Vol. 65, Issue 3

Antonio

UTSA among several Texas universities in possession of Native American remains

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

Despite a 1990 federal law from the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), several Texas universities, including UTSA, have the remains and cultural items of Native American tribes.

According to a report from Axios, the Center for Archaeological Research (CAR) at UTSA holds 297 remains, the fourth-largest collection of unrepatriated remains in Texas. Of the entirety of the collection, 294 remains have not been made available for return, while three have, according to data from ProPublica.

In a statement to The Paisano, UTSA’s Chief Communication Officer Joe Izbrand commented on the steps CAR is taking to comply with federal law.

“The remains and objects that are in the care of UTSA were recovered decades ago from archaeological excavations by the university or donated to the university from other institutions and private entities,” Izbrand said. “They are preserved with dignity and stored in a secure facility. It is our intention to repatriate all of the remains and objects to the rightful parties, and we are working methodically to facilitate their return, enabled in part by a grant from the National Park Service. This is a complex procedure, established

Four attempted motor vehicle thefts reported on Main Campus

through the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, and we are in full compliance with the federal law.”

Upon entering the Main Campus’ 78249 zip code into the open-source program Native Land Digital, four tribes are listed as having lived on the land within the zip code.

While it remains unclear what specific tribes the remains and objects in CAR’s collection belong to, a summary of CAR’s process for repatriation notes that “191 of those unaffiliated remains are associated with a single archaeological site in Live Oak County—a legacy collection from excavations associated with the expansion of Highway 281 in the 1970s.”

On UTSA’s 50th anniversary page is a brief mention of artifacts — believed to be from the Tonkawa people — that were excavated on the East side of campus, near the intersection of UTSA Boulevard and Valero Way.

More information regarding the steps that are required to be taken under NAGPRA can be found at https://www.nps.gov/ subjects/nagpra/getting-started.

New partnership to make contraception accessible on campus

By Jessica McLaren Assistant News Editor

Four months ago, UTSA Wellbeing Services partnered up with Project Ruby to make contraceptive services more convenient and ac cessible for students at UTSA. Project Ruby (PRJKTRUBY) is an online platform where individuals can obtain affordable contraceptive services without sacrificing their rights to privacy and confidentiality.

Through PRJKTRUBY’s easy-to-use website, users can sched ule a same-day telehealth consultation with a doctor and receive a three-month supply of birth control in just a few days.

Regardless of your insurance status, their service offers three months of birth control for $20 per month and emergency contraception for $50, shipped in discreet packaging directly to your house for no extra cost. Users can also use the promo code “MYCHOICE2022” to get $10 off of their first purchase.

“I read an article [this past summer] about how some women were choosing which colleges to attend based on whether abortion is prohibited in that state,” Chloe Rotonda, a 10thgrade student in New York who reached out to UTSA regarding PRJKTRUBY’s services, explained. “I started in states that have the strictest abortion laws, and I identified [UTSA] as a campus with at least 30,000 students, so I wrote [to] the president, Dr. Taylor Eighmy, and he connected me with [UTSA Wellbeing Services].”

Working alongside Wellbeing Education Coordinator Jamie Singh, Chloe was able to spread the word about PRJKTRUBY to students at UTSA, providing at least 85 students with monthly contraceptive packages thus far.

By Gauri Raje News Editor

On Monday, Jan. 30, UTSAPD responded to reports of “several vehicles [being] damaged during attempted motor vehicle thefts” on the Main Campus.

The police department’s daily crime log shows that the first incident, categorized as a “Burglary of a Vehicle,” occurred in Resident Lot 3 and was reported at 1:44 p.m. on Monday.

Three other incidents with the same description occurred at Barshop Blvd. Lot 1, Resident Lot 3 and Brackenridge Ave. Lot 2 and were reported at 3:45 p.m., 4:14 p.m. and 4:24 p.m., respectively.

Students were notified of the incidents last Monday night through the university’s alert system.

“These incidents focused on specific vehicle types — Chevrolet pickup trucks and Dodge

Chargers. Two of each model were targeted. We have a very active investigation underway including reviewing camera footage that could help us track down leads and identify suspects,” UTSAPD Chief of Police Stephanie Schoenborn said in a statement to The Paisano.

To report any additional information about the incidents or suspicious activity related to them on campus, you can reach UTSAPD at (210) 458-4911.

UTSA hosts State of the University address

By Mason Hickok Editor-in-Chief

As UTSA begins another academic year, President Taylor Eighmy hosted a State of the University address, followed by a panel discussion with faculty, staff and senior Public Health major Erica McFarland. On Monday, Jan. 30, Eighmy addressed an audience of leadership, faculty, students and staff in-person and online about the university’s trajectory.

Much of the address was centered around UTSA’s three strategic destinations. Eighmy took time at the beginning of the conversation to recognize where the university is today while looking toward the future, returning to the belief that “great cities need great universities.”

“The concept of our great city of San Antonio needing us to be a great university is a powerful driver for where we have been going, where we are today and where we will go,” Eighmy said.

At the beginning of the Fall

2022 semester, UTSA launched its Bold Scholar Program, bringing in about 220 first-year students to live on campus for their first year of college.

Eighmy acknowledged the changing landscape of higher education and UTSA’s place within that.

“One big feature … especially for public higher education is that we will be measured now not by the exclusiveness of our admissions policies, but by our inclu siveness; about who we let in and who we ad vance,” Eighmy said.

In speaking about this, there was a graphic displaying some of UTSA’s rankings around economic & social mobil-

ity. For example, the graphic included data from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce, which lists UTSA in the top 18% of the nation for long-term return on investment.

“We’re crushing it in how well we do around advancing economic mobility,” Eighmy said.

Eighmy took time to recognize the partnership with UT Health San Antonio.

“We’re grateful for that,” Eighmy said. “The fact that we could work to bring forward a joint school of public health for San Antonio is immensely powerful.”

Read the full article at https://paisano-online.com

Professor part of brain health treatment study

By Kylar Royer Staff Photographer

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive, fastgrowing brain cancer with a high mortality rate. Most patients do not live more than one year after their diagnosis, and only 12% live for five years.

A team of scientists from UTSA and UT Health San Antonio is working to find a viable treatment option for GBM patients. Their research aims to develop a compound to reduce GBM tumor size, thereby decreasing the symptoms patients may experience and adding another treatment modality to existing cancer therapies.

Dr. Stanton McHardy, a chemistry professor at UTSA, became involved with the project due to two of his collaborators — Ratna K. Valdlamudi, a professor in the OB-GYN department at UT Health San Antonio, and Andrew Brenner, M.D., Ph.D., from the Mays Cancer Center.

“They came to me and talked to me about this program, and it was perfect for me because it combined two of the things that I am passionate about — neuroscience research and cancer,” McHardy said.

