Vol. 65, Issue 11

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

Students passing through the Sombrilla last week likely encountered a commotion stirred on by a traveling, self-proclaimed “street preacher.” Daniel John Lee set up a large sign and engaged with students Wednesday, Thursday and Friday afternoon. Lee’s visit to UTSA comes on the heels of his visiting Texas State and Texas A&M within the last few weeks. With most of his college visits, Lee posts videos of his demonstrations to his Rumble profile. Rumble is an alternative social media platform often in conversation alongside TruthSocial and

Traveling ‘street preacher’ draws counter-protesters, UTSA PD and Dean of Students

Parler.

At one point in Lee’s nearly four hour video, Dean of Students and Senior Vice Provost for Student Affairs LT Robinson approached Lee and asked to confiscate the pole attached to the sign. Lee refused, and later, Robinson returned with several UTSA police officers. Lee eventually gave his pole over while he remained engaging with students.

Viktor Östberg was one of the students present during Wednesday’s demonstration; at one point in the video, Östberg can be seen holding up a Secular Student Alliance sign next to Lee. They described Lee’s demeanor during the demon-

stration as relatively calm.

“It could be why he was so calm that day was there were just so many people,” Östberg said.

Östberg described the general unhappiness from students with Lee’s presence.

“I think it just didn’t quite hit me [until] later in the day [after] I left,” Östberg said. “Being like, ‘that could have gone bad.’ People were not happy he was there.”

Students were concerned with Lee’s criminal history, but per Senate Bill 18 on the avenue protecting expression on campus, UTSA’s Sombrilla Plaza would be considered a public forum.

A note from the Office of the President speaks to one’s freedom of expression: “Of course, the ideas of different members of the university community will often and quite naturally conflict. But it is not the proper role of the university to attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive.”

Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communications officer, said the university knew Lee’s intent to visit the campus.

“UTSA was aware of Mr. Lee’s intention to visit multiple universities, including UTSA,” Izbrand said. “The university was also aware of his history

and was properly prepared to ensure his right to free speech while maintaining the safety of the university community.”

Robinson encourages students to exercise good judgment when it comes to interacting with demonstrators.

“Some speakers who come on campus may espouse extreme views in the hopes of getting a rise out of students,” Robinson said. “Then, if confronted for those views, they claim they were untreated fairly and their rights to free speech violated. Ultimately, their goal is to get attention for themselves. Ask yourself if you want to invest in their cause by feeding into that.”

Justice charter placed on May 6 ballot

By Mia Lynn Contributor

Proposition A, which would decriminalize abortion and lowlevel marijuana offenses, will be on the ballot in the upcoming San Antonio municipal elections. In addition to decriminalizing abortion and marijuana, Proposition A would ban chokeholds and no-knock warrants, make cite-and-release a permanent response to low-level misdemeanors and create a Justice Director position.

Proposition A was created by the organization ACT 4 SA to mitigate racial bias, keep people out of jail for low-level crimes, and decriminalize abortion and marijuana use. This proposition was added to the ballot after ACT 4 SA submitted over 35,000 signatures from registered San Antonio voters who supported the initiative.

“We’re really excited for what it means for the city,” Ananda Tomas, executive director of ACT 4 SA, said. “Besides winning the policy, it’s setting a direction for future policy forever.”

“Now, our city leadership will never get to say that they don’t know how we feel or what direction we want to move in,” Tomas added.

nio Police Department (SAPD) is not responsible for enforcing these laws. Similarly, enforcing citation and release would mean that those charged with non-violent misdemeanor crimes would be given a citation instead of being taken to jail.

Additionally, this initiative would ban the SAPD’s use of chokeholds and ban no-knock warrants except in extremely dangerous cases. Finally, although many of these reforms are currently practiced by the SAPD, this initiative would make them permanent, even if a new sheriff with conflicting views was hired.

“I think it’s a good step forward for the city,” senior Christopher Garana, a member of UTSA’s chapter of Texas Rising, said. “The important thing is getting things codified, especially with the cite and release, banning chokeholds, and any of the no-knock warrants.”

Registered San Antonio voters will be able to vote on Proposition A on May 6 at their respective polling locations or vote early. Early voting will start on April 24 and continue until May 2.

Paisano

If enacted, this initiative would not legalize low-level marijuana use or abortion since legalization occurs at the state level. Instead, Proposition A would deprioritize these issues and establish that the San Anto-

“Young people have the ability to turn out in this election like they never have before and make their voices heard,” Tomas said. “We will win or lose depending on the amount of young folks that go out and vote for this.”

“I think it’s a good step forward for the city.”

Chloe Williams/The

Jonathan Porter/The Paisano

Dean of Students LT Robinson (pictured) addressed students on Wednesday.

Texas

Governor Greg Abbott shared last week that he is seeking to pardon Sgt. Daniel Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant who was convicted of murder last Friday for the fatal shooting of 28-year-old protester Garrett Foster during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Austin. According to NPR, Perry’s attorneys argued that the shooting was self-defense, as Foster approached Perry’s vehicle with an AK-47 rifle. Prosecutors, on the other hand, say that he could have driven away, citing witness testimonies that insist Foster never raised his rifle at Perry. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles is currently investigating Gov. Abbott’s request.

U.S.

