Vol. 65, Issue 13

SGA helps students navigate through hot water access issues

By Gauri Raje News Editor

On Feb. 8, two Guadalupe Hall residents met with the Student Government Association (SGA) Business Affairs committee chair, Duncan Reedyk, to discuss a hot water access issue, which further led to the identification of other issues at the residence hall.

Director of Campus Services

Lee Myers stated that the university received work orders for two separate locations in Guadalupe Hall regarding hot water access, dated March 14 and March 28.

According to Reedyk, the initial issue expressed by the two students was that hot water access would shut down from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the next day.

“So during that time, there was no hot water access [and] of course students being up late, working late, they take showers in the evenings and they weren’t really able to do that without hot water,” Reedyk said.

The students were directed to SGA after raising the issue with their RAs. After the issue was reported to SGA, Reedyk explained that they wanted to “hear out the two students, what their sort of side of the story was.”

“I know that [the two students] had sort of been spearheading the issue in terms of talking with other students around Guadalupe,” Reedyk said. “There [have] been other resident group chats where they were monitoring the feedback and such. So these two individuals were representing the rest of [the] student residents there. So, of course, we wanted to hear out their complaints, hear what their sort of experiences were, things that they were noticing.”

As the Business Affairs chair, Reedyk works closely with uni-

versity departments, including housing, campus services and facilities. Following the meeting with students to understand the issue, Reedyk then reached out to Myers to further discuss the issue.

Since then, the university has been in contact with the concerned students and SGA as they work to address the issues.

However, as Reedyk explained, while fixing the initial issue, the university also identified other issues.

“It’s actually been a little bit complicated, I think, for the maintenance side of things,” Reedyk said. “Guadalupe is a brand new building of course.

It’s one of the LEED Certified buildings here, right, so there’s a lot of sustainability projects and sensors throughout the building. Initially, they were looking at what they thought was one fix — it was a malfunctioning sensor — and that led them to find a couple [of] other things. As they would try and adjust one issue, they would then look and find something else.”

So far, all the things that have been done are temporary fixes while the university waits for parts on backorder.

At the time of the interview, Reedyk had last been updated on March 23, when the university stated that a second company had been contacted to evaluate the Guadalupe Hall building and make sure the right issues were being addressed.

The Paisano contacted the university for further clarification about the issue and its resolution. Regarding the aforementioned work orders concerning hot water, Myers stated that “all monitoring shows the system is currently working.” Myers also stated that the university has hired two contractors to determine the cause of this concern.

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

After several weeks of public testimony and debate, the Texas Senate has passed Senate Bills (SB) 17 and 18, which will affect diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices and tenure, respectively.

Last week, SB 17 passed in the Senate on a vote of 19-12.

Sen. Brandon Creighton, RConroe, proposed the bill. Language in the bill would “prohibit public higher education institutions across the state from maintaining diversity, equity and inclusion offices or requiring DEI statements in admissions or hiring,” according to the Austin American-Statesman. UTSA’s Office of Inclusive Excellence would be affected should SB 17 pass.

While the language around these bills has been established, the university will not be commenting until the legislation is finalized.

“We are going to wait until the final legislation is adopted before commenting,” Joe Izbrand, UTSA’s chief communications officer, said. “It wouldn’t be productive to speculate about possible outcomes.”

According to The Texas Tribune, state funds would be lost for a year if a university is found to be violating the law. Additionally, the proposed legislation would allow students and employees to sue a university if participation in DEI training is forced.

“We do not require or provide ‘DEI training,’” Izbrand clarified. “We do offer optional training resources related to inclusive excellence.”

Speaking on behalf of himself, Associate Professor of History and COLFA Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Dr. Omar Valerio-Jimenez said that faculty have been receiving updates from the administration regarding the bills.

Diversity and inclusion are models valued at UTSA, per the university’s Inclusivity statement. While Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick touts DEI practices and initiatives as “woke policies,” faculty who work with these offices argue that is far from the truth.

“The faculty [and] the administration promotes diversity and thinks that is our strength; that [diversity] helps us recruit students and do our research,” Valerio-Jimenez said. “We don’t think our DEI initiatives exclude anybody.”

SB 16, which Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, proposed, passed on a vote of 18-12. The language in the bill would prevent professors from compelling students to adopt or uphold certain beliefs. Valerio-Jimenez, like most professors, encourages student engagement with course material.

“Our job is to encourage discussion [and] critical analysis,” Valerio-Jimenez said. “We do choose what readings we assign,

[but] that is part of our academic freedom. We ask students to cite readings; we don’t tell them they have to believe what the reading says.”

SB 18, also proposed by Sen. Creighton, passed in the Senate on a vote of 18-11. The bill deals with tenure. While the bill now heads to the House of Representatives, certain lawmakers there are not keen on dissolving tenure completely — namely House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont. Valerio-Jimenez believes there would be a “devastating impact on universities in Texas” should SB 18 pass. Faculty members who already hold tenure will not be affected.

“If that were to pass, and somehow tenure and academic freedom can be restricted, I think you would have a devastating impact on universities in Texas,” Valerio-Jimenez said.

The American Association of University Professors states the main purpose of tenure is “to safeguard academic freedom, which is necessary for all who teach and conduct research in higher education.”

“When faculty members can lose their positions because of their speech, publications or research findings, they cannot properly fulfill their core responsibilities to advance and transmit knowledge,” the Association further states.

All three bills will now undergo deliberation in the House. The 88th Legislative session ends on May 29.

