakell

ARTS & LIFE

5

December 2 - December 9, 2014

Gifts to give on a college budget Penny Blalack Intern

arts@paisano-online.com With finals and winter break just around the corner, this time of the year can be the most stressful season for college students. Luckily, that stress doesn’t have to carry over to your wallet!

Here are five great gift ideas that your college friends – and your bank balance – will appreciate.

Regardless of what gifts you give your friends this year, it’s important to keep them personal. Giving presents is one of the best ways to show your loved ones how much you care for them, but that doesn’t mean you have to empty your bank account in the process. These gift ideas are all great ways to give your college friends presents that are both affordable and personal, so don’t be afraid to try them out this holiday season.

Knitting and Crocheting Handy with a pair of knitting needles or a crochet hook? If so, then you’ll love these ideas. Hand-crafted gifts are the perfect way to give a present that’s both affordable and personal. And because each one is unique, you’ll never have to worry about getting your friends the same thing as someone else. There are tons of options out there such as scarves, hats or even fullblown sweaters, which means you can give each friend something different!

To get started, check out websites like Pinterest or Etsy for inspiration and tutorials.

Framed Pictures

Baked Goods If there’s one thing all college kids love, it’s free food. Almost no one will turn down freshly baked goods, making them great – and cheap – gifts for your friends this year. Holiday favorites like cookies, muffins or cupcakes are classic treats that always get good reviews. But, like crafts, there’s an almost unlimited amount of options for you to choose from when baking your gifts, so don’t be afraid to try something new! Just be sure to double-check for any allergies your friends may have, and keep any potentially dangerous ingredients away from your workspace. If you don’t have any cookbooks on hand, searching online is a quick and easy way to find all the recipes you could ever need.

The best thing about this gift is its versatility.

Find a nice frame to start with, and from there you can let your creativity run wild. Decorate the frame with knickknacks, draw on designs to make it extra personal or leave it blank and sleek to make it more chic. The picture you use can also help set the gift’s tone. A photo of you and your friends together is a great way to show them how important they are to you, while a picture of something they love can show them how much you care about their interests.

To give your gift an extra edge, cover the real photo with a teaser photo!

Gift Baskets

Gift Cards Gift cards may sound simple or boring, but don’t underestimate them. College students can always use more money, and these gifts are the best way to give your friends cash without resulting to a generic greeting card full of one-dollar bills. They’re also a great way to make sure your friends get something they really want or need. Amazon or Target gift cards give your friends options, while cards for specific bookstores or a particular clothing store makes your gift more personal. You can also decorate the cards with bows or individual bags to make them more festive.

Who says parents are the only ones allowed to send care packages? Personalized gift baskets are the perfect way to give your friends something practical and heart-felt. If you buy all your items in bulk, it’s also affordable. You can fill these baskets with just about anything, making them a great way to cover all your bases.

CDs burned with custom playlists, handwritten letters or hand-baked treats are all good ideas. And, if you really want to make these baskets extra personal, you can always add in any – or all – of the other gift ideas mentioned above too!

Photos by: Marcus Connolly

6

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December 2 - December 9, 2014

EVENTS CALENDAR Tuesday 12/2 Join Bohanan’s Prime Steak and Seafood for their annual Downtown Holiday Celebration on Dec. 2 from 5:30 p.m.

- 7:30 p.m. on Houston Street! Enjoy cocktails, candy canes and bright lights and celebrate the merriment of the holiday season. Visit publicbroadcasting. net/kstx/events for more information.

Wednesday 12/3 The UTSA Department of Music presents “Winterlude,” which begins Wednesday, Dec. 3, through Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the UTSA Main Campus H-EB University Center Ballroom and Arts Building Recital Hall. UTSA student choral and instrumental ensembles invite the Alamo City to kick off the holiday season with a bang. Admission to this family-friendly event is only $10, and tickets can be purchased at music.utsa. edu .

Take your family on a stroll along the candlelit walkways of the Alamo City’s River Walk. This fiesta takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in December. Visit thesanantonioriverwalk.com/ events for more information.

Saturday 12/6 Hey, sports fans! See the Spurs take on the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the AT&T Center. This exciting game begins at 7:30 p.m. with tickets starting at just $15 on ticketmaster.com. Get your tickets now!

Sunday 12/ 7 It’s back-to-back nights of sports! On Sunday, Dec. 7, watch as San Antonio’s own Rampage hockey team take on the Chicago Wolves at the AT&T Center.