A woman from Tacoma, WA, was found in contempt of court last Friday after refusing to isolate or get treatment for tuberculosis for over a year. Tuberculosis, which is spread from person to person via airborne particles, can be fatal if not treated properly. CNN reports that the woman will be held in Pierce County Jail for up to 45 days for testing and treatment until she is no longer a threat to public health.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an emergency stay motion with a federal appeals court seeking to block an order from a federal judge in Texas that would invalidate the FDA’s 23-year-old approval of the abortion medication mifepristone. According to ABC News, the DOJ is asking for a short-term administrative stay and a pending longterm stay on the ruling that would otherwise make the drug unavailable nationwide starting Friday at midnight. An administrative stay would give the appellate court more time to consider whether the ruling should be frozen while the legal proceedings take place.

State of the City — Week of April 11

Where to find menstrual hygiene products on campus

By Jessica McLaren Assistant News Editor

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

By Amber Serio Staff Writer

Misc: San Antonio City Council approved a $2.5 million plan to fund a park that will be located adjacent to the Hays Street Bridge. On Thursday, April 6, it became official that the long-anticipated Berkley V. & Vincent M. Dawson Park would begin its development processes. The park will sit on a 1.69-acre lot east of downtown near the Alamo Beer Co. This project and its approval is the product of a years-long dispute of whether the lot should be a public space or used by a private developer to construct a five-story apartment building. The apartment project was rejected after a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court in 2019 regarding the sale and use of land such as this. Not long after, the council voted for the development of a park. According to city documents, the park will entail a 12,000-square-foot skate park, green space, a playground and event space.

Drivers on I-35 encountered an extraordinary occurrence last week when they witnessed a man driving a humongous Lowe’s shopping cart on a heavily occupied highway. The man driving was Jay Ruelas, a retired 57-year-old veteran from the Southside of San Antonio.

Videos of Ruelas’s unique form

of transportation quickly surfaced on the social media platform TikTok, with one video reaching about 600,000 views. The shopping cart, which was seen in the TikTok video going the same speed as a normal car, was constructed by Ruelas himself. Ruelas stated that he is a former Army mechanic and originally built the 20-footlong, 10-foot-tall cart to be used solely for Christmas toy drives that he participates in, but he has been actively driving it to other local events.

On Saturday, April 8, the Hello Kitty Cafe Truck rolled into San Antonio. The truck made its appearance at The Rim, across from the Bass Pro Shops, where it stayed parked there from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Since its debut in 2014, the truck has toured over 100 different U.S. cities. It has provided thousands of fans with exclusive and limited edition access to Hello-Kittythemed treats and merchandise. Fans are offered a wide range of options, including hoodies, cup plushies, canvas totes, lunchboxes, Hello Kitty Cafe chef cookies and more.

Updated campus map provides functional search and modernized design

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

This past month a new interactive campus map was launched. The map was created to alleviate issues with old mapping resources.

The goal of creating the new map was to design a modern, user-friendly and accessible platform to serve as a resource for current and prospective students, faculty, families and anyone else interested in visiting UTSA. Senior Communications & Content Specialist Drew Vincent explained the reasoning behind the update.

“We [had] a ton of maps that live[d] in different spaces,” Drew said. “There [were] a lot of challenges that were in place.”

Map production

While the need for the update was recognized before the pandemic, the project took flight a little over a year ago and required a large team working on it. Team members from Business Affairs, Enrollment, Campus Planning, Facilities, University Marketing and Information Technology helped make the map possible. Fund-

ing for the map came largely from the UTSA Office of the Vice President for University Relations.

The map was created with the third-party vendor, Concept3D — a company specializing in virtual tours and maps. Concept3D constructed the design and rendering based on information

capability to search by building abbreviation or name. These capabilities provide straightforward navigation across campus and from class to class.

When exploring campus locations on the map, quick facts and descriptions are also available for reading below the name and location. Vincent demonstrates the thought behind this feature as delivering “the chance to not only just say, ‘Here’s how you get to different areas on campus,’ but [also] here’s some of the history and some things that make our university unique — the things that stand out.”

provided by the Campus Facilities and Planning team.

Program capabilities

The program allows swapping between each of UTSA’s five campuses as well as virtual tours of campus hotspots. The new map allows users to filter and search by ADA Accessibility, Athletics, Recreation & Sports, Building & Spaces, Dining Services, Health & Safety, Information & Services, Parking & Transportation, Visitors and Building Labels. Responsive search includes the

Another new feature of the map is the option for Wayfinding. Wayfinding provides directions from anywhere off-campus to an on-campus location. It operates similarly to Apple or Google Maps but provides users with more specific directions for navigating to buildings and locations on campus.

• JPL 4th Floor - 4.03.02

Riley Carroll/The Paisano

• Student Union (Bookstore Building) - 1.02.18 and 2.02.17 Student Union (Food Court Building) - 1.01.09 and 2.01.18

• H-E-B Student Union1.206

For detailed directions and additional resources visit paisano-online.com

Digital flood map aids public awareness to flood risks

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

A digital floodplain viewer launched by the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) in January allows the public to view updated rainfall data and the waterways in and around the San Antonio metropolitan area. The map — developed in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — combines topographic layers and city layouts to display the projected data. The data in the viewer is based on rainfall numbers necessary to cause the “100-year flood.” While giving the public a view of streams and creeks in San Antonio, the viewer can take into account new land developments and their impact on flood data.