Most of McHardy’s time is consumed by research dedicated to developing preclinical drug candidates as the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD) director. The CIDD is funded by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT); grant’s from the institute have allowed the generation of preliminary data on fundamental projects at the CIDD and paved the way for funding granted by the National Cancer Institute.

“The team recently was awarded $3 million by the National Cancer Institute (NCI)”, an article from UTSA Today reads. “The grant, which began on January 1, 2023, follows previous NCI funding of $2 million that supported laboratory studies yielding

fundamental understandings needed to progress to drug development.”

A primary focus of McHardy’s research is on “developing novel small molecules for therapies.”

“We think of ourselves as molecular architects,” McHardy said. “So, the heart and soul of what we do is designing new molecules for improved biological activity.”

McHardy explains that it is “an incredibly large challenge to develop a small molecule that could kill the GBM tumor because in order to kill the GBM tumor, it has to get past the blood-brain barrier.”

The blood-brain barrier is a crucial part of the CNS. It surrounds the brain, protecting it from harmful substances. The barrier is like a gated neighborhood; it only lets in the residents who keep the community running while preventing unwanted guests that could disrupt their environment.

The Center for Archeological Research, located at UTSA’s Main Campus, continues to house Native American remains.

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

“We’re crushing it in how well we do around advancing economic mobility ”

UTSA Courtesy Photo

Photo Courtesy of Chloe Rotonda (pictured above).

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

UTSA

Two faculty members from the UTSA College of Sciences, Audrey Lamb and Anthony Chronopoulos, have been elected as 2022 Fellows for the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Dr. Lamb is a professor of chemistry as well as the department chair. She is being honored for her scientific contributions related to X-ray crystallography and her advancements in understanding reactions involved in natural product biosynthesis. Dr. Chronopoulos, a professor emeritus in the Computer Science department, is being recognized for his involvement with science computing.

Texas

Approximately 265,000 homes and businesses in Austin — around half of all Austin Energy customers — found themselves without power at some point during the freezing rain, ice and sleet that swept Texas and neighboring states last week. As of Saturday evening, more than 57,000 customers remained without power, marking four days since the storm caused widespread outages.

U.S.

Last Friday, ex-officer Preston Hemphill was fired from the Memphis Police Department in response to the violent arrest and consequent death of Tyre Nichols. His termination occurred after internal investigations revealed that he violated several department policies, including rules about the use of a stun gun. So far, Hemphill is the sixth officer to have been let go of due to his actions during the incident.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture

Tom Vilsack recently announced a proposal to update nutrition standards that would limit the amounts of sugar and sodium allowed in school lunches. If approved, the proposal would gradually reduce sodium levels by 30% by fall 2029 in alignment with federal guidelines. It would also require that sugars account for no more than 10% of the total calories per week in school breakfast and lunch. The earliest changes would take place during the 20252026 school year and would limit high-sugar foods like cereal, yogurt and flavored milk. A public comment period on the matter will be open from Feb. 7 to April 7.

World

On Jan. 28, the Biden administration identified a large Chinese balloon floating over Alaska. The balloon passed through Canada, traveling through Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri and North Carolina before being shot down along the coast of South Carolina Saturday afternoon. Chinese authorities, who insist that the balloon was a civilian aircraft that had gone off-path, have condemned the response as an overreaction; however, similar balloons have been identified during the Trump administration, the beginning of the Biden administration and in Latin America.

UTSA Online ranked No. 85 in U.S. News rankings for online bachelor’s programs

By Gauri Raje News Editor

Last week, UTSA Online ranked No. 85 in the U.S. News and World Report’s list of “Best Online Bachelor’s Programs of 2023.” The ranking was 161 spots higher than the program’s previous rank of No. 246 in 2021.

According to U.S. News, the criteria for evaluation included engagement, services and technologies, expert opinion/ peer assessment, and faculty credentials and training.

“[The ranking] has nothing to do with the quantity. It has to do with the quality,” Suzana Díaz Rosencrans, assistant vice provost for Online Programs, said.

Melissa Vito, vice provost for academic innovation, explained that the Academic Innovations team works very closely with faculty to ensure the quality of classes and instruction for the program, given its asynchronous nature. This includes regular assessments and collaborations between Academic Innovation’s instructional design team and faculty to develop creative and interactive courses.

“For online students, who are never on campus, it’s triply important that the experience be strong for them because it’s the way that they connect to faculty,” Vito said. “They’re not going to take a couple of face-to-face classes and feel comfortable there.”

With regard to the online program’s quality, Rosencrans also highlighted the importance of retention rates. Over the past year, the program’s retention rates have been high, with 83% of students from the Fall 2021 semester returning for the Spring 2022 and 85% of students from the Summer 2022 semester returning for the Fall 2022 semester.

“[The program’s retention rates are a] reflection of the quality of the teaching [and] the quality of the curriculum. It speaks well of the team that ensures that we get the right

“I truly believe that women should not feel limited when applying to colleges, and I really appreciate how private PRJKTRUBY is; you can have [contraceptives] mailed directly to your dorm room,” Rotonda said. “I want [women] to feel that their education matters, and … to realize that it’s their choice.”

Furthermore, PRJKTRUBY has committed to improving access to contraception in the United States and developing countries. The service takes 25 cents from every order and uses it to help spread birth control and emergency contraceptives worldwide.

State of theCity— Week of 02/07/2022

students into classes [and] it speaks highly of our advisors [and graduate advisors of record],” Rosencrans added. Through the degree programs it offers and its asynchronous nature, UTSA online caters to the needs of “[a] different population [of students] than what [one] would see on campus.”

According to Rosencrans, students are given extensive help navigating the admission process and other things like financial aid.

Since the program’s significant growth in enrollment last spring, the program has also added to the degree programs it offers. While this was not a factor considered for the U.S. News rankings, Rosencrans explained that the program’s emphasis on quality is also reflected in adding new degree options.

“We’re not just throwing up any degree online,” Rosencrans said. “There needs to be a workforce need that is met. It needs to serve our local population, and there has to be the potential for growth for us to want to partner and move forward.”

Vito also emphasized that UTSA Online plays a significant role in the university’s outlook on social mobility, adding that the online program can help its students advance in their respective careers.

“Having a strong online program, where students come in and succeed and they don’t come in and go back out again, is an important [part] in the broader kind of way that we think about UTSA and social mobility,” Vito explained.

“We’re not trying to take over the world,” Rosencrans said. “We’re just trying to grow our roots even deeper here in the community in San Antonio and help our students meet their path. Whether it’s a career, whether it’s getting that degree, whether it’s making their families proud [or] setting an example for their children — whatever that is, we want them to succeed.”

In developing countries, PRJKTRUBY accomplishes this by working with Population Services International (PSI), a nonprofit global health organization dedicated to addressing health challenges impacting people around the world, including sexual and reproductive health. In the United States, PRJKTRUBY utilizes a 501c3 organization called Power to Decide, whose mission is to prevent unplanned pregnancies. You can schedule your free consultation for contraceptive services or learn more about PRJKTRUBY and its impact at http://www.prjktruby.com.