Senate bills that could impact the higher education landscape see strides in Austin

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UTSA’s chief medical officer discusses upcoming end of pandemic emergency measures

By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer

On April 10, President Joe Biden signed Bill H.J.Res. 7 to end the COVID-19 national and public health emergencies beginning May 11. The declarations allowed the federal government to temporarily modify aspects of the healthcare system. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) cites a decrease in daily reported cases by 92%, COVID-19 deaths down by over 80% and hospitalizations because of the virus declining by almost 80% as factors that influenced this decision.

HHS assures a continued effort to battle the virus despite the end of the emergency orders, such as keeping the vaccine and certain COVID-19 treatments free. However, major changes to testing and tracking are incoming. For example,

University reports $2.5 billion total output contribution to San Antonio economy in FY21

has worked on.

there will no longer be mandatory free over-the-counter testing kits provided through Medicaid or private insurance, and labs will no longer be obligated to share their testing data with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Information on active COVID-19 cases have been crucial to counteract the pandemic.

Dr. Beth Wichman, chief medical officer at UTSA, details the importance of continued self-testing.

“Self-testing continues to be recommended for symptomatic and exposed individuals,” Wichman said. “By self-testing, you are able to begin following the CDC’s recommended measures to reduce transmission to others...”

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State of the City — Week of April 25

By Gauri Raje News Editor

UTSA contributed a total output of $2.5 billion to the Greater San Antonio economy in the 2021 fiscal year, a 30% jump over the last three years per the recently released “Economic Contributions of The University of Texas at San Antonio Fiscal Year 2021 report.”

Javier Oyakawa, senior economist at the UTSA Institute of Economic Development (IED), and Tom Tunstall, senior director of the Center for Community and Business Research at the IED, worked on the report, which measured the university’s “contribution and impact” in four different categories for FY 2021. These categories include out-of-the-area student expenditures and spending, operations and maintenance expenditures, including salaries and wages, capital and construction expenditures, and the community engagement work of the university’s IED.

University officials and staff members also helped with the collection of information needed.

“The first two weeks were very intense in order to get information from different sources,” Oyakawa added. “Then, [we had to] process the data and make it appropriate for the software that we use and that’s very time consuming.”

The economic report is the third of its kind that Oyakawa

According to Oyakawa, the university requested an economic impact report to present the information to the Texas legislature, which is currently in session. As a public institution, UTSA receives funding from the legislature.

“This information was requested by the officials of the university to help in the process of making the case [that] UTSA needs [funding],” Oyakawa said.

According to UTSA Today, all spending was recorded for the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes eight counties — Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson.

“For 2021, it was important to include the eight counties that make up the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area because these eight counties make up an economic unit [as defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics],” Oyakawa said. “[These counties] are related to Bexar county, so that’s why since 2008 we decided to use this area of analysis and not just Bexar county.”

The university’s operating expenditure, which includes wages and salaries for faculty and staff and research and development programs spending, generated a “total output contribution” of $1.1 billion. Additionally, the university’s expanding downtown footprint generated a total output contribution of $112.9 million.

With regard to student expen-

ditures, only the data for outof-SAMSA and international students was utilized. These expenses accounted for $298 million of the university’s total output impact.

“The expenditures of these students coming from these areas outside are called “new money,” Oyakawa said. “They have relevant impact or contributions in the area of analysis. That’s why we make this distinction. It’s very important for the methodology of the economic impact analysis.”

Furthermore, UTSA’s designation as an R1 institution in 2021 also contributed to this rise. According to UTSA Today, the university’s research spending for FY 2021 totaled $140 million, a 106% rise from $67.8 million in FY 2017.

“It is so important to report these economic contributions for 2021 because it really marks a very important piece of history for the university,” Oyakawa said.

Finally, the university’s IED was able to help its clients generate a total output contribution of $944.4 million through its “growth services and counseling to small businesses in San Antonio and South Texas.”

For more information about the IED, visit iedtexas.org/.

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Education:

On Friday, April 21, students at the IDEA Harvey E. Najim school, joined by parents, walked out of class to participate in a protest for teachers. KENS5 reported that, according to students, over 10 teachers have left the school since the start of the school year. Furthermore, students blame school leadership for this “teacher exodus.” During the protest, some students held up posters in solidarity with teachers while other signs called for new leadership.

Weather:

According to the San Antonio Fire Department, a lightning strike reportedly caused a fire in a small attic at a home on the city’s West side. KSAT 12 reports that the fire occurred “just before 7 a.m. in the 8000 block of Widgeon Street near Cable Ranch Road” and was extinguished by firefighters.

Misc: San Antonio resident Barry Bartlett, 74, recently finished

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

walking the popular city-wide trail system. Bartlett, who goes by the name “footwalker,” started his journey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The system, which runs for a total of 100 miles, is a “growing network of paved multi-use trails connected to many parks in the city,” mysanantonio.com reports.

Former Mayor Howard W. Peak spearheaded the project in the early 2000s, and the city recently celebrated the milestone of completing 100 miles.

Crime:

Based on crime statistics presented by the San Antonio Police Department to the city’s Public Safety Committee last week, vehicle thefts have increased to 4,300 from January of this year to March, news4sanantonio.com reports. This is an approximately 60% increase compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the three most stolen car models are Hyundai Elantras, Ford F-Series and Kia Optimas.

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What’s going on in the 88th Texas Legislature

By Jessica McLaren Assistant News Editor

Education SB 1515 and SB 1396 both involve changes to public school procedures regarding religion. If signed into law, SB 1515 would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom starting next year. Similarly, SB 1396 would “allow public and charter schools to adopt a policy requiring every campus to set aside time for

students and employees to read the Bible or other religious texts and to pray,” The Texas Tribune reports.