Yasmin Ramones, a senior engineer with SARA’s Ecological Department, was one of the members who worked on updating and reviewing the floodplain viewer. Ramones described the method by which the topographic layers were developed. One of these is Esri, a company that develops geographic information system software.

“In these models, we take under account the topographic data, which is what we use to map the results of the water surface elevation,” Ramones said.

While county-wide updates do not occur often, Ramones explained that floodplains are still evolving.

“When we do these updates, we don’t go through these county-wide updates often,” Ramones said. “In between the time where we see the need to do a county-wide update, floodplains still get updated based on development.”

Ramones described that developers submit plans to the city for record-keeping when developments occur in and around the floodplains.

“There [are] different moving parts as our city develops,” Ramones said. “What we try to do when we do these bigger updates to our streams is we try to capture the latest data available to feed the models.”

Main Campus Waterways

UTSA’s Main Campus sits between several nearby waterways that are displayed in the viewer.

A series of small reservoirs near East Campus Drive and Bauerle Road comprise the No Name Tributary of Leon Creek. This tributary is one of two waterways that flow near the Main Campus; the other is Maverick Creek on the West side of the campus.

Read the full article at paisano-online.com

Editorial

Tennessee tyranny leads to expulsion OPINION

Tennessee GOP expels two representatives for taking part in gun control protest

After a heated and condescending debate, the Republican-dominated Tennessee state legislature recently voted to expel Democrat Representatives Justin Jones and Justin Pearson after they — and a third representative who was spared expulsion by just one vote — participated in a gun control protest on the grounds of the state capitol, according to the Associated Press. This act, which comes just days after the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, has caused many to criticize the nature and behavior of the legislature for passing acts of political retaliation in place of meaningful reform in the wake of a tragedy. “We called for you all to ban assault weapons, and you respond with an assault on democracy,” Rep. Jones said.

This act not only leaves thousands of Tennesseeans without representation for the foreseeable future but has also thrown the tyrannical nature of the zealous GOP majority in Tennessee’s legislature into the na-

Commentary

By Lauren Hernandez Assistant Arts & Life Editor

tional spotlight. The votes largely followed partisan lines, where a 75R/25D party split left no meaningful opposition to the unwarranted expulsion of the representatives.

Many have also linked the decision to spare the third

Say yay to Prop A

Stop whatever you are doing and go vote. Local elections are coming up on May 6, with early voting starting April 24, and if you are a San Antonio resident, this election is especially critical. The ballot not only includes candidates for the City Council and the mayor’s seat, but it also includes Proposition A, which, if passed, would drastically amend the city charter .

Prop A, also called the San Antonio Justice Charter, was organized by Act 4 SA and a coalition of groups who gathered over 35,000 signatures to get it on the ballot. The charter is proposing legalizing marijuana possession, legalizing abortion, expanding the list of crimes that fall under cite-and-release as well as banning police enforcement of abortion-related crimes, chokeholds and no-knock warrants. So, I suggest we take this step by step.

If Prop A is passed, it would legalize misdemeanor marijuana possession of up to four ounces. It would also prohibit SAPD officers from using the smell of marijuana as probable cause for a search. According

to the proposition, legalizing marijuana would reduce the City’s contribution to mass incarceration, mitigate racially discriminatory law enforcement practices and save scarce public resources for greater public needs. Legalizing marijuana would also enable it to be better regulated and taxed, meaning the sale of marijuana would benefit our economy.

Through Prop A, San Antonio is the first Texas city to at-

Additionally, no city staff, funds or resources will be used to report these procedures to governmental agencies unless it is required by state or federal law.

Currently, abortions have been banned in Texas due to the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. According to the National Library of Medicine in an abstract published before the abortion ban, “The abolition of legal abortion in the U.S. would seriously threaten the health, and even the lives, of women and children.”

representative — Gloria Johnson — to racism as Rep. Johnson is White, while Rep. Jones and Rep. Pearson are Black. Johnson herself also commented on this notion, telling reporters that the decision on who to expel “might have to do with the color of our skin.”

The expulsion of these two representatives is a dangerous and unprecedented act of political retaliation by the Tennessee GOP. Pearson and Jones were taking action to represent their constituents, who took to the capitol’s steps in a peaceful protest following a tragedy in their community. As citizens, we cannot allow this undemocratic, racist and tyrannical behavior to spread. Continue to use your constitutional right to protest, and vote for representatives that will advocate for your best interests. It is our responsibility to uphold the stability and sanctity of our democracy. While Jones was recently reinstated, these actions by the Tennessee GOP are heinous and unjust, and we as citizens must be the ones to stop it.

Empowerment through programming

Commentary

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

tempt to decriminalize abortion through a ballot initiative. If passed, Prop A will prohibit SAPD officers from investigating and enforcing “any alleged criminal abortion.” The only exceptions would be instances where coercion or force is used against a pregnant person or in cases involving conduct that is criminally negligent to the health of the pregnant person.