This games hits the ice at 4 p.m. with tickets starting at just $10 on ticketmaster.com. Don’t miss this cool event!

Thursday 12/4

Monday 12/8

“Toast the Season” begins at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 4, during the Windflower Spa Happy Hour at The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa at 9800 Hyatt resort Drive San Antonio, TX 78251. Enjoy relaxation and pampering to bring in the holiday season with services starting as low as $65. Invite your loved ones to indulge in body scrubs, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres during your seasonal pedicure or massage.

All guests receive a certificate for one complimentary appetizer with the purchase of two entrées at Antlers Lodge.

Due to high demand, reservations are highly encouraged. Visit hillcountry.hyatt.com for more information.

Mondays are the worst. Make yours better by going to open - mic comedy at Retox Bar every Monday night. With surprise national acts each night, you never know who’s going to show up!

Signup starts at 9 p.m., and the best part? No cover charge! Go to retoxbar. net for more info.

Friday 12/5 Absorb holiday tranquility at dusk during the Ford Fiesta de las Luminarias on Friday, Dec. 5, from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.!

Tuesday 12/9 Bundle up and bring some hot cocoa to the University of Incarnate Word’s annual Light the Way. With over one million lights illuminating the campus, this event is sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

Lights go on at 6:45 each night through Jan. 6. Visit uiw.edu for more info, and don’t miss out on this beautiful holiday experience.

ARTS & LIFE

December 2 - December 9, 2014

College night at the McNay arts@paisano-online.com Free food and admission to the McNay Art Museum’s “Intimate Impressionism” exhibit lured students from universities throughout San Antonio to the McNay’s second annual College Night on Nov. 21.

“We (haven’t been) serving the college audience, so this event is how we are taking baby steps to changing that,” explained Rosemary Hickman, a museum educator.

Towering glass windows revealed a glimpse of the events inside. As students entered the McNay, two museum employees stood next to a large dry-erase board with UTSA, Trinity, Incarnate Word, Alamo Colleges and St. Mary’s written in blue marker. They asked each student where they attended school and gave the appropriate university a tally mark to keep track of all who attended.

To the right of the entrance room, a catered buffet table lined the glass windows. “It smells like apple pie in here,” a girl wearing a maroon Trinity sweater shrieked as she neared the buffet. The smell of simmered fruit filled the room and drew curious people toward the tables where

they found a waffle buffet.

Intimate tables and plush sofas near the food line gave students a chance to mingle and meet visitors from surrounding universities.

Just past the seating area was the entrance to the “Intimate Impressionism” exhibit.

“The small scale of the pieces was really surprising to me,” said UTSA student Chris Breakell. “I thought they would be much bigger.”

This exhibit housed impressionist pieces from influential artists such as Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, Eugène Boudin, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Édouard Manet. The smaller scale reflected the intimacy of the pieces, which ranged from landscapes to portraits.

The intricate details of each piece told individual stories that could be openly interpreted by each viewer.

“It’s important to have students see what other artists have left behind for them,” shared security guard Kathleen McGinty.

“They get the opportunity to see all the beauty that was so ahead of its time.”

As they backtracked to the entrance room, students walked by a threedimensional mural of birds made out of warped vinyl records. They could hear music by local San Antonio band, Deer Vibes, coming from the Blanche and John

Column Corner:

Food Lauren Rubio Contributing Writer

arts@paisano-online.com

Marcus Connolly/The Paisano

Randi Gilmore Staff Writer

7

Deer Vibes plays their set for an audience filled with San Antonio’s college students.

Palmer Leeper Auditorium.

A line of tables set up in the entrance of the auditorium allowed students to create their own screen prints.

A colorful selection of bandanas was offered, and it was easy to spot the UTSA students based on their choice of bright orange.

“The screen printing was so much fun and everyone seemed to enjoy that the most,” said UTSA student, Melinda Benedict. “As an education major, I think it is so important for students of all ages to be exposed to this kind of creativity.”

For the final activity, children selected a small printout from famous impressionist pieces and covered it with a clear plastic sheet.

Then they took blue painter’s tape and secured the combination to the table.

Using paint pens, participants recreated the famous impressionist piece while adding their own style.

Deer Vibes wrapped up their set around 10:30 p.m., and students began trickling out of the auditorium.

After one final stop at the waffle bar, students left the McNay full and with souvenirs from their College Night experience.

“Intimate Impressionism” will remain at the McNay until Jan. 4, 2015. For more information about the exhibit and ticket prices, visit www.mcnayart.org.