By Luna Infante Staff Writer

Last week, Texas faced a cold front, leaving the city with closures and power outages. The City of San Antonio and Bexar County did not open warming centers; officials said that the weather conditions did not meet the criteria. According to KSAT, Spokesperson for the City of San Antonio Laura Mayes stated, “The policy is that we’re looking at 32 degrees or lower for a sustained period of time, or if there’s a combination of precipitation and temperatures below 32 that make it dangerously inclement.” Warming shelters began to open in December but were not popular among the general public. Due to this, the city has focused on working with outreach programs and temporary shelters that offer overnight services. At the start of the cold front on Monday, Jan. 5, the city’s outreach crews began to provide help to the community by passing out cold weather gear, jackets, gloves, hats and blankets to people in need while also encouraging many to utilize temporary shelters. Chef Edward Villarreal’s highly anticipated cannabis cafe is now officially open in San Antonio.

On Friday, Feb. 3, Mxicanna Cafe, located near Southtown, held its grand opening. The new cafe offers traditional Mexican food during the day and

As molecular architects, the researchers at UTSA are using pharmacokinetics — how a drug or molecule moves throughout the body — to manipulate these small molecules to have the best possible bloodbrain barrier penetration.

The biological target of these small molecules is estrogen receptor-beta, shown to be a tumor suppressor that McHardy believes is a “valuable target to go after for GBM.”

“We have in vivo data [research done within a living organism] to show that if you have a xenograft model — taking a human GBM tumor and growing it in a muscle of an animal — and then treating that animal with the developed drug, we can decrease that tumor size and knock down the tumor,” McHardy said.

All the in vivo data is collected at UT Health San Antonio by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Mays Cancer Center using

hemp-infused dishes at night. With the exception of medical marijuana, cannabis remains illegal in Texas. Hemp, however, contains less than 0.3% THC, making it legal under state law.

On Friday, Feb. 3, SAPD Chief William McManus’ department-issued car was broken into. His ballistic vest was taken, officials say. SAPD responded to his home after receiving a call about a vehicle break-in. It was reported that a person in Chief McManus’ neighborhood was driving when they noticed someone in a red hoodie inside the police car. When the witness’ car headlights illuminated the suspect, the latter allegedly got out and jumped into another vehicle. The suspect has not yet been found.

On Saturday, Feb. 4, the Animal Defense League of Texas and Animal Care Services hosted a free pet vaccination and microchipping event. They recently began holding these events twice a month, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., offering these services for free to San Antonio residents who provide proof of residency. According to the organization, these events will be hosted in neighborhoods that have been “historically … underserved for veterinary services.” The Animal Defense League will offer free vaccines, microchips and prevention for select districts. Their next event is scheduled for Feb. 18.

the small molecules developed in McHardy’s lab. This project is a prominent multidisciplinary collaboration and is only possible for McHardy and his team with the help of the UT Health San Antonio research partners.

“We do all the compound design, we make the compounds and we analyze the data, the structure, the activity. But we could not do this without our other partners; this is really and truly a cross-institutional, multidisciplinary collaboration; you don’t see that all the time in academics,” McHardy said.

In April, the CIDD is hosting its fifth Annual Drug Discovery Symposium, for which registration is open. For more information on the drug symposium, visit https://research.utsa.edu/ events/2023/04/03-cidd-annualdrug-discovery-symposium. html. For additional information on the CIDD and GBM research, visit https://cidd. uthscsa.edu/.

Continued Research

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Dr. McHardy’s team is developing novel small molecules to supress tumor growth in patients with GMB.

UTSA Courtesy Photo

Academic Innovation plays a key role in course design for UTSA Online. The department recently moved to a new space in the MS building. William Barnes/The Paisano

Facing an injust justice system OPINION

Editorial

Texas teens statewide are organizing a movement to reform the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) after it has come under scrutiny for mistreating and neglecting the minors under its watch. On the first day of the legislative session in Texas, a storm was already brewing on the steps of the Capitol building. According to the Texas Tribune, members of the “Finish the 5” advocacy group held a protest on the Capitol grounds, urging lawmakers to consider serious reforms of the system along with complete closure of the remaining five juvenile detention centers in the state of Texas. This movement, largely managed and operated by Austin-area teens, has committed to raising support and awareness around the issue.

The TJJD has been plagued with scandal after scandal. The department has been criticized for its understaffed facilities, mistreatment of the indi-

Florida’s

descent into fascism

Commentary

By Malaki Lingg Assistant Web Editor

Florida lawmakers and Gov. Ron DeSantis have been at the center of discussion as of late after implementing an assortment of controversial laws and policies. The most interesting is HB 1467 — a new educational law restricting what books are allowed in the classroom.

Under the new law, a “media specialist” is required to screen all books or printed materials in a school before they are allowed for use in a classroom. In addition, the law provides school staff with state guidelines and training to aid in content evaluation. The law has been implemented to keep inappropriate content and material that may lead to student indoctrination from entering the classroom.

Teachers who fail to comply with the law may be subject to a third-degree felony charge, which equates to a five-year prison sentence and a $5,000 fine. Alongside this, educators in Duval and Manatee County have been instructed to cover up or entirely remove books from the classroom to avoid breaking the law.

According to PEN America, books such as “The Gift of Ramadan,” by Rabiah York Lumbard and Laura K. Horton, “Malala: A Hero for All (Step into Reading Series),” by Shana Corey and Elizabeth Sayles and “Before She Was Harriet,” by Lesa Cline-Ransome and James E. Ransome have been removed from use by the county. These are just a small sample of the 176 books banned in Duval County since January 2022.

Florida’s educational policies give a striking semblance to totalitarianism and the history associated with Nazism. A majority of the banned literature features voices from a diverse selection of religions, races and sexualities; an apparent attempt to silence their voices.

In 1933, members of the SS, the German Student Association and the Hitler Youth Movement burned approximately 25,000 books deemed “un-German.” In one night, the Nazi Party silenced the written voices of the Jewish people in Germany and began the hard ban on literature written by Jews, Romanis and Communists.

While currently on a vastly different level from the Nazi regime, Florida is practically engaging in a metaphorical book burning. The current right-wing government is banning books written by groups they perceive as their political rivals whilst prosecuting the educators who dare to use unapproved materials.

HB 1467 is a blatantly un-American law. Florida is stifling free speech in schools in an attempt to “stop” indoctrination. In reality, Florida’s goal is to silence the voices of marginalized groups, possibly to teach the next generation of students a highly nationalist, euro-centric view of American history.