By comparing data from before and after the Roe v. Wade precedent set in 1973, it is evident that abortions have always occurred. Even in 1955, experts estimated that there were approximately one million illegally induced abortions in the U.S. annually. When abortion was legalized, the number of abortion-related deaths in the U.S. decreased. The comparison of mortality rates shows that legally induced abortion is seven times safer than carrying the pregnancy to term, and illegal abortion may carry a risk of death as much as 30 times that of legal abortion.

Binge-watching vs. weekly release

Commentary

By Luna Infante Staff Writer

Sitting back and getting lost in your favorite TV shows is one of the best pastimes. When it comes to watching your preferred series, what is better, binging through a whole season in one night or waiting every week to find out what happens next? Audiences have debated this question for quite some time, especially since the release of hit shows such as “Euphoria” and “The Last of Us,” which follow a week-

ly-rollout model. Many argue that binge-watching shows is more enjoyable and engaging, while others say that shows that follow a weekly schedule are better because they allow for more fan engagement.

The last two years have been big for TV show talk on social media. At the beginning of this year, HBO Max released “The Last of Us,” a live-action TV show adaptation of the 2013 Game of the Year award winner. Talk of the show has flooded social media, with a

great number of posts, tweets and edits of the show crowding people’s screens. Even if you did not tune in every Sunday to watch the story unfold, it is likely that you heard talk of the protagonist Ellie, or the charming lead actor, Pedro Pascal. “The Last of Us” had audiences hooked, and the weekly rollout schedule allowed for fans to debrief and analyze episodes while talking about what came next.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which makes students look toward their universities to see how they approach cases of sexual assault on campus.

In section 9.24 of UTSA’s handbook of operating procedures (HOP), their sexual harassment and misconduct policies are available for students’ knowledge. The handbook states that upon filing the claim, “The University will strive to promptly begin the complaint resolution process, adjudicate the complaint, as appropriate, and discipline any individuals or organizations within its control who violate this Policy.”

This section of the handbook is broken down into 14 different parts, starting with the policy statement and ending with endnotes. Arguably, the most important part to note is the procedures. The procedures explain the difference between “reporting sexual misconduct” and “filing a formal complaint” and what courses of action are taken with each one, so it is important to understand the difference. While the HOP is undoubtedly an important tool, its content can be dense. Where UTSA’s resources shine are the month-long programming options for students, like the “What Were You Wearing” exhibit being displayed on campus until April 28.

Additionally, resources and workshops are available to students to raise awareness. UTSA’s website details different prevention partners and their specific services; this includes Equal Opportunity Services, which investigates allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination and sexual violence. These partnerships exist as vital safe spaces for survivors while promoting clear avenues for reporting and investigating.

Establishing a dialogue around safety and empowerment is two-fold. On one hand, discussing methods for safety through multiple settings helps people to be comfortable in telling their stories and it promotes a safer campus environment. Empowerment comes through programming; when the public is informed, it influences people’s safety. On the other hand, it helps students hold the university accountable for bringing justice to victims. Since UTSA’s dialogue around its sexual misconduct policy can be publicly accessed, students are able to see that the university is staying true to the book and not brushing reports under the rug.

If you or someone you know is facing sexual abuse, please call the National Sexual Abuse Hotline at 1-800-6564673. The hotline is available around-the-clock and can provide necessary resources for escaping the abuse.

“Empowerment comes through programming; when the public is informed, it influences people’s safety.”

Kara Lee/The Paisano

Gauri Raje/The Paisano

Kara Lee/The Paisano

Charging cable controversy OPINION

Commentary

By Malaki Lingg Assistant Web Editor

On Sept. 12, 2012, Apple introduced the lightning cable as their new standard for mobile device charging. For the past decade, the lightning cable has been in use for most iPhone and iPad devices. For years Apple has been known for having special charging cables and adapters made specifically for their range of products, but the European Union (EU) is seemingly putting a stop to that.

In October 2022, the EU passed new legislation requiring all mobile devices to use a USB-C cable. The law was introduced to aid in combating the growing e-waste issue as well as attacking companies who purposefully slow charging. According to Statista, approximately 50 million tons of e-waste is produced globally each year.

While most mobile device manufacturers have begun using USB-C as their standard cable, this is seemingly a direct blow to Apple. The tech company has become known for having charging methods unique to its products. These include mag-safe, lightning and Thunderbolt — which is a USB-C clone used for various MacBook products.

While it seems like this law would

Binge continued

The social media engagement was exciting and entertaining for many and waiting one week to follow the story was a good thing — it was something to look forward to; even the fans who played the original video game were able to enjoy conversations of the show and have something to look forward to.

In contrast to this, there was also a great deal of social media talk last year about the Netflix original “Wednesday,” which released its first season in one day. Releasing an entire season in one day allowed many to bingewatch the show, then take their conversations to social media. Although the series gathered abundant attention and love from millions, short shows that release a whole season in one day are more likely to leave fans asking, “Now what?” It becomes so easy to get hooked on a show and let episode after episode play, allowing the time to fly. “Wednesday” was a top show in 2022, sitting at number two for the most streamed original series, with 18.6 billion minutes viewed. However, talk of

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force Apple to finally conform to industry standards, they have tried to wiggle around the law and do things their own way. For years Apple has used the company Foxconn to produce and add encryption to their charging cables. Apple has data installed into their chargers to give a made-for-iPhone or iPad (MFi) certification. Chargers that have the MFi certification — which are typically just Apple’s OEM products — have the full range of charging speeds and data transfer that come with the

equipment being used. But, products without those certifications are then slowed down when being used with Apple products due to the lack of MFi software, a blatant anti-competitive and anti-user tactic by the tech gi-

the show did not last — the engagement, the fan theories, the excitement for the next season, all wore off quickly. It followed the path of most Netflix originals: it became the “it-show,” for a bit then conversation about it dissipated, with talk of a new season gonefast because audiences knew they would have to wait a long time for it. Overindulging in a series so quickly is nice, but only temporarily, and while it leaves fans longing for more, they grow impatient and eventually bored, allowing them to quickly forget and move onto the next big thing.