Eating at the new Pollo Tropical across from the UTSA Main Campus seemed like a good idea. I like to try new things every now and then.

Walking in, I was expecting to eat some sort of Mexican or Puerto Rican food, but I was completely baffled while reading the menu. They offer multiple choices of beef, pork and chicken with assorted sides that can be made into sandwiches, bowls or just a plate.

However, the menu was hard to read and didn’t offer much information about the dishes.

I eventually decided to order a TropiChop, a bowl with your choice of rice, beans, protein and assorted toppings. I chose chicken with white rice, lettuce, sautéed peppers and onions on top with a side of the cilantro garlic and BBQ sauces.

When I ordered sautéed onions and peppers, I imagined eating caramelized, translucent and

flavorful onions. What I got was a steaming mess of undercooked whitestringed grossness. Their chicken relied on its sauce for flavor.

Trying to find some comfort food, I also ordered a side of macaroni and cheese that tasted like cheap, processed American cheese. I ordered the sweet plantains for dessert, which were up to par, but they tasted as if they had sat in a warmer for a few hours.

The setup makes moving around uncomfortable – too many tables, not enough space. The staff was friendly, but when it became busy it was clear they were understaffed. There were many messy tables and only two people cleaning and serving food. Considering that the location is close to campus, they seem to be consistently busy.

I would not recommend eating at Pollo Tropical unless you know what you are ordering.

The lack of understanding and flavor has made me not want to try Pollo Tropical again.

Creative Writing:

Who is smarter: Juxtaposition men or women?

Emily Varvel Staff Writer

Marcus Connolly/The Paisano

arts@paisano-online.com

Men and women of UTSA compete Family Feud style in the Battle of the Sexes.

Megan Jenkins Intern

arts@paisano-online.com According to the Battle of the Sexes competition, held on Nov. 19, the men were the smartest.

Hosted by Men of Honor (MOH) and its sister organization, Women of Honor, the Battle of the Sexes pitted the two organizations against each other. The event, which lasted an hour, had three rounds and two intermissions.

The competition was similar to the game show Family Feud. Two teams of four tried to guess the most popular answers for two questions. Points were awarded based on the number of people who said each answer.

According to Jaeren Hardin, the vice president of MOH, MOH polled 100 UTSA students over three days to tabulate the answers.

After each question was posed, whichever team buzzed first would answer the question until they guessed wrong three times.

Once they had three wrong answers, the other team was

able to respond until they had three wrong answers.

In the first round, MOH’s team defeated a group of its female friends.

Even though her team lost, Tisha Rios, an undeclared freshman, enjoyed herself. “I met a few people and had fun,” said Rios.

The second round featured Women of Honor’s team against members of the fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma. Both teams were thoroughly stumped by the question, “Name something that makes a man unsexy.”

While each team scored some correct answers, both missed the top answer, “Ugliness.”

The Sigmas, however, defeated Women of Honor with the second question: “Name something women spend more time doing than men.” While Women of Honor guessed the most popular answer, “Hair,” the Sigmas got “shopping,” “cleaning” and “cooking.”

After winning the second round, the Sigmas defeated the first round winners, MOH, in the final round.

Each member of the winning team was awarded $25.

The audience could also win

cash by identifying historical black figures during the intermissions.

The event, which had about 70-80 people in attendance, was part of MOH Week. Throughout the week, MOH hosted other events such as a professional development workshop and a social nightlife event for members of the group. “(The goal of MOH) is to enrich the lifestyle of men across campus and eliminate different stereotypes,” said Hardin.

While the other events followed the group’s goal more closely, the Battle of the Sexes was designed to alleviate end-of-the-semester stress.

“It was fun just getting out in the community — anything where I get to hang out,” said Jerome Scott, a senior multidisciplinary studies major.

Besides the entertainment aspect, the questions also taught an important lesson. According to Hardin, showing how the community thinks is more important than determining the more intelligent sex.

“You can learn from the smallest stuff,” said Hardin.

There are three cement rectangles Completely solid and three inches thick One Blue, One Black and One Blank The three walls connect together and form an open square But there is a fourth wall Bars Smooth, silver bars Cylindrical, three inches thick There are 14 Spread three inches apart Across these 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 vertical bars is a horizontal bar Perfectly center three inches thick It acts as a handle A door You are sitting in this cage And you know Life outside of the cage It is liquid freedom and joy mixed together with perfect happiness But it is also unknown and dangerous However, you just know that if you chose to leave your cage, you will be doing the right thing But wait You can’t choose to leave You are locked in the cage Right?

Wrong.