Kara Lee/The Paisano

viduals in its care and several cases of sexual abuse within the facilities. According to investigations conducted by the Texas Tribune, juvenile detention centers routinely keep kids in their cells for over 20 hours with no bathroom breaks or opportunities to shower. Children in the department’s care also at-

tempt to harm themselves at an unprecedented rate due to neglect, with around half of the kids in these centers being placed on suicide watch last year. The TJJD has taken limited measures in an attempt to address the problem, with the department raising employees’ wages. Despite this, staffing remains a significant issue, with the department maintaining a 70% turnover rate.

As citizens, we cannot continue to accept the failures of our juvenile justice system. Instead, we must insist that funding be allocated to improve the staffing of these facilities, as well as push for reforms to the system to promote the well-being of the individuals under its watch. Regardless of their conviction status, these children deserve to be treated with dignity and empathy.

You can find the contact information for your local representative’s office at https://house.texas.gov/members/ and https://senate.texas.gov/members.php.

Making your environment work for you

Commentary

By Laynie Clark Managing Editor

If you are joining the workforce and are not sure what modality is the best fit for you, you are not alone. This is something many people are struggling with now that work can be done from home. As we embark on the slow descent out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have reverted to a traditional, in-person working environment, but what of those who prefer the comforts of the virtual workforce? After the brutal lockdown in 2020, where businesses had no choice but to turn to virtual work, many found solace in working from home. Has this caused a division in the working world?

Is one modality superior to the other?

Environment

The environment is arguably the most important factor to consider when looking into working modalities. Working from home means creating your own space and having control over the number of distractions in the area; this promotes independence, but it also encourages isolation. While going to work in person could mean

more distractions from others, it also means there is an opportunity to create meaningful relationships and build connections with those in the same field. Being surrounded by like-minded people can either be the biggest distraction or the biggest motivator — it all depends on how you take it.

Social Think about it this way: Do you want to make new friends who you work with, or are you just going there to work and get paid? Your answer is important because working from home means there are very few chances to make any friends. That may sound harsh, but it is true. Connecting with people through a Zoom call is extremely different and less meaningful than running into someone at the office and deciding to grab lunch together.

Commute

Unfortunately, commuting plays a considerable role in determining what work modality you want. Depending on your office location, you could have anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour of commuting back and forth; this means spending more money on gas, which you know is not a good idea right now. This brings you back to working from home, where there would be absolutely no commute involved and you could get up and get started with your workday.

Work-life balance

The key to success is having a healthy work-life balance. Working from home can sometimes complicate the work-life balance because the ball is in your court meaning you need to set work boundaries. Do not let employers take advantage of the fact that you are working from home by giving you more tasks to complete than usual. The work-life balance can be affected by inperson work as well. When you come home from a long day of work, you are more than likely going to want to jump straight into isolation mode and stay home, but it is necessary to incorporate leisurely activities into your routine. Make a point to spend weekends with loved ones outside of the house. Go out to dinner, go on a hike or do anything to break the work and home cycle. Regardless if you work from home or in person, prioritize yourself and your work-life balance.

The point of this is to say that one working modality is not superior to the other. If you decide to work from home, then that does not mean your work is any less valuable than that of someone who works in an office. Choose the modality that is the best fit for your lifestyle; do not rely on an article to decide for you.

UTSA is not committing to inclusivity

Commentary

By Mason Hickok Editor-In-Chief

In September 2021, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy — unbeknownst to the UT System and against the wishes of a divided UTSA community — vowed to remove all uses of the “Come and Take It” slogan from across UTSA buildings and merchandise. Yet, in February 2023, the entrance to the Roadrunner Athletic Center of Excellence (RACE) building still brandishes the slogan. With this, the future is uncertain and the question remains: Why, after saying the sign would be removed, is the “Come and Take It” slogan still on full display?

This practice dates back to 2011 when UTSA’s newly-minted football program adopted the use of the slogan. At the time, and up to Eighmy’s decision to remove the slogan, a giant flag would be unfurled over the student section during the fourth quarter. The original flag has a star on top of a single cannon above the phrase “Come and Take It.” UTSA’s version replaces the cannon with that of a roadrunner’s head.

Of course, there is a process for things like this; they do not just disappear overnight. But from the beginning, UTSA chose not to submit to that process. So what precedence does that set? Despite initially seeking dialogue and transparency — a task force was set up to explore some of the questions — all of that was shattered

when President Eighmy decided against the task force’s formation. Less than a month after initially agreeing on the group’s formation, Eighmy announced there would be no dialogue, and the slogan would be removed. It is 2023, and the sign is still up. The fact that it remains on full display raises questions about the validity of the word of UTSA’s President and what exactly UTSA chooses to uplift.

cultural and political issues beyond its traditional historical context.”

Furthermore, he describes that “Many of these organizations have values and agendas that differ significantly from ours and our clear focus on excellence in intercollegiate athletics and higher education.”

Later in the piece, Eighmy describes that the slogan and tradition do not align with UTSA Athletics or the institution’s mission and core values. Were those not considered when the tradition was first thought of?

When you think of the slogan, you automatically think of football and not the whole of UTSA Athletics — who is waving this flag at a tennis match?

Yes, UTSA football is successful. But it is not the only thing that makes this university great.

What does its display communicate to new recruits on signing day? What about those who signed a petition for its removal? What would they say when they realize the RACE building is going against the president’s word?

And why would UTSA still choose to display something that is rooted so profoundly in violent rhetoric?

There was backlash from the UT System and the UTSA community, but there was also support for the decision. While the tradition during the football games is no more, UTSA still cannot seem to let go of its big shiny sign. In an article from UTSA Today, Eighmy described the reasons why the tradition at the football games was dissolved, citing recent uses of the phrase “has become increasingly affiliated with

A tradition should encapsulate a common throughline for all athletes and represent a united effort of teamwork and trust. Dare I say it should be inclusive, too? A tradition should represent the whole of a student body. For example, the wall behind the sign is painted with all types of athletes — highlight those people. Or, build around the 210 Triangle of Toughness. That is a brilliant concept; use that to inspire fans and players in the fourth quarter.

Symbols and icons are powerful tools — they can evoke many things. It is time that UTSA invests in a tradition that lives on in the annals of campus history. However, with the “Come and Take It” sign still on display, UTSA is not committing to inclusivity.

“Florida’s educational policies give a striking semblance to totalitarianism and the history associated with Nazism.”

“The fact that [the sign] remains on full display raises questions about the validity of the word of UTSA’s President and what exactly UTSA chooses to uplift.”

Progressive companies: Natural or contrived? The Paisano

By Maya Dukuly Contributor

As citizens and consumers, society has become well aware of the resounding number of companies beginning to turn toward “progressivity.” Present “progressive” companies are those that pinpoint specific demographics or provide commentary on certain political issues. Due to this, the current state of the corporate world has become plagued by the obsessive need to conform to the needs and wants of “the masses.” Vivek Ramaswamy, in his article written in The New York Post, called “Woke, Inc: Why I’m Blowing Whistle on How Corporate America Is Poisoning Society,” sums it up perfectly when he states that in order to succeed in current corporate America, you must “pretend like you care about something other than profit and power, precisely to gain more of each.”