It is tricky to find a sweet spot, one where fans can enjoy talk of the show while also indulging in a nice bingewatching session. In the summer of 2022, fans got lost in a show that had the perfect balance — a two-part streaming release model. “Stranger Things” released its fourth season, and this show was the talk-of-the-summer and the show of the year, sitting at number one for the most streamed show overall in 2022 with 52 billion minutes viewed. The show released season four in two parts and this release model allowed fans to binge-

ant. If you need a new charger, you have to spend upwards of $40 to receive full speeds, rather than spending around half of that for a charging brick and cable of the “same” speed. Luckily, the law requires tech companies to use the same standard speeds for fast-charging devices using USB-C, somewhat damaging Apple’s plans for MFi in nations within the EU. Though, nothing in the law mentions data transfer speeds, which could allow Apple to use MFi to slow down data speeds on chargers sold by other companies so they can present their own more expensive chargers as the best choice. Apple has become known for repeatedly engaging in anti-competitive and anti-user tactics to increase its profit margins. These moves by Apple include disabling Touch ID on replaced home buttons, slowing down older iPhones prior to the release of new models and highly regulatory app store policies. Apple has shown its blatant disregard for consumers through its attempts to overcharge users and abuse users as well as its attempt to corner its market with exclusive and restrictive products. If Apple keeps up its current business model, they can expect another anti-trust investigation by the U.S. or the EU.

watch the series, which was an intoxicatingly enjoyable thing to do, while also engaging on social media about theories regarding part two of the season. Audiences did not hold back when it came to posting about the show; theories, fan edits and analyses took over social media when the new season hit the screen. Fans were enraptured by the show, and it was extremely popular for months. The sweet spot was found — a streaming release model that kept social media engagement on top while also allowing fans to binge-watch.

It all comes down to preference; however, many find that fan engagement creates more excitement, and this is something audiences find in weekly rollout models. On the other hand, some fans love to binge-watch; they love to sit at home and get lost in their screen for a night, staying ahead of spoilers and watching their favorite characters nonstop. However, a good balance is found in shows that release their shows in two parts, a bit of bingewatching, and a bit of fan engagement and after all, what could be better than balance?

Senior ISIS leader killed in U.S. drone strike

Commentary

By Ahavah Kirwan

Contributor

The United States military conducted a unilateral strike in the northwest of Syria on April 3 that eliminated a senior ISIS leader. According to U.S. Central Command, Khalid Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri, the senior leader who was killed last Monday, was responsible for planning ISIS attacks in Europe and Turkey. No civilians were injured or killed in this strike.

A regional intelligence source said that Jabouri reportedly had been monitored for the last few months as he moved between the Syrian cities and towns of Hasaka, Raqqa, Jarablus and al-Bab until he was killed in the rebelheld northwest, a region where other Islamic State leaders have hidden, in-

cluding Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, former leader of the Islamic State of Iraq, who died during a U.S. raid in 2019. Reports from the ground have indicated that al-Jabouri was traveling down a road on a motorcycle when a missile hit him on the outskirts of Kili, located in Idlib province, Syria. First responders responded to the strike and transported al-Jabouri to a hospital, where he lost part of his leg and left arm in the strike and ultimately died of his wounds.

Central Command Commander, General Eric Kurilla, has issued the following statement: “ISIS continues to represent a threat to the region and beyond. Though degraded, the group remains able to conduct operations within the region with a desire to strike beyond the Middle East.” The state-

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Staff

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The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer. |

ment also says that al-Jabouri’s death will “temporarily disrupt the organization’s ability to plot external attacks.”

The drone strike comes just a month after the U.S. military and Syrian Democratic Forces conducted a helicopter raid in Syria that killed another senior ISIS leader, Hamza al-Homsi. The United States declares that they are committed to defeating ISIS as well as disrupting and terminating their operations “alongside partner forces in Iraq and Syria.” There are about 900 U.S. troops deployed in Syria as part of the U.S. effort to annihilate ISIS in these regions. The Islamic State has not commented on the U.S. announcement of the obliteration of their senior leader, as al-Jabouri has not been publicly identified in the group’s propaganda.

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Now playing – ‘John Wick: Chapter 4,’ ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,’ ‘The Super Mario Bros. Movie’

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

After a strong start to the year with blockbuster films, Hollywood has not let up yet. With March coming to a close and April just beginning, here is a new collection of spoilerfree reviews for some of the most entertaining recently released films.

“John Wick: Chapter 4”

Chad Stahelski directs the fourth installment in the “John Wick” franchise, which is remarkably the best of them all. Despite its nearly three-hour runtime, the film flies by with some of the most captivating action put to screen in years.