It locks from the inside The world can’t get you out of there It has to be an inside job You need a key And you have a key A gift Should you choose to use it and you want to But you don’t You are comfortable in your cage

It’s more of a luxury hotel room than a jail cell.

But there is something sour Like the rotten smell in the finest perfumes Because that base is still there The four walls And you know in your heart of hearts that being outside is better than being inside You decide to wait And wait And wait Two sides of yourself conflicting Juxtaposing each other You take one, two, three steps forward You pick up your key You take the last step Shove the key in the lock You take a step back Turn your head and look behind at the poisonous luxury You face the key again and take one, two, three steps backwards You return to your life in the cage Because you are a juxtaposition Immersing yourself in the comfortable filth The flicker of freedom fluttering in the back of your mind You pause You look outside of the bars and see the freedom The joy The happiness You take one, two, three steps forward Search for your key Discover you left it in the lock Last step forward Turn the key And you take a step back And hang a curtain across your fourth wall Blocking out the sight of the freedom, joy, happiness

You take one, two, three steps back and you wait And wait And wait Because you are a juxtaposition You go back to life in the cage But you can still hear Hear the freedom, the joy, the happiness So you take one, two, three steps forward And you rip the curtain back Take the final step And you drink in the sight of the familiar view rushing down your throat Sating your need Then you take a step back And draw back the curtain To block the view And you nail three-inch thick wood to the bars To drown out the sound And you take one, two, three steps back Because you are a juxtaposition You continue your life, but you are drawn back to the bars Again and again Although you cannot see or hear it, you still long for it The freedom The joy The happiness So you take one, two, three steps forward Think “Am I making the right decision?”

And you unscrew the wood You rip back the curtains And you take the last step forward Touch the key And push You look back

To finish reading, visit paisano-online.com.

8

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December 2 - December 9, 2014

SPORTS

9 December 2 - December 9, 2014

{Sports Events} Wednesday, Dec. 3 6:30 pm Spurs Basketball The San Antonio Spurs travel to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, to compete against Deron WIlliams and the Brooklyn Nets.

The final victory

UTSA’s original players finish last game with a win

UTSA FOOTBALL

8:30 pm UTSA Men’s Basketball Men’s basketball heads to Flagstaff, AZ, to face the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks.

Thursday, Dec. 4 7:00 pm Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball team takes on the the Texas State Bobcats in the I-35 rivalry at the Convocation Center.

Friday, Dec. 5 7:00 pm Spurs Basketball Jeff Huehn / UTSA Athletics

The San Antonio Spurs head to Memphis, TN, to play the number one team in the West, the Memphis Grizzlies.

Saturday, Dec. 6 2:00 pm UTSA Men’s Basketball The men’s basketball team heads to Pullman, WA, to face the Washington State Cougars.

7:30 pm Spurs Basketball The San Antonio Spurs return home to host Andrew Wiggins and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the AT&T Center.

The UTSA football team took the field for the last game of the 2014 season in exciting fashion. UTSA’s 37 seniors ended the game with an emotional victory over the North Texas Mean Green 34-27 ending their season at 4-8.

From page 1

The Roadrunners ended their season with a bang, earning a season-high 452 offensive yards – 175 of those on the ground. Senior running backs David Glasco II and Brandon Armstrong both had great days carrying the football, while senior quarterback Tucker Carter played his

C-USA “This week was Football a very emotional STANDINGS week for all of us. ...

East Division C-USA/Overall

1. Marshall (7-1) (11-1) 2. Middle Tennessee (5-3) (6-6) 3. UAB (4-4) (6-6) 4. Western Kentucky (4-4) (7-5) 5. Old Dominion (4-4) (6-6) 6. Florida International (3-5) (4-8) 7. Florida Atlantic (2-6) (3-9)

West Division

we knew it’d be the last time we laced it up for practice or for a game.”

Tucker Carter

UTSA quarterback

best game of the season.

UTSA’s game-winning drive only lasted three plays.

The offense marched 54 yards down the field with a 3-yard run by Glasco II, a 30-yard pass from Carter to senior tight end Cole Hubble and a 21-yard run by Armstrong.

The drive, which only lasted a minute and 13 seconds, gave the Roadrunners a 34-27 lead they would not relinquish.

“The seniors were going to come out with some fire, no doubt. We wanted to make sure to do everything possible to get this win,” said Glasco II following his final game. “It’s been an up and down season, but we just wanted to make sure we gave 110 percent because we know we aren’t getting to lace it up again or coming back in the spring.”