Higher Education SB 16 would prohibit university professors from compelling students “to adopt a belief that any race, sex, or ethnicity or social, political, or religious belief is inherently superior to any other race, sex, ethnicity, or belief.”

On a similar note, SB 17 would require universities to close their diversity, equity and inclusion

offices and bans mandatory diversity training. In addition, if signed into law, the bill would restrict hiring departments from asking for diversity statements in which applicants describe their commitment to building diverse campuses.

LGBTQ+ Rights SB 162 aims to prevent transgender and nonbinary minors from updating their birth certificate. If signed into law, the bill would prohibit minors from changing the sex listed on their

birth certificate unless the change is done to correct a clerical error, fill in incomplete documents or establish an updated sex for intersex individuals.

Other HB 300 proposes eliminating the sales tax on certain family care items such as diapers, baby wipes, bottles, maternity clothing and feminine hygiene products. The bill would also remove the taxes on products used for pumping breast milk and adult diapers.

SB 990 seeks to eliminate countywide voting in Texas. Currently, registered voters in nearly 100 counties are able to vote at any polling site in their county. If signed into law, SB 990 would require voters to cast their ballots at an assigned precinct, which is typically located within their neighborhood.

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Attempted murder masked as self-defense OPINION

A string of ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ shootings reignites debates on U.S. self-defense laws

Editorial

According to the Gun Violence Archive, 2023 has been an extremely deadly year for the United States — 13,022 deaths as a result of gun violence have already occurred. This is a nation where doing the mundane tasks of life can lead to injury or death for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. A string of shootings in the past week has taken the spotlight out of the tens, if not hundreds, of shootings that occur weekly across the nation because of their relation to “stand your ground” and other selfdefense laws.

On the night of April 13, Ralph Yarl was sent to pick up his younger siblings from a friend’s house around 10 p.m. A wrong address and doorbell ring later, Yarl was shot twice — once in the head and once in the arm — by 84-year-old Andrew Lester, according to the Associated Press. No words were exchanged between the two before Lester opened fire on the teen, shooting Yarl through his front door.

Texas’ war on labor

Commentary

By Jake Mireles

Opinion Editor

In Texas, where the sweltering and unpredictable climate can make even the most menial jobs extremely intense — and even dangerous — common labor rights often taken for granted may soon meet the chopping block. According to the Texas Tribune, House Bill 2172 and Senate Bill 814 — pioneered by Republican legislators and supported by Governor Greg Abbott — would significantly impact local government’s ability to regulate labor.

These bills, if passed, would make it so that local governments cannot levy labor-related ordinances that require more employee accommodations than what is mandated by the state. The bills would also nullify any existing local ordinances that act to strengthen employee labor rights as well.

Texas is already one of the worst states when it comes to labor rights and protection.

According to KUT 90.5, Texas has no state-mandated accommodations for pregnant employees, breastfeeding employees or paid leave. Additionally, Texas does not guarantee protection for

Lester was taken into custody by Kansas City Police, where he was held for 24 hours and then released pending charges.

This shooting has garnered national attention and has emboldened discussion around the U.S. selfdefense laws — specifically “Stand Your Ground” laws that are more popular in conservative states.

outdoor workers from the heat, and ordinances relating to mandatory water and shade breaks are more often implemented at the local or municipal level.

Additionally, as a right-towork state, Texas hinders the ability for employees to organize and form unions. “Right-towork” laws “prohibits unions from collecting dues from the people who benefit from their activities.” These policies make organizing in the workplace extremely difficult, as it drives up the dues for existing union members, discouraging them from taking collective action.

The Republican Party of Texas is conducting a blatant and insidious war on the rights of laborers. While it may be conducted on the misleading premise of protecting small businesses and further strengthening the already booming state economy, there is one party that will always come out on the bottom if these bills pass — the workers. Economic prosperity cannot be achieved by attacking and weakening those at the bottom while enriching and expanding the power of those at the top. Our focus should be on strengthening the foundations of our society, and one foundation will always be its laborers.

Protecting polls or destroying democracy?

Commentary

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

For as long as the United States government has been around, it has always been a democracy doing the best it can to protect our democratic ways of life. Maintaining equal access to political elections is vital if America hopes to give every citizen a voice in our government. Voter manipulation in America is nothing new, from the poll taxes of the Jim Crow era to the gerrymandering of voting districts that still goes on to this day. The latest attempt

Commentary

By Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

According to NPR, a similar incident occurred in Elgin, Texas, where two high school cheerleaders were shot after entering the wrong car in an H-E-B parking lot. The shooting has also garnered attention around the nation for its similarity and close occurrence to the Yarl shooting in Kansas City.

These shootings, while seemingly isolated, represent a disturbing trend in the evolution of the gun violence pandemic in the United States. Individuals — emboldened by strong self-defense laws and politicians who will defend them relentlessly — are beginning to adopt a “shoot first, ask questions later” mentality, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. Ringing a doorbell should not land you in the hospital with a gunshot wound, nor should mistaking the wrong car for your own in a parking lot. People who shoot first and ask questions later should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; not asking questions should not allow you to get away with murder.

Bane of cancer alley

bed, pining away, dying. Just to sit and look at them, and know you can’t do anything about it.”

Imagine living in a town where refineries and chemical plants can be seen on every block. As a result of the industrial activity occurring in your neighborhood, you face a risk of cancer nearly 50 times the national average in 2014. This scenario is the experience of every person living in Louisiana near an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River dubbed “Cancer Alley.” Despite a lawsuit filed in February by the U.S. Justice Department and a visit by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief to a rubber plant, more should have been done sooner.