Attempts by companies such as Google have thrown away their normal advertising styles to include those that target specific demographics. A striking example is their advertisement campaign for their Google Pixel 6 from June of 2022. To showcase a feature on their phone, they utilized actor Simu Liu and his mother, who speaks Mandarin. According to Laura Pearce, head of marketing for Google Canada, in a video and article tandem, their goal for the inclusive ad was to “drive the viral nature of this ad.” She then

states that the advertisement produced a 156% lift in Pixel sales. Although the marketers claimed that the purpose of the advertisement was to portray honest inclusivity, it is clear from the structure of their explanation that their overarching goal was profit.

Another damning instance of incomplete inclusivity comes from Nike. In 2018, Nike made a bold and conscious choice to connect NFL player Colin Kaepernick to their brand amidst the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests. Though it may seem like a groundbreaking move after the football player was chastised for kneeling during the National Anthem, the act dwindled down to a push for a new successful market strategy. According to an article in The New York Times, the advertisement that included Kaepernick surged Nike’s company value by a whopping “$6 million two weeks later.” It is apparent that their new strategy had benefited the company immensely, but in turn, it caused friction between different groups for the company’s gain.

Victoria’s Secret is another brand that has embarked on this “progressive” path. Recently, the company launched an all-inclusive collection named “Love Cloud.” In accordance with a press release published on Victoria’s Secret & Co.’s website, the collection is “a first of its kind campaign for the brand, the collection is modeled by eighteen dynamic women, reinforcing Victoria’s Secret’s commitment to welcoming

and celebrating all women.” The move piqued the interest of consumers, but for the wrong reasons. In a Vogue article written by Nicole Phelps, an interview was conducted with Ed Razek, chief of marketing for L. Brands, and Monica Mitro, executive vice president of public relations at Victoria’s Secret. In the interview, they discuss Savage x Fenty and progressive business models, where Razek makes remarks such as “the show is a fantasy” and “it’s a 42-minute entertainment special,” which implies that women of different backgrounds would not be entertaining in their shows and collections. Due to the growing loss of sales, the motives for launching this new collection have been heavily questioned.

As the climate of society becomes more divided, and with a torrent of viewpoints on different subjects, companies should stop trying to cater to the masses. The act of having “progressive” companies and campaigns become contrived due to the astounding amount of companies participating. There is no way to truly tell if a company is working with integrity; however, with the obvious booms in these companies’ sales, profits and market shares, it is difficult to think they are working for real change and inclusivity.

Repercussions of disregarding the law

Commentary

authorities have not been able to secure entirely,” Hüls said. As reported by Reuters, “police warned that the group would be removed by force if they did not move away from the edge of the mine” and law enforcement followed through as promised.

By Riley Carroll Arts & Life Editor

Twenty-year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was detained in Germany during a peaceful sit-in protest against village demolition for coal mine expansion on Jan. 17, 2023. “This is the second time Thunberg has been detained at the site,” police spokesperson Christof Hüls told CNN Tuesday. “She was part of a large group of protesters that broke through a police barrier and encroached on a coal pit, which

Commentary

Along with the other protesters and activists, Thunberg did not comply with law enforcement requests and was consequently apprehended.

“Yesterday I was part of a group that peacefully protested the expansion of a coal mine in Germany,” Thunberg tweeted. “We were kettled by police and then detained but were let go later that evening. Climate protection is not a crime.”

Although Thunberg is correct about climate protection not being a crime, the German police that detained the protesters had every

right to do so. According to Article 8 of the Basic Law, titled Freedom of Assembly, “All Germans shall have the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed without prior notification or permission.” It adds that “in the case of outdoor assemblies, this right may be restricted by or pursuant to law.” Law enforcement let the protestors know that they needed to relocate in advance, giving the activists plenty of warning. Still, they chose to hold their ground and experienced the rightful consequences of doing so.

Thunberg and the activists’ efforts to halt the expansion of coal mines are extremely admirable; however, their reasonable detainment should not come as a surprise.

The danger of deepfakes

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

There was once a time when things could be defined and identified based on believing what you see. But the advancement of technology and the internet in the last twenty years, has led to a new threat online. Digitally altered videos through programs have started to become common online; these videos are being referred to as deepfakes. The quality of deepfakes has improved with each year since their conception in 1997, and with people now being able to create deepfakes from their phones, the internet needs to

be prepared for the potential dangers this technology presents. The first deepfakes were the product of the Video Rewrite program created by Christoph Bregler, Michele Covell and Malcolm Slaney. This program could alter a video to make the subject appear to be saying something different from the original video. In the 26 years since Video Rewrite, deepfakes have evolved into a widely accessible tool for anyone to use. For example, a way people have used deepfakes is to scam banks out of hundreds of thousands of dollars by imitating the voice of the CEO.

Due to the ease of access paired with the potentially harmful applications, it is clear this technology needs to be restricted online, as occurrences referenced earlier will likely become more and more common. Currently, no laws prevent

the creation of deepfakes and given their potential to be used in a wide array of scams and thefts; awareness surrounding deepfakes needs to be spread to every corner of the internet. While this technology is extremely impressive, it is also just as terrifying. The internet is always changing, and there have always been threats to people’s safety online, but deepfakes pose a danger that needs to be addressed. Deepfakes threaten the integrity of the internet, and the technology behind them will only improve with time. Before deepfakes become commonplace online, there need to be restrictions from governments regarding who can use these deepfake programs. Widespread, unregulated use of these programs will inevitably lead to chaos and harm.

Editorial Board

Mason Hickok | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com

Laynie Clark | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com and Gauri Raje | News Editor News@paisano-online.com

Jake Mireles | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com

Riley Carroll | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com

Luke Lawhorn | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com

Chloe Williams | Web and Social Editor Web@paisano-online.com and Socialmedia@paisano-online.com

Dustin Vickers | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com

Grace Robinson | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com

Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com

Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com

Genevieve Vega | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com

Luke DeMario | Buisness Manager Buisness@paisano-online.com

Staff

Nate Henneke

Advisory Board

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Stefanie Arias | Advisor Sandy Norman | Advisor Sofia Garcia | Advisor

John Helton | Advisor Corey Franco | Advisor Imelda Robles | Advisor

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

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‘Si ayer fuera hoy’ ARTS

An interview and concert recap with Spanish-speaking band Morat

By Regina Robert Staff Writer

Disclaimer: Morat was interviewed by The Paisano in their native language. English translations will follow Spanish quotes in parenthesis.

“Musica de banda, de instrumentos,” (Band music with instruments), answered Juan Pablo Isaza after being asked how Morat would describe their sound to a new audience. This is an answer that seems very simplistic, but after watching Morat perform on the stage, it fits perfectly.