Keanu Reeves returns once again as the titu

lar assassin, looking to finally earn his free

dom from the body that oversees all global organized crime known as The High Table. Throughout his pursuit, he must confront people in his past — both friends and foes.

A significant portion of the movie is dedicated to this story, but it has never been the key selling point of these films. At times, it is still difficult to become completely invested in this criminal underground — even after four films. However, the highlights of this movie are the incredible action sequences that rival those pulled off in genre staples like “Mad Max: Fury Road” or the “Mission: Impos -

sible” films.

The fight scenes that take place in Osaka and Paris are exhilarating. The seamless camera movements and long takes enable the audience to feel the force of every brutal punch, kick and gunshot. One particular set piece puts the audience in a different point-of-view than others, it is the closest feeling to playing a video game you will ever experience in theaters.

However, the highlight of the film — and of the year so far — is a prolonged sequence taking place on a staircase. Throughout this extended time, audiences are kept on the edge of their seats as Reeves runs, climbs, fights and shoots his way up the stairs in unexpected ways.

Creating a film that is the fourth entry into an action series that still manages to be unpredictable and riveting is a feat on its own. With a franchise record of $73.5 million on its opening weekend and even spin-offs in the works, this series will only continue to gain momentum from here.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”

Even for those who know nothing about the game, “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is among the most entertaining movies of the year so far, creating a delightful sense of fantasy and adventure.

Take advantage of these 10 UTSA resources

Spare Change

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

UTSA’s tuition includes a variety of fees specified for different university programs — half of which many students do not use. This week we will highlight 10 resources included in our tuition that students might not know much about and should be taking advantage of. All tuition fees are taken from the summary of student fees for the fiscal year 2022 to 2023, found on UTSA’s website.

1. Counseling

Each semester, $34.25 from each student’s tuition fees is allocated to medical services. The Wellness 360 counseling center offers a variety of counseling options, including individual, group, recovery and psychiatry. The easiest to access is the My Student Support Program (My SSP). My SSP is an app that connects students with mental health support through the app, telephone or website. Visit the Wellbeing Services website to make an appointment or learn more about counseling services.

2. Wellness 360

Also allocated with the $34.25 semesterly medical services fee are medical services provided by UT Health San Antonio Wellness 360. Located in the back of the Recreation Wellness Center, Wellness 360 provides a variety of care, including primary services, prescriptions, bloodwork, comprehensive women’s health, STI testing and STI treatment. For more information, visit their website or log in to your student MyHealth portal.

3. Borrow tech gear

For each semester credit hour you register for, a $17 fee is added and distributed to library services. Included in library services is the option to borrow tech gear. Gear categories include calculators, iClickers, laptops and accessories, chargers, tools, assistive devices, cables, presentation equipment and media players and accessories.

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

‘Caps Lock Live’ laughs out loud at Paper Tiger

By Malaki Lingg Assistant Web Editor

Since the early 2000s, Skweezy Jibbs has been an internet phenomenon, appearing in dozens of viral memes and stunts over the years. Skweezy began his career on YouTube in 2007. In the years since, he has amassed quite a large following, with four million followers on TikTok and five hundred thousand on Instagram, for example.

Skweezy and standup comedian, Adam Pasi, originally toured across the United States in late 2021, debuting their interactive comedy show, “Caps Lock Live.” While their tour spanned across multiple states, they ended up missing Texas, Florida and Louisiana in their original run. Nearly two years after the fact, Skweezy decided to make it up to southern fans with a new leg of the “Caps Lock Live” experience. On April 7, 2023, Skweezy Jibbs and Adam Pasi came to Paper Tiger for their first date of the interactive comedy experience, “Caps Lock Live.”

Adam Pasi opened the show with a standup comedy routine, discussing the similarities between Portland, Oregon — where Jibbs and Pasi are from — and Austin, Texas. “Y’know, I thought Portland was weird, but it’s just quirky at best. Austin takes the cake for that,” Pasi said. “Austin is what would happen if Portland f—cked Texas.”

Throughout Pasi’s set, he talked about troubles with working a nine-tofive job, working on comedy routines and his experiences with his on-and-off girlfriend. Soon Pasi’s opening set was ending, but before he could finish his final joke, Skweezy interrupted his set whilst wearing a “$300 inflatable squid suit,” much to Pasi and the crowd’s surprise. Skweezy quickly became a distraction onstage and eventually made Pasi storm off stage before finishing his final joke.

Feel the wrath of the ‘EA Monster’

Young Nudy sells out his first headline show in San Antonio

Stopping in San Antonio as part of his “EA Monster Tour,” Atlantabased rapper Young Nudy sold out the Aztec Theatre on Friday, April 7. While it was not the longestrunning set, the venue was packed with fans ready to party at another Alamo City rap show.

After the three opening acts took the stage, the sold-out crowd was ready for Young Nudy, chanting “Nudy” many times. However, the DJ sensed the crowd was not quite ready for him and spun tracks by 21 Savage and Playboi Carti to get their energy going. Nudy then went out at about 9:05 p.m. to the song “Project X” off his album “EA Monster,” released last August.

From the beginning of the show, there was a noticeable lack of stage production. There were no backdrops or props, no smoke effects and the only lighting featured was the most basic use of it, where the colors would change at every song.