“Almost every household has someone that has died from cancer,” Mary Hampton, a resident of Reverse, Louisiana, told the Guardian in 2019. “It’s the worst thing you’d ever want to see: a loved one, laying in that

Commentary

at voter manipulation comes from Texas lawmakers who are proposing a bill that may allow civilians to openly carry handguns at polls.

While there may be good intent behind allowing open carry at polling locations, more guns are not the answer to preventing gun violence. Police should be present and entirely sufficient in providing a safe, comfortable space for voters. Permitting civilians with guns can only lead to conflict and violence. Instead, our government should be able to provide enough protection to make

Unfortunately, Hampton’s experience is not unique. In an area plagued by toxic air pollution for decades, “Cancer Alley” communities are regularly exposed to carcinogens and harmful chemicals emitted from more than 150 chemical plants. The St. John the Baptist

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Parish, where Reserve is located, has the Denka Performance Elastomer plant, which produces chloroprene used in rubber. Identified as a carcinogen in 2010 by the EPA, the inaction of the federal government and local representatives has led to continual injustice in a known issue. Despite constant

warnings from the EPA about the Denka plant since 2016, the plant continues to operate less than half a mile from Fifth Ward Elementary School. “Cancer Alley” is a symptom of a larger problem: the lack of accountability in enforcing environmental regulations. This year alone, the train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, shows how companies often disregard the health and safety of communities. As a result, we expect the representatives we elect to protect our rights and interests. And yet, we continue to see crises and disasters with long-term consequences, such as the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. While the recent measures by the EPA and the federal government are much appreciated, gross negligence has persisted for decades. We place trust in our governments, but our needs are constantly neglected until it is too late. How much more will it take for more preemptive responses to occur?

Curb Russian colonialism

By Ahavah Kirwan Staff Writer

The Russian Federation’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine spotlighted much attention from individuals all over the world and brought to light Ukraine’s past as a victim of Russian colonialism. However, what was not revealed was Russia’s extended past of

sure every voter — regardless of their views, can feel safe when voting.

Gun violence has become a looming threat to all public areas, and polling stations are no different. Adding more guns into the equation will not provide any feeling of safety for those who are already uncomfortable

colonialism in other countries, particularly in those that were formerly a part of the Soviet Union and in the Russian Far East. Russia’s colonialism, Russification and war crimes are not merely something of the past, as its effects are still experienced today by many countries besides Ukraine.

The illegal annexation of Donbas, Ukraine’s easternmost region, is not the first time in

with guns. This bill encourages people to bring their handguns to a place where people with opposing views from them are voting. That sounds like it could very quickly turn into a recipe for disaster if any sort of conflict were to break out at the polls.

Providing protection for citizens of all races and politi-

the recent past that Russia has illegally occupied a part of Ukraine. In 2014, the Russian Federation illegally annexed the Crimean Peninsula. This piece of land, situated in the Black Sea, was once home to the ethnically indigenous population of Crimean Tatars, who were deported by the Soviet Union in 1944.

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cal views at voting polls is at the heart of democracy, and as soon as one group feels threatened or like their voice is being silenced, democracy starts to crumble. There are much better ways that lawmakers can provide a safe voting experience without allowing for civilians to openly carry handguns at polls.

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OPINION

Fox pays $787 million: a small price for defaming American democracy

Commentary

By Tim Woolard Contributor

On Jan. 6, 2021, when rioters forced their way into the U.S. Capitol to halt the certification of a fair and free election, they donned campaign T-shirts, chanted slogans, swore oaths, waved flags, raised signs and told lie after lie. Of course, some rioters did not realize they were lying — they were only imitating what they had seen on TV. Over two years later, we are finally beginning to see media outlets like Fox News punished for pushing “The Big Lie.” There was no doubt that Fox had defamed Dominion Voting Systems; that did not require a trial. That Fox had spread these lies with “actual malice” was abundantly clear to its own legal team, who agreed last Tuesday to settle for over $787 million rather than to stand before a jury. So, the malice was real, but who was the target? Was Fox’s intention to tarnish the reputation of Dominion or of American democracy itself? If it were the latter, then $787 million would amount to less than a slap on the wrist. And while this sum certainly represents a windfall for Dominion, which earns approximately $40 million a year, and a temporary setback for Fox, which generates $4 billion a quarter, for average Americans, it will not automatically restore faith in the American democratic system. It will not deter news outlets from

manipulating them.

It was not too long ago that the ultimate form of radical patriotism was not to attempt to destroy American democracy — as some of those insurrectionists may believe — but rather to fight overseas to spread it. When I was a kid, my mother put on the local news each morning, and as I ate breakfast and prepared for school, I watched tanks roll through the streets of Baghdad and heard words exalting our brand

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of democracy as a beacon of hope in devastated, war-torn lands. Was spreading democracy sufficient justification for invading other countries? Well, maybe that was a big lie too. But it was a lie that only functioned because most Americans believed our democracy was so sound that it ought to be shared. Since then, there has been a complete reversal and today, most Republicans still believe

the 2020 election was rigged. The texts and emails that emerged during the deposition showed that the assault on democracy was motivated principally by greed — Fox executives noticed that they were losing their audience to smaller, far-right news outlets and sought to win them back. But if money were the principal factor, then Fox is playing a delicate numbers game. If Fox can maintain its lead in the cable news market through reckless journalism and telling malicious lies, then it can afford to lose a court case or two every few years. The Dominion case was big, much bigger than Fox likely anticipated, but it was strong only because Fox had been sloppy. Now, they need only to take good notes and correct the errors. Besides, Dominion was not the only target of Fox’s ire during the 2020 election. Poll workers, secretaries of state, governors and postal workers were all targets of baseless claims of voter fraud that were echoed on Fox segments. Fox profited from defaming these people and will likely never have to pay for it. Personally, I would have liked to see the case go before a jury. The $1.6 billion that Dominion originally sought could have seriously wounded the cable news giant, and a trial might have further damaged Fox’s reputation and credibility among its audience. So, while others have touted the settlement as a win for America, unless you have a stake in Dominion, I do not buy it.