The Roadrunners’ offense moved the ball efficiently under senior quarterback Tucker Carter. Carter completed 18 of 29 passes for a career-high 277 yards and two touchdowns in his final

outing. By halftime, the Roadrunners already had 232 total yards and 20 points, but fumbles on special teams kept the Mean Green in the ball game.

“This week was a very emotional week for all of us. We emphasized having fun all week because we knew it’d be the last time we laced it up for practice or for a game,” explained Carter. “After being an emotional wreck all week, it was great to just get out here and play the ball game and enjoy playing with my teammates.”

Despite letting 27 points slip by, the Roadrunners defense stood strong throughout the game, holding the Mean Green to four field goals in the first half. North Texas didn’t find the end zone until the third quarter when quarterback Andrew McNulty completed a 31-yard pass to tight end Marcus Smith, bringing UNT within 12 at the end of the third.

The Mean Green would find the end zone again with

“I’m really proud of these guys.

These guys have meant so much to this program. After all we’ve been through... we stayed together...”

Larry Coker

UTSA Head Coach 5:14 remaining in the fourth to tie the score at 27, but UNT never led in the game. The Roadrunners only allowed the Mean Green to convert on nine of their 20 third down conversion attempts and recovered a fumble with less than two minutes remaining in the game to close out the victory.

“I’m really proud of these guys. These guys have meant so much to this program,” said UTSA Head Coach Larry Coker as he held back tears following the season finale.

“After all we’ve been through — including the tough losses — we stayed together as a

team, and it meant a lot to us to come away with the win.

We appreciate San Antonio so much and the support from our administration and our fans. It just feels great to go out with a win.”

UTSA ended their 2014 season with a 4-8 record and a 3-5 record in Conference USA play. Notable match-ups next year include a rematch against Pac-12 heavyweight Arizona and match-ups against Big 12 powers Oklahoma State and Kansas State.

Women’s basketball wins second game UTSA BASKETBALL

C-USA/Overall

Patrick Martinez Staff Writer sports@paisano-online.com

1. Louisiana Tech (7-1) (8-4) 2. Rice (5-3) (7-5) 3. UTEP (5-3) (7-5) 4. UTSA (3-5) (4-8) 5. North Texas (2-6) (4-8)

Marcus Connolly / The Paisano

6. Southern Miss (1-7) (3-9)

UTSA junior forward Mannasha Bell goes up for the easy basket against UIW.

For this year’s Thanksgiving Classic, defense was the name of the game as the UTSA women’s basketball team (3-2) defeated the University of Incarnate Word (UIW) Cardinals (24), 57-31. The Cardinals are now on a three-game losing streak thanks to UTSA’s leading scorers, Kamra King and Crystal Chidomere.

Chidomere scored 11 points despite her recent injuries.

“She was our most consistent perimeter scorer. We’re looking forward to getting her back and more comfortable. We expect more from her in the upcoming months,” said Head Coach Lubomyr Lichonczak.

The game got off to a slow start, with UIW’s Arika Adams striking first with a soft floater in the lane. Roadrunner Carlie Heineman made

two threes early on, putting UTSA up 12-8 after nine minutes of play, but UIW’s Shanise Brooks kept the game close by scoring back-to-back field goals.

The Roadrunners heated up, ending the first half with an 18-4 run. Both teams shot under 39 percent from the field, without three-point or free throw help from Incarnate Word. Missing free throws and turnovers, the Cardinals could not crash the boards, which gave UTSA an advantage.

The second half proved to be a tougher match between the two teams. With such a large deficit to overcome, UIW’s plans for a comeback fell short. Frias finally got going, scoring eight points in the second, but the Roadrunner defense swarmed anyone trying to approach the rim.

In particular, the Roadrunners kept the Cardinals leading scorer, Adams, off the floor and on the line where she struggled most of the

night, going 1-7 from the free throw line.

“Kam (King) was our leading scorer last year, so I expect a lot from her,” said Coach Lichonczak. “She provides a lot and gives a lot to us with her ability to get to the rim and find ways against zones. We look forward to a great year with her.”

Thanks to the Roadrunners’ defense, the Cardinals never went on a run. UTSA ended the game on an 8-1 run, closing out the Thanksgiving weekend with a 57-31 win.

“We have that defensive and rebounding effort that will take us a long way,” explained Lichonczak, “I’m very proud of the effort, and our offense will come around.”

Excitement will follow the Runners as they hit the road to face off against UT-Arlington on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

10

December 2 - December 9, 2014

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