Knowing what Aztec Theatre is capable of with its larger space and technological capabilities, it would

have been great to see more creativity added to the show’s visual aspects by Young Nudy’s team.

However, the sound mixing of the show was great. It was a visceral response to feel the thump of the beats and the pierce of the gunshot effects through the large speakers on songs like “EA.”

His stage presence was not anything memorable, but he did make an effort to move around to each part of the stage to make sure every fan in the pit would get a closer look at him. He also interacted with them all extremely well, happy to give them high fives, take selfies and rap his lyrics along with them.

However, the best energy he received was from the fans up at the top level of the venue. Every time the house lights turned on for Young Nudy to see the crowd, it made the energy in the balcony that much more visible. Pointing to the excited fans up there, he shouted, “Damn, man, I think I need to be up there with y’all.”

Young Nudy would only play 30 to 45 seconds of each track before transitioning to the next. While this

made sure no song would overstay its welcome, it also meant that it would be an extremely short set, with the headliner only performing for 30 minutes. With many projects in his discography, the rapper could have easily played more tracks that fans would have wanted to hear.

Some of the songs that he did play that got the fans excited were “Yeah Yeah,” “Hell Shell,” “Extendo” and “Loaded Baked Potato.” He wrapped up his performance with the unreleased track “Pissy Pamper,” featuring a viral verse from Playboi Carti, and “Okra,” one of many food-named tracks off his latest project, “GUMBO,” that dropped this February.

While Young Nudy’s set lacked creativity and a headline-worthy set length, he did play plenty of songs that fans loved and rapped along to. His interaction with them throughout the night felt very genuine, which at the end of the day, is the most important thing you can do as an artist. The fans connected with him and vice versa, which is all you need to consider it a successful night in San Antonio.

Calli Recore/The Paisano

Cesar Soto/The Paisano

The fall of UTSA basketball

By Logan Martinez Contributor

Finishing the season with a record of 1022, the UTSA men’s basketball team experienced a rather disappointing season, to say the least. The Roadrunners, led by head coach Steve Henson, look to drastically improve their team for the upcoming season next year. Though attempts have been made to recruit through the transfer portal, the university has ultimately fallen short. With nine players already entering the transfer portal, including star point guard Japhet Medor, it is hard to see a 2024 season in which UTSA men’s basketball finishes with a record above .500.

With this being the third year in a row the team has shown a record below .500, many are questioning the true ability of the men’s UTSA basketball team. The most important of those questions happens to be Japhet Medor, the university’s top point guard and leading scorer. Despite averaging 13.7 points and 3.8 assists, the guard’s outstanding play did little to help the team in overall wins. Frustrated with the team’s play, Medor decided to take his talents to the transfer portal, where he would eventually commit to Fordham University, despite NIL offers from UTSA. Medor is just one of many players refusing UTSA’s NIL deals in hopes of finding better in the transfer portal. As a plethora of players depart from the university, little to none find themselves returning.

What seems to make matters only worse for Henson and his staff is their inability to recruit through the portal using NIL deals. As it stands, only four players are returning to the team for the 2023-2024 season. While the coaching staff does have incoming high school freshmen to add to the roster, their portal recruitment has been abysmal. Simply put, many players within the portal do not want to come to UTSA. As a program that has finished each of its last three seasons under .500, the destination is less than appealing. Although NIL deals have been offered to players, the school has failed to recruit big-name players to their program.

The failings of recruitment fall on none other than head coach Steve Henson and his staff. In entering the final year of his contract, Henson has proved unsuccessful in attracting star talent to the university. Even with the addition of NIL deals, the school finds 12 of its 2022-23 roster players departing. If the 2023-24 season is anything like the past three, it is hard to see a future in which UTSA can recruit star talent to add to its roster. As it looks right now, the future is extremely dim for the men’s basketball program.

UTSA baseball earns national ranking for the first time in program history

By Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

AUSTIN – The Spurs are just one game away from the end of their worst season in 26 years. Though San Antonio was not necessarily projected to win the NBA Finals or even to make the playoffs, its 21-60 record, including franchise record-setting losing streaks, is something the players, coaches, front office and fans can finally put behind them.

Aside from the Spurs’ struggles in the win-loss columns, the franchise made business decisions to help propel the team in marketing.

In an attempt to grow the team’s fanbase and publicity, the club decided to market itself outside of Bexar County and play in front of a new crowd.

The “I-35 Series” consisted of two homeaway-from-home games for the Spurs, taking place in Austin at the Moody Center to expand the team’s fanbase.

It is safe to say that Austin has welcomed the Spurs, having sold out the Moody Center in both games of the series.

“Obviously, people enjoy it,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “It’s great to see the place packed like that. It’s a great town, so hopefully, we’ll be doing it more.” San Antonio went 1-1 in the two games in Austin.

The Spurs won its 21st game of the season on Thursday evening in the first game of the series 129-127 against Portland.

The victory over the Trailblazers prevented San Antonio from tying the 20-62 record from the 1996-97 season, which remains the worst record in franchise history.

The Spurs dropped their second game in the state capital to Minnesota 151-131 on Saturday afternoon.

“Minnesota was really hot from three; they must’ve made close to 25,” Popovich said.