Secret organizations revoking your rights

Commentary By Carley Martin Contributor

Many people probably have not heard of The Alliance Defending Freedom or The Heritage Foundation. That is because they do not want you to. The Alliance Defending Freedom is a legal organization established in 1994 by 35 Christian leaders. They claim to protect freedom, free speech, marriage and family, parental rights and the sanctity of life. Since its inception, the Alliance Defending Freedom has taken many cases to the Supreme Court and won. Recently, the organization assisted Mississippi in drafting the Gestational Age Act and served on the legal team that went in front of the Supreme Court. They ultimately won the case, prohibiting abortion after fifteen weeks except in special circumstances.

The Heritage Foundation was established in 1973 with the mission to “formulate and promote public policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values and a strong national defense.” Like the Alliance Defending Freedom, The Heritage Foundation has also been successful in its attempts to

Commentary

By Jada Thomas Staff Writer

make its policies law. During President Ronald Reagan’s Administration, the Heritage Foundation came up with 2,000 potential policies, two-thirds of which were implemented.

There have been many bills passed in the past few months that many people believe are infringements on their rights. Both organizations have been instrumental in signing these bills into law. Many of these bills target transgender people, barring them from receiving gender-affirming care, preventing them from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with and prohibiting them from participating in sports. Christian conservatives have been advocating for these bills through organizations such as the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Heritage Foundation. While there is no proof, it is widely believed that these bills have been modeled after templates made by these organizations. This is because these bills have very similar language despite being from different states.

On May 13, 2021, the news site Mother Jones shared a leaked video from a private Heritage Action Meeting. Heritage Action is the sister organization of The Heritage Foundation. In the video, Jessica Anderson, the executive director of

the sister organization, said, “In some cases, we actually draft them for [representatives] or we have a sentinel on our behalf give them the model legislation so it has the grassroots, from the bottom type up kind of vibe.” Anderson is referring to the “voter suppression law” in Georgia and also claims that they have also been doing this for other bills for Republicans throughout America. Since this video was leaked, more people have found out about these types of organizations and have spoken out against them. Finally, these biased organizations are getting the criticism they deserve.

While the Alliance Defending Freedom claims to represent people of all religions, the bills that they are advocating for do not represent the beliefs and values of all religions. For example, in Judaism, it is part of their religion that a fetus is not considered a person until they are born and that women should be able to have abortions if needed.

Bills banning abortions are infringing directly upon their religious freedom. These bills are unconstitutional and infringe on people’s First Amendment rights. Everyone should have the right to medical care and to express themselves freely, no matter what religion they identify with.

Land of stars is burning out

For many decades, the Walt Disney Company has been the face of nostalgia in the eyes of many. Several of the characters that shaped our childhoods, and the movies that we have fond memories of, came from Disney. Recently, as it pertains to their role in the film industry, people

have begun to identify Disney more so with something else: remakes. Although Disney has tried its hand at remakes before, with a live-action version of “The Jungle Book” in 1994, “101 Dalmations” in 1996 and “Alice In Wonderland” in 2010, many would say that Disney’s current trend of live-action remakes began with “Cinderella” in 2015. Since then, Disney has released a remake of an animated classic nearly every year,

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and they clearly have no intentions of stopping. This is evident given the fact that they already have more liveaction remakes slated for the future, namely “Lilo & Stitch,” which has garnered some controversy regarding the casting. Despite this, more than Disney’s current track record has deterred audiences, it has inspired other companies to follow suit.

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Arts & Life

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

Although there are many fantastic blockbuster films that moviegoers can choose from, there are now some new smallerscale films out in theaters right now. In this final edition to the “Now playing” series for this semester are spoiler-free reviews for movies that will provide thrilling experiences at a theater near you.

“Evil Dead Rise”

Directed by Lee Cronin, the fifth installment in the Evil Dead franchise is as gory and brutal as

ever. In a fast-paced 97 minutes, the horror elements feel right at home with the twisted nature these movies have always had — even if the story and characters leave much to be desired.

The film follows two sisters who reunite after much time apart, until body-possessing demons enter the picture, forcing them to save their family and fight to survive.

To address the main issue first, the plot and the characters fall short in how the movie ultimately plays out. For some, that might not be an issue as it is a horror film designed to scare and entertain. However, it was difficult to care as much about them being in danger and

fighting for survival when the film gives us no reason to care for these characters.

Thankfully, Cronin’s excellent understanding of the horror genre and his eye for what makes the franchise as iconic as it is justifies its existence as a bloody good time. It is a mean and unrelenting movie with its brutality; it holds back no punches and is all the better for it. It was unpredictable as to what would happen to who, when and how, keeping audiences on their toes with its insanity. Most of the film is also set in a smaller location, creating a heightened sense of unease.