While introducing their single “No Se Va,” (It Does Not Leave), the band played each instrumental layer of the song, one by one. During his monologue, Isaza stated why they are band music with instruments when introducing Simón’s bass, “tal vez no se escuche, pero se siente” (It might not be heard, but it can be felt). The band would go on to share the stage with Grupo Frontera, who covered a norteño version of their song in spring 2022, which would go viral and chart on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Colombian quartet is composed of lifelong friends Isaza and Juan Pablo Villamil, along with brothers Simón and Martín Vargas. In the reggaeton-saturated world of Latin music, Morat is a breath of much-needed fresh air. The band’s “SI AYER FUERA HOY” (IF YESTERDAY WAS TODAY), tour comes just in time for the release of their most recent album of the same name, with the lead singles such as “Llamada Perdida” (Missed Call), being released throughout 2022.

“Nosotros, creo, que nunca hemos sido una banda que quiera quedarse como algo constantemente,” (We have never been a band that likes to be the same constantly), Villamil said. The band opened with their hit song “Besos en Guerra” (Kisses in War), from their sophomore album “Balas Perdidas,” (Lost Bullets), but took a

RileyCarroll/ThePaisano

more rock approach, a genre that the band has gradually leaned into throughout the years and would like to continue to explore.

“Yo creo que para, uno de [hacer esto de carrera] hay que ser bastante sensible,” (I think that [to do this as a career] one must be pretty sensitive), Isaza explained. He shared that composing their music is not necessarily about their own experiences but about being able to be empathetic towards others and “exagerar incluso muchas veces para salir con frases bonitas,” (exaggerate many times to produce pretty phrases), an art they mastered in the song “Debi Suponerlo,” (I Should Have Known), which elicited an outstanding emotional reaction from the audience.

Morat’s popularity can not only be credited to their songwriting but the emotion they put into it, which is clear while they are on stage. They have proven to be great songwriters, but they are also very charismatic

A connection between planning and art

Why you should consider bullet journaling

By Gauri Raje News Editor

I first encountered bullet journaling back in 2018 when I started watching videos by YouTuber and artist AmandaRachLee. A couple of months later, I bought my first journal and never looked back. After that, bullet journaling weaved itself effortlessly into my life, combining my love for art with my habit of planning.

As an artist, my journal has undoubtedly served as a creative outlet for me; above all, it has provided me with a way to keep myself organized. At its core, bullet journaling is a concise and personalizable approach to planning.

Originally developed by Ryder Carroll, a digital product designer and author, bullet journaling is an “analog system” which allows you to concisely organize your to-do lists, tasks and other thoughts.

A typical bullet journal includes the yearly, monthly and daily logs, also referred to as spreads. A yearly log, also known as a future log, is set up at the beginning of a new year and gives you a bird’s eye view of the year. On the other hand, the monthly and daily logs are set up as the year progresses and allow for more detailed planning.

The system also uses simple symbols to denote tasks and events. In addition, there are signs and symbols to denote the completion of a task, the migration of a task to another day or its cancellation as well. This system of signs and symbols is called a key.

Together, these two elements form the basis of bullet journaling. Every month, you set up your monthly

Tuesday, Feb. 7:

spread, noting important dates, deadlines and tasks you want to accomplish for the month, referring to your future log as needed. As the month progresses, you set up a daily log to plan out your day with the help of your monthly log, using the key to keep track of events and tasks.

Along with spreads for planning, bullet journaling is also a great way to dump your thoughts, make lists or track essential habits as you plan.

While a lot of these things can be implemented into a premade planner, what attracted me to the system is that nothing is set in stone — you start your journal on a blank slate and make your monthly and daily logs as you go, which allows you to experiment with your planning. There are so many people whose journals I have come across over the years, with everyone adding their unique touch to their journaling process. Your journal becomes a reflection of your life — an organized snapshot that makes you more mindful of the things you do.

As someone who has used a premade planner in the past, I found that they did not provide me with the flexibility that bullet journaling does. Pre-made planners can become monotonous, and there is no way to play around with layouts or change things up as your plan-

Join UTSA Campus Recreation for their “Early Bird Competition” from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Recreation Wellness Center. The challenger is a “circuit-like” set of exercises that must be completed in succession.

In honor of Black History Month, UTSA Roadrunner Pantry will host a food drive from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24. Drop off your “non-perishable, non-ex pired and unopened food items and hygiene products” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays at the Undergradu ate Studies Office (MB 3.108).

UTSA College of Liberal and Fine Arts (COLFA) will host “COLFA Taco Tuesday” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376).

The Biomedical Engineering Society and Makerspace Innovators present a “Slicer and 3D Printing Workshop” that will take place from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Science and Engineering Building Makerspace (1.150).

UTSA Campus Recreation will host their “Night Owl Competition” from 5 to 8

performers. Simón, for example, is the most fun to watch as he moves and grooves with every song. He never stands still and keeps an extremely consistent energy from beginning to end. On the other side is Villamil, whose moves might not be very telling, but his eyes are. There is a lot of gentle but strong passion in his eyes that allows the audience to feel what he feels. Isaza’s strong performance point is his voice. The emotions are all well-channeled through his vocals, especially with his resonating note at the end of “Yo No Merezco Volver” (I Do Not Deserve to Come Back). Finally, the drummer Martín is an absolute spectacle, with his sunglasses, mint-colored hair and contagious energy that he emits from behind his drums, which shatters any barrier between him and their fans.

But this is not the best or the last of them the world will hear. “Nuestras canciones y al igual que a otros conceptos suele ser bastante recurrente,” (our songs and like other concepts it is very recurrent), Izasa shared, about the conjugation of the Spanish verb volver (to return). The use of the word “volver” allows them to return “a una mentalidad que muchas veces siento como si no hubiera pasado el tiempo,” (to a mentality that I have felt many times as if time has not passed), which he credits to allow them to be healthy and working.

As Isaza said, they are a band with instruments, a fact that can be felt physically, spiritually and emotionally. Watching Morat perform live is like watching a painter create their masterpiece — an unforgettable experience.

ning needs evolve throughout the year.

On the other hand, once you get the hang of bullet journaling, you can start exploring different layouts to organize your tasks and see what works best for you. During the five years I have been bullet journaling, I have come up with many different ways to organize various aspects of my life and all I needed was a notebook and a pen.

Yes, most people who bullet journal use a dotted notebook, but that is not a requirement. I used to bullet journal in an old lined notebook and found it just as effective. And if paper is not your thing, you can also bullet journal digitally.

Bullet journaling lacks the formality of a pre-made planner but does not fall short of being an effective way to plan. It is a more personalized way of staying on top of things.

So, if you are looking for ways to improve your organizational skills and want to try something new, I highly recommend giving bullet journaling a try.

p.m. at the Recreation Wellness Center. The challenge is also a “circuit-like” set of exercises that must be completed in succession.