SAN ANTONIO – After a 23-7 start to the season, the UTSA baseball squad has earned rankings in three national polls, including No. 24 in Baseball America, No. 27 in NCBWA and No. 23 in Perfect Game.

The Roadrunners are 3-1 against Power Five opponents and 8-1 against C-USA opponents. That 8-1 record is good enough to place UTSA at the top of the Conference USA standings.

One of the reasons UTSA has garnered so much respect from national polls is its ability to win tight games. UTSA is 8-4 in games decided by two or fewer runs, largely thanks to their elite pitching staff.

Reliever Simon Miller is the No. 9 ranked reliever in the nation and currently leads the

nation in ERA (0.55) and wins (6).

Starter Luke Malone also boasts a solid 2.00 ERA and a 3-2 win-loss record.

UTSA’s offense has been as explosive as their defense has been stout. Antonio Valdez, Leyton Barry and Matt King were all ranked within the top 50 of their positions.

Valdez is the highest ranked, coming in at No. 18.

The Roadrunners tend to stick to a game-by-game mentality, but with expectations rising every week, the team’s sights have to be set on qualifying for the NCAA tournament. Despite coming close in 2021, UTSA has not qualified for the tournament since 2013.

UTSA plays its first series as a ranked club against the Charlotte 49ers. The first pitch is at 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium.

By Rylan Renteria Contributor Andrew Christianson/The Paisano

Spurs sellout Moody Center in back-to-back games in ‘I-35 Series’

The Timberwolves shot 55.8 percent from three on Saturday, making 24 3-pointers in the 20-point win.

So, close enough, Pop.

Minnesota forward Anthony Edwards had a game-high 33 points in 25 minutes, including 16 first-quarter points.

All-Star forward Karl Anthony-Towns added 22 points, eight assists and eight rebounds, while Mike Conley added 20 points in 24 minutes.

The Timberwolves’ 151 points are the most points allowed under a Popovichcoached team in regulation.

San Antonio shot well against the Timberwolves, shooting 52.6 percent from the field and 44.8 percent from three.

The Spurs had three players above the 20-point barrier. Julian Champagnie led San Antonio with 24 points, and Keita Bates-Diop added 22.

Tre Jones finished with 21 points, while also adding 12 assists and snagged 10 rebounds, making his second career triple-double in the last three games.

Though Jones would prefer more team success, the third-year guard out from Duke is happy with his personal progress.

“I feel like I’m in a good position right now,” Jones said. “I made a lot of strides this year. I’ve gotten a lot better in a lot of different areas that I wanted to.”

Now at 21-60, the Spurs will travel up to Dallas to play the Mavericks on Sunday afternoon for both teams’ season finale at the American Airlines Center.

Rugby looking to recruit

The UTSA Men’s Rugby team recently competed in a tournament hosted by St. Edward’s University, going undefeated with a 6-0 record. With another great performance under their belt, the team wants to spread the word and invite anyone to join the wonderful world of rugby. The Paisano recently interviewed some players from the team.

The team is currently playing rugby sevens as opposed to rugby 15s, which they play during the fall semester. While similar, there are a few key differences.

“[Sevens rugby] is kind of similar to 15s in a way,” Sinjin Ramirez said. “We play on the same size field, but it’s seven players rather than 15 players. So it’s a lot more space on the field. It’s going to be a lot more running. The games are going to be shorter, a lot more fast-paced.”

A close-contact sport, rugby is a stark departure from other contact sports like American football and ice hockey. Rugby is often rough, but underneath that surface

lies a sense of community.

“So when I started playing rugby, it opened me up into a new world. The camaraderie is just everything. I fell in love with the sport,” Dana Francis stated. “I think the notable experience is just like how welcoming the people and community are.”

Currently, the team is looking for new players, welcoming anybody. Unfortunately, recruiting has not been the best, but they hope to change that.

“It’s not what we hoped for it to be right now. We’re trying to put some steps in place to improve it. It’s kind of just word of mouth. Those who are interested in rugby find out, and they come and join,” Ayden Luster said. “We’ve invited a couple [of] high schools out to our practices. We’re talking with the high school kids in the area. We’re hoping to reach out to some teams in Houston, Dallas and Austin.”

The team also offers times to learn more about the sport to anybody interested in joining. Level of experience does not matter as anybody with any ability is welcome to join, showing how the team aims to be inclusive.

“We also do the Wednesday intro to rugby sessions. We just did that this season,” Lloyd Brookman stated. “Anyone at any level can learn to play rugby.”

“We pretty much welcome players all year round. We do [the intro to rugby] every few Wednesdays, and then we’ll kind of explain to new players how to play, slowly introduce them into the game rather than throw them into the fire right away,” Ramirez stated.

If you’re interested in learning more about the sport and what it’s all about, come out to their games and support the team. While there, you might just find something more than just the game.

“Come watch our games,” Franklin Johnson said. “Come watch like maybe the professionals around San Antonio [and] the men’s clubs there because there’s always going to be someone in the crowd.”

“You lose nothing by coming out. You might gain a few friends. You might actually fall in love with the sport like I did,” Luster stated. “It’s pretty much a win-win situation.”

For more information about the men’s rugby team, visit their Instagram @utsamensrugby.

Andrew Christianson/The Paisano

Genevieve Vega/The Paisano

Courtesy of NBAE/Michael Gonzalez