Many clever camera tricks and movements pay homage to Sam

Three ways to celebrate Earth Day

By Naydine De La Fuente Staff Writer

Every year on April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day — a global holiday focusing on green living and climate crises. Earth Day was founded in 1970 to educate the public on various environmental issues, and it still spreads its message to this day. There are many ways that individuals everywhere can get involved and participate in the celebration.

1. Clean up our communities

One of the most common activities people can get involved in is connecting with the Earth through clean-ups. In significantly populated areas, such as big cities, it is pretty standard for waste buildup to occur. Together, we can create a cleaner and healthier environment. San Antonio is home to many parks and neighborhoods that can benefit from a thorough trash pickup.

2. Be kind to our pollinators

Next, for those interested in gardening, you can support the pollinators of our world by planting pollinator-friendly plants. Bees, butterflies and other pollinators are considerable contributors to our environment and play a massive role in the movement of pollen and plant fertilization. To show our appreciation and support, we can start by planting nectar-rich and native plants in our gardens and communities to welcome our

tiny helpers.

3. Use eco-friendly products

To continue, it is essential we pay attention to the products we purchase. Many of our daily household products contain chemicals and other harmful ingredients. A brand called “If You Care” produces numerous ecofriendly kitchen and household products, such as 100% recycled aluminum foil, toxicfree parchment paper and vegetable-based inks. All products are biodegradable and chemical-free.

Overall, Earth Day is a great holiday that advocates for a very important topic — our environment. The Earth is our only home that has given us so many valuable resources; now it is time for us to show our appreciation and lend a helping hand. There are other different and easy ways that you can help out this Earth Day, whether it is simply using less water the next time you brush your teeth or using public transportation to reduce air pollution. For more information, please visit the Earth Day website to learn more about how you can be involved in this year’s celebration.

Raimi’s original “Evil Dead” films, such as how the camera would move through empty spaces to create suspense. This is shown in the opening scene, in particular, with how it sets the film’s tone and also features an excellent title card reveal.

While it was disappointing that the plot made this film more forgettable than it should have been, the film delivers the inyour-face bloodcurdling horror fans are looking for. It viciously serves it up on a silver platter for audiences to cover their eyes, scream and have a great time in the theater.

“Beau is Afraid”

Working with A24 once again, director Ari Aster has established a reputation for traumatizing audiences with “Hereditary” and “Midsommar.” He does the same here in his third feature film, but in entirely distinct ways that, while still difficult to grasp long after finishing the film, feel like a whole different side of the director’s visionary mind.

Aster enlists Joaquin Phoenix to play the titular character Beau, who embarks on an odyssey of sorts through his guilt and anxieties to search for his mother. While this synopsis appears straightforward, the layers to unpack in this film are endless.

It is absolute chaos from the opening minute, as Aster immerses the audience into Phoenix’s paranoid state of mind. Everything he feels comes to life through terrific production and sound design, making what he feels much more visceral.

Phoenix entirely commits to this role’s challenges for its lengthy three-hour runtime. He transforms himself, both physically and emotionally, in many ways throughout that are impressive to see the Oscarwinning actor take on.

With its prolonged runtime, however, there are moments throughout that serve questionable purposes and drag the pacing down.

Continue

10 inexpensive ways to decompress before finals

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

With finals quickly approaching and the school year ending, it is crucial to prioritize self-care, especially in times of stress. This week we highlight 10 different ways to decompress before finals.

1. Take an exercise class

Exercising is a great way to release stress and decompress. Campus Recreation offers daily classes, including yoga and pilates. If campus classes are not your thing, local gyms like Orange Theory, CycleBar and Club Pilates offer first classes for free.

2. Go on a walk

Enjoy the beautiful weather and take a walk on any of the nearby trails. The closest trails to campus are Huesta Creek Trailhead, Dan Markson Maverick Creek Trailhead and Hill Country Trailhead.

3. Take a book and visit the pool

Pick up a book at the library or a local bookstore and take it to your apartment’s pool or the Campus Recreation Aquatic Center.

4. Treat yourself to a coffee date

Try out a new coffee shop, order your favorite drink and journal or read a book. Locally-owned coffee shops nearby include Indy Coffee, Early Bird Coffee and Archies Coffee Lounge.

5. Make a cocktail or mocktail and watch TV

Sometimes it is necessary to indulge in life’s simple pleasures, including trashy TV. A great way to relax is to make yourself a cocktail or mocktail and put on your guilty

pleasure TV show.

6. Have a self-care night

Start your night with a steamy shower or bath, light candles, put on a face mask and enjoy your night doing nothing but focusing on yourself.

7. Do a room reset

A clean space can do wonders for productivity and mental wellbeing. Do a room reset and all the deep cleaning tasks you have been avoiding.

8. Explore creative outlets

Try a new creative outlet like painting, coloring, drawing, knitting, journaling or any other creative activity that makes you feel calm.

9. Make your favorite meal

Food can provide comfort in ways unlike anything else. Make or buy your favorite comfort food and consciously spend some time appreciating it.

10. Play a relaxing video game

Playing a relaxing video game can calm you and provide an escape from everyday stressors. My favorite comfort games are “The Sims,” “Animal Crossing” and “Stardew Valley.”

It is important to prioritize your mental health, especially during finals week. Take a well-deserved break, and good luck this coming week.

What to do with The Paisano after reading

By Kara Lee Assistant Graphic Editor

KaraLee/ThePaisano

Earth Day happened this past weekend, but we should celebrate the Earth every day, as it is important to show the Earth some love. Some ways to show love include reducing your own waste. A great way to start is to make sure to not throw away your Paisano newspapers after they come out on Tuesday but to reuse them in a fun and creative way. Here are some ideas on how to reuse and revamp your old Paisano papers in an Earth-friendly way.