Wednesday, Feb. 8:

“COLFA Conference & Showcase - Oral and Poster Presentation Workshop Series” will be held from 2 to 2:30 p.m. in the COLFA Student Success Center (MH 376). “Join COLFA Student Success Center for a workshop series designed to get you ready for the 2023 COLFA Research Conference and Showcase!” Design and present your poster at 1 p.m., then participate in the Adobe Express tutorial at 2 p.m. For Black History Month, the UTSA Racial Justice Book Club will read and discuss “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson from 2 to 3 p.m. online. Sign in on RowdyLink to join the virtual event. There will be an online “Breathwork and Meditation” session from 5 to 6 p.m. to “provide unique breathwork techniques and guided meditation for relaxing the mind.”

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

Arts & Life

The first masterpiece of 2023

Lil Yachty’s newest record is a psychedelic revelation

Reviews

By Cesar Soto Staff Writer

The artist who brought you viral hits like “Minnesota,” “One Night” and “Poland” has just made the wildest 180-degree flip of their career. On Jan. 27, Georgia rapper Lil Yachty released “Let’s Start Here.,” a psychedelic rock album featuring 14 tracks and running just under an hour long. It is not only the biggest surprise of the year thus far but an early contender for best album of the year.

First experimenting with psychedelic music on Tame Impala’s remix of “Breathe Deeper,” Lil Yachty shows his deep passion for the genre from the very beginning of the album. “The BLACK seminole.” takes listeners back to Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” running for an impressive span of seven minutes. It features an exhilarating guitar solo in the middle and the use of cymbals, synths and other spacey instruments leads to an explosion of otherworldly vocals from Yachty and featured artist Diana Gordon.

Gordon is not the only artist who made their mark on this project. Many of the collaborators here are mainstays in the psychedelic space, such as Jake Portrait from Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ben Goldwasser from

MGMT, the duo Magdalena Bay, and solo artists Alex G and Mac DeMarco. The instrumentation that comes from these artists brings Yachty’s ideas to life in such

Ty,” powerful energy in his voice is felt throughout, and on “sAy sOMETHINg,” his voice conveys nostalgic feelings of longing for someone’s love. “WE SAW THE SUN!” also creates a gloomy feeling in his voice with the line, “Sun coming up, and I still feel numb,” as his voice reverbs against the ethereal nature of the instrumentation.

His distinctive vocal style makes the sound that much more exciting. Songs like “THE zone~” have significant inspiration from Tame Impala’s drum patterns. “Running out of time” features terrifically funky basslines throughout the track. Another standout on the album is “the ride-” with Teezo Touchdown’s voice adding a captivating layer to such a light and enjoyable listen.

Yachty’s abilities as a rapper and the psychedelic instrumentation seamlessly come together throughout the album.

visionary ways. Yachty’s heavily-processed falsettos and vibratos express remarkable emotion from the artist. On “pRET-

Embracing nerdy nightlife

‘Black Potion’ is the perfect gaming destination

SA Gems

By Chloe Williams Web and Social Editor

Opened just eight months ago in San Antonio’s historic

ported beers available at any given time. The bar area also offers malt beverages, ciders, kombucha and wine. They have you covered with snacks too; in the retail area, there is a section filled with the best snacks for gaming. week, an array of events are hosted both by and at Black Potion. From 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday, Black Potion hosts a trivia night. Wednesdays feature movie nights and open-play Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) for all skill levels with the third-party group, Dungeons of Drunks. Throughout the week, other local groups meet up including Nerds N’ Stuff and the LGBTQ+ group Down2Gayme, which meets biweekly. Black Potion is also in partnership with House Party Improv, which does live improv performances in the theatre area every Friday and Saturday. Saturday afternoons and Sunday nights also include doublefeature movies with a theme. For example, the theme for February is twisted romance and is set to include movies such as “Bride of Frankenstein” and “The Fly.” meetups or parties can be hosted in one of the private room options, which are available to book through Facebook Messenger. These spaces provide privacy for forward, Cortez hopes to further expand the business to a place people can call home and has plans to include coffee and food. Cortez specifies that the goal of Black Potion is not just for gaming, “It’s not just about board games because we’re more than just a game shop. We want to give people an opportunity to make this space their own. Do they love theater arts? Do they love trivia? Do they have board games? Do they just want to hang out somewhere? This is a space that fits all of that.”

What is new for San Antonio’s parks in 2023

San Antonio Parks Foundation holds second annual media preview

By Lauren Hernandez Contributor

Formed in 1981, the San Antonio Parks Foundation is a non-profit organization that promotes safety, equity, inclusivity and the expansion of San Antonio’s parks. Recently, the Parks Foundation held its second annual media preview to inform the public about its accomplishments in 2022 and plans for the upcoming year. In addition, they have a variety of events planned for 2023 that will incorporate San Antonio’s culture and art in order to “demonstrate the power and purpose of parks.”

San Antonio is home to 257 parks, and in 2022, the Parks Foundation provided amenities such as basketball courts, skateparks and upgraded playgrounds to ten different parks. Additionally, the foundation rebranded to focus on facilitating conversations surrounding equity and inclusivity in San Antonio’s outdoor spaces. For example, recently, at Outside for All, an educational event hosted by the Parks Foundation at the Japanese Tea Garden, the topics discussed by the foundation’s board members and the people of San Antonio have focused on race and equality. Libby Day, the director of communication for the Parks Foundation, illustrated that the conversations at these events must be “responsive to what is happening in the community.”

Gaming with friends is not complete without drinks, and Black Potion has you covered. There are anywhere from 40 to 45 different craft beer options and another dozen im-

Continued Get Involved

Thursday, Feb. 9:

Potion is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Tuesday through Sunday, at 1900 Fredericksburg Rd. Suite 101 near Panadería Jimenez. More information about Black Potion can be found on their Facebook or Instagram.

For this upcoming year, the Parks Foundation has been approved for a bond from the city in addition to grants and donations from the Tres Grace Family Foundation, Toyota manufacturing, the City of San Antonio’s Department of Arts and Culture and Play SA. These donations will fund amenities such as urban gardens and upgraded sports equipment for the parks around the city that need them most.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Student Activities and Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice will host a “Downtown Lantern Festival” in the Buena Vista Street Building Assembly Room (1.338).

Join the Center for Collegiate Recovery for an interactive group, “Fatal Vision- Cannabis and Driving,” to experience and learn how driving can be impacted when under the influence of marijuana from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Student Union Willow Room (SU 2.02.12).

UTSA’s Graduate School will host a Valentine’s Day social for graduate students, “Rowdy Be My Valentine,” from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the Durango Building Riverwalk Room (1.124).

The Page Turners reading club will host “Game Night & Mingle” from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union Oak Room (SU 2.01.20).

Friday, Feb. 10:

UTSA Carlos Alvarez College of Business will host a “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Symposium” from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the H-E-B Student Union Ballroom 1 and 2.