1. Donate to animal shelters

Many animal shelters, like the Humane Society,

take old newspapers and use them as bedding and litter for many of the animals. This is a great way to not just give back to the Earth but also to animals in need. This is something The Paisano does every week with the leftover papers.

2. Use for packing

With the end of the year coming up, some students may be moving back home or to a new apartment, so newspapers are a great substitute for bubble wrap.

Calli Recore/The Paisano

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Softball dominates UIW in cross-town showdown

By Haley Aguayo Staff Writer

Four home runs helped the UTSA softball team gain a dominant advantage over the University of the Incarnate Word during their Wednesday night game. The Roadrunners beat the Cardinals at H-E-B Field with a final score of 7-0. Camryn Robillard and Marena Estell hit a home run, and Taylor Jensen hit two.

“It’s kind of been a little uptight recently, losing by like one or two [points],” Robillard said of the win. “But we all just came out here carefree, loose and then we’ve been stepping up on the board. I think it’s our turnaround. We’ve kind of had a rough time. But I mean, at this point, we’ve all come together.”

Left-handed Estell hit a double into right field on her second at-bat to put the Roadrunners on the Cardinals field. Robillard stepped up to bat fourth, hitting a homerun on the second pitch. With Robillard’s homer, Estell ran past third base and all the way home to give the ‘Runners a two run advantage as they headed into the bottom of the first.

“I actually got one off the end of my bat, but I spent a couple hours in the cages last night, and I was like, ‘I’m gonna get this down,’” Robillard said. “I’ve been in kind of a slump. So I kind of just came out here carefree, and I just want to loosen up and have fun.”

Rylie Giddens was up to bat at the top of the fourth inning and got to walk to first base. When Kat Ibarra went up to bat next, she bunted the ball and it rolled past first

base giving her time to run to first and Giddens time to run to claim second base.

Estell went up to bat, and on the third pitch, she managed to hit the ball out of the field. Giddens, Ibarra and Estell raced home after watching Estell’s ball drop over the fence. This brought the score to 5-0, and UIW subbed out their pitchers.

“It was a definite confidence booster,” Estell said. “Hitting it off the bat, I was like, ‘Oh, I feel like I missed that,’ but I swung hard enough and it went far enough. Sometimes it just depends on if I feel like I got all the barrel or like some of the barrel. I feel like I got all the barrel today on most of my at-bats. So I think that home run definitely helped us out today to get a win.”

The Roadrunners headed into the fifth inning, and Jensen was up to bat. After a few balls were thrown, she hit a ball over the middle of the field. It looked like the ball was curving downward into the field but went right over the fence, and Jensen happily ran through all the bases as her team welcomed her on home base.

During the top of the seventh inning, Jensen went up to bat again and hit her second homer of the evening. Her team started cheering for her before the ball even made it halfway across the field. The team ran to home base and was there to greet her when she ran through it and gave the ‘Runners their final point of the evening ending with 7-0.

“I struggled my first two at-bats, but I got back in there,” Jensen said. “I knew as

What is next for the San Antonio Spurs?

Commentary

By Logan Martinez Contributor

As they finish their season with the second-worst record in the NBA at 22-60, the San Antonio Spurs now look forward to their place in the 2023 NBA Draft. With hopes of winning the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, the Spurs find themselves in a threeway tie with Houston and Detroit for the best odds at the No. 1 pick.

Although the top pick is ideal, San Antonio has been guaranteed at least a 52 percent chance at a top-four pick in the 2023 Draft. While fan hopes of receiving the No. 1 pick have skyrocketed, the odds of the Spurs receiving the grand prize in the draft are not entirely the best.

Since the Spurs’ fate relies on the lucky bounce of a couple of pinballs, it is important to understand what the Spurs can do if they do not receive the number one pick. With 2023 being an extremely top-heavy draft class, it is not hard to see a future where San Antonio finds its franchise player outside of Wembanyama.

While the drafting of the 7-foot-2 Frenchman would serve as a franchise-altering pick, the Spurs’ odds are, again, simply not the best. However, due to a 52 percent chance at a top four pick, a multitude of other incoming players would definitely suffice for the storied organization. In a future where the Spurs fail to win the first pick in the draft, incoming rookies such as G-League Ignite’s Scoot Henderson and Alabama’s Brandon Miller could serve the organization just as well as Wembanyama.

Losing star guard Dejounte Murray last off-season, the Spurs

find themselves desperate for a primary ball handler. Though attempts have been made to put two guards at the point, it is clear that San Antonio needs a star point guard to lead their offense.

G-League star Henderson can be just that, as well as more for the organization. Averaging a solid 17 points, five rebounds and six assists in the G-League, the guard is more than capable of playing at the NBA level. A big name that is simply overshadowed by the elite seven-footer, Henderson possesses the capability to be a franchise-altering point guard for the San Antonio Spurs.

The same can be said about Alabama star forward Brandon Miller. Averaging 18 points a game with a 3-point percentage of 38, the 6-foot-9 power forward would fit perfectly alongside the Spurs’ stellar small forward, Keldon Johnson. His three-point shooting, along with his outstanding athletic capability, make him an elite prospect in this year’s draft. Although he has had his troubles off the court, it is nothing the San Antonio organization cannot fix.

As Spurs fans around the city of San Antonio hope to win the Wembanyama sweepstakes, it is important to know that the franchise has multiple options if they fail to land the number one pick. Though a future with the seven-footer in San Antonio is ultimately ideal, it is not the franchise’s only option. Whether it be the drafting of star guard Scoot Henderson or elite forward Brandon Miller, the future of the San Antonio Spurs definitely looks bright.

soon as they came off the bat. I kind of just started jogging; you kind of just know as soon as you hit them that they’re gone.”

Coach prised by how well her team did, nor was she surprised that Jensen got in two homers. “Typically, anytime she puts a good piece of the bat on the ball, it’s gonna go,” Cheatham said. “She hits the ball re ally hard. And a lot of these kids, they’ve done it so many times over and over again at practice that they have a feeling. The girls know off the bat when it’s going out.” With their four game losing streak and will head into their next game with higher confi dence, though coach Cheatham will still make sure the girls practice so that they can continue to find success.

“We mentally sound defensively,” Cheatham said. “We’ve got to make the routine plays, and then offensively, we just have to adjust to whatever pitchers are throwing and how she’s trying to get us out there and get after them and get them out and get to the next game.”

Men’s tennis breaks school records

By Haley Aguayo Staff Writer

UTSA’s men’s tennis team has broken school records this past season. Some of their most notable accolades include continuously holding a spot in the top 50 best college tennis teams ranked by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association since March.

“Honestly, the biggest thing that has changed this year is belief in ourselves,” head coach Sergey Avdeyev said. “We have done fairly well in the last several years as well. With every year, we want to step forward.”

“We’ve developed ground fundamentals the last couple of years, so now we just see the results, and honestly, it came with us just improving that 1%, which is belief. That really helped us get those big wins to become a ranked team. We have had tremendous success this [past] fall as well.”

As a team, the men won their H-E-B tournament last February, beating Texas A&M for the first time in school history, and they were named team of the month by the ITA in March for their 14-match win streak that spanned two months.

In February, the team was ranked at the 67th spot and moved up twenty places to the 47th spot within one week. They were ranked at the 37th spot in mid-March, the highest a UTSA men’s tennis team has ever been ranked.

The team just finished their regular season with a 6-1 win against The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

“Our doubles team won the regional championship in doubles, they made it to Nationals and they made quarterfinals, so that really gave our other guys a lot of belief and trust that we could beat anybody in the country,” Avdeyev said.

Alan Magadan and Sebastian Rodriguez became the doubles regional champions back in October and have been ranked as high as the sixth-best doubles team in the country by the ITA.

Rodriguez was named the C-USA athlete of the month back in October, while Magadan was named athlete of the week by C-USA in March.

“We match them for their style and for their skills, and also personality plays a big role,” Avdeyev said. “Like when we match them, we want to see who

bonds together better and what energy they have. It’s important, and it’s very clear. When we see that the chemistry for two players is working well, then we keep them together.”

Danijal Muminovic and Miguel Alonso were also doubles draw champions this past fall, and Muminovic was just named a member of C-USA’s all-academic team.

“As a coach, the most rewarding thing to me is seeing results,” Avdeyev said. “We worked very hard the last three years to get here, and that really starts with practice. But seeing the guys bonding together, supporting each other, to a coach, that’s a big thing.”

Avdeyev said that he believes in this upcoming tournament that the team will have more of a challenge when they face FIU but do not count out Charlotte as an opponent as well. He also said that students could show their support by cheering for the team online.

“I think just sharing posts, liking them and leaving comments would be the best thing they can do. Just so at least we know that they’re aware they’re behind us and that they’re very excited that we’re trying to win,” Avdeyev said.

at UTSA baseball’s 2023 season and what it means going forward

Commentary

By Rylan Renteria Contributor

With the 2023 regular season ending, now is a great time to look back on all that the UTSA baseball squad has accomplished, as well as look ahead to what is coming. As of right now, the Roadrunners are 28-9 overall and 12-2 in conference play, good enough to put them atop the the season began, a lot of returning players had a chip on their shoulder from the previous season where despite going on an excellent run at the end of the season, they did not receive a bid for the NCAA tournament. talk about it all the time, we definitely have a chip on our shoulder, and we remember that feeling every game matters for us,” starting pitcher Luke Malone asked about what has led to the Roadrunners’ success this season, every player and coach

echoed the same sentiment — improved pitching. “Our pitching this year has been fantastic,”

Leyton Barry said. “That’s the reason we are where we are.”

UTSA’s rotation consists of guys like Malone, Simon Miller, Ruger Riojas and Ulises Quiroga, who are all high-quality pitchers.

Miller, in particular, is the No. 9 ranked reliever in the country and boasts a 1.28 ERA. The strength of the UTSA pitchers is a key part of their success because, in games decided by two or fewer runs, the Roadrunners are 9-5. When UTSA takes the lead late in the game, they have a group of guys they can rely on to close the game out.

When it comes to being a complete team, you must be good at all aspects of the game.

UTSA’s hitting has been just as dominant as their pitching. The Roadrunners currently have eight players with a batting average of .300 or higher. While returning

stars such as Barry and Shane Sirdashney have been great, UTSA has received a boost from newcomers like Antonio Valdez and Taylor Smith. Valdez is leading the team in every major batting category except home runs, which Smith leads. Both of them played under Pat Hallmark at UIW and jumped at the opportunity to play for him again when both entered the portal following the 2022 season.

As it currently stands, UTSA is ranked by four polls. No. 25 by D1 Baseball, No. 22 by Baseball America, No. 25 by CB Newspaper and No. 28 by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. “There’s a lot of excitement in the locker room about it, but it’s not the end all be all,” Malone said. “We just got to keep winning.”

A look

Edgar Zamorano/The Paisano

Edgar Zamorano/The Paisano