Volunteer at the Whataburger Resource Room from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Student Union (SU 1.04.06). Volunteering opportunities include sorting, stocking, disposal, cleaning, organizing, loading and unloading vehicles, promotions, food drives, event support and campus donation pickups.

Women in Medicine will host a “Galentine’s Cooking & Card Decorating Party” from 2:30 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Willow Room (SU 2.02.12).

Monday, Feb. 13:

“All You Need Is Love” will be hosted by Roadrunner Productions and PERIOD from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Paseo Principal - Tabling 1. “Join us in celebrating Valentine’s Day by decorating a heart to represent the people you appreciate and love in your life.”

Black Health Professions Organization and Women of Honor will host “Find My Valentine” from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in the Main Building Auditorium (0.104). “Help contestants find a Valentine while being on a blind date, may the best contestants win!”

Tuesday, Feb. 14:

UTSA Student Activities will host “Milagros: Celebrating warm hearts” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Durango Building La Villita Room (1.116). “There will be music, food, and activities so bring your special someone or bring yourself to celebrate this event!”

“Valentine’s Hangout,” hosted by the Public Health Society, will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Student Union Pecan Room (SU 2.01.26).

Additionally, the foundation is introducing a new event series entitled “Go All Out.” Day pointed out that “You sometimes have to give folks a reason to get out to the parks,” and to do this, the Parks Foundation is hosting a variety of free community events in 2023. In March, they are hosting the Fest of Tails at Mcallister Park, inviting the public to bring their dogs and fly kites. In April, the foundation is hosting Chaparral, a music and heritage festival at Hemisfair Park. Outside for All will be continuing at the Japanese Tea Gardens in order to “acknowledge the complex histories of parks,” such as how many outdoor areas in San Antonio became parks in the first place. A Fourth of July event will be held at Woodlawn Lake Park, and Travis Park and the new Civic Park will host the 40th annual Jazz’SALive music festival.

“We are really passionate about putting cool stuff together at parks, and at the end of the day, that is really one of our specialties,” Day shared.

For Day, going to college in San Antonio introduced her to the city’s music scene. Now that she is working for the Parks Foundation, she can put this knowledge to use by incorporating art and music into outdoor spaces to ensure that they will continue to be used and improved upon.

Parks Foundation works night and day to host unique events and ensure that San Antonio has high-quality and accessible green spaces. Be sure to keep up to date with all that they are doing at https://saparks.org.

Grace Robinson/The Paisano

Coach Traylor speaks after national signing day

By Rylan Renteria Contributor

Jeff Traylor, head coach of UTSA football, spoke with the media on Wednesday to discuss the results of national signing day and other urgent topics such as returning players, injuries and the current state of the 2023 recruiting class.

Traylor opened up the press conference by acknowledging the fact that UTSA earned the No. 1 recruiting class of all Group of Five programs in the 2023 recruiting cycle. Traylor went on to emphasize that recruiting is only a small part of team building.

“The development part is what’s most important; it’s what we do with these kids here on out,” Traylor said. “The development of that young man’s mind, soul, spirit, his body … that’s the most important piece.”

When asked about the state of the roster and how that affects recruiting this late into the process, Traylor says they were able to be more selective and had to turn down a lot of good players that would go on to sign with rivals. With the only signing for UTSA on Wednesday’s signing period being junior college (JUCO) prospect DB Marcellus Wilkerson, Traylor was asked how they find value in the JUCO ranks. He said one of the team’s goals was to create a blended roster, aiming for 50-60% high school players and the rest more experienced players from JUCO or the transfer portal. He mentions that “it’s easier to get into the homes … easier to get phone calls taken” from prospects with UTSA coming off back-to-back C-USA championships.

After the season concluded, a significant question was the fate of UTSA’s key contributors on offense, such as WR Zakhari Franklin and WR Joshua Cephus. Traylor put any doubt to rest in this statement about the topic, “ … they’re all here and they’re all working out, we’ve lost no one ... all three receivers are coming back.” As for the stars coming off an injury, Traylor said, “it would be tough for JT [Clark] to make the opener,” but added that he would not bet against Clark making a faster recovery. As for safety Rashad Wisdom, he said, “I would expect him to be 100% game one.”

The most secure position on the team as of now is quarterback, with QB Frank Harris returning for his 5th season as a Roadrunner. When asked about the future of the position after Harris departs for the NFL, Traylor showed confidence in backups Eddie Lee Marburger and Colorado transfer Owen Mccown.

Traylor concluded the press conference by saying the key for UTSA to compete in the AAC is contributions from younger players such as S Zah Frazier and LB Donyai Taylor. UTSA will open the 2023 season in TDECU Stadium, where they’ll look to get revenge against the Houston Cougars.

better you recruit, the better chance you got

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

The reigning back-to-back Conference USA champions are wasting no time UTSA football played its final season as a C-USA representative in the 2022 season, now joining the American Athletic Conference for the 2023 season. As of Friday evening, the Roadrunners sit at 59th overall in the college football recruiting rankings and number one overall in the AAC recruiting rankings.

“Again, I wouldn’t have known unless you had told me,” UTSA head coach Jeff Tulane, the 2022 AAC and Cotton Bowl champion, is fourth in the conference After UTSA, Memphis and SMU round out the top three. FAU, Rice, UAB, North Texas and Charlotte also joined the AAC, with FAU placing as the secondhighest recruiting class coming from C-USA. The Owls are currently eighth in the “I know it gets my fan base excited; I’ve been a way better coach when my team is better than the other team,” Traylor said. “The better you recruit, the better

The Roadrunners have built themselves up to a well-known national program with their top-25 rankings and back-to-back doubledigit winning seasons. Alongside three straight bowl game appearances and two straight conference titles, UTSA finds itself in a position to turn away players due to limited “We have turned down more kids than ever before,”

Three of UTSA’s top four signees are from junior colleges. Daniel Ogundipe is the highest rated recruit for the Roadrunners, with 89.50 overall rating. The 6-foot-5 offensive tackle is transferring from Iowa Central Community College, adding much needed depth to the offensive

The running back room for UTSA heading into the 2022 season was the biggest question mark. Kevorian Barnes and Trelon Smith filled the void, though an unprecedented injury can shake up the Brandon High, the Roadrunners’ second highest-rated player, hopes to be an answer.

The Spring, Texas, native comes in as the 57th-rated running back in the state of Texas with an overall rating of 87.14.

“I know we’ll have a good football team,” Traylor said. “I know we’ll be deeper on the O-line than we’ve ever been. We’re deeper at receiver than we’ve ever been. We’re deeper at running back than we’ve ever been.”

As Traylor said in Wednesday’s press conference, the Roadrunners brand has been The ‘Runners now have a reputation for developing players to compete at the next level. Tariq Woolen is one year out of UTSA after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft. As a rookie in the NFL, Woolen is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate and Spencer Burford, also coming out of the 2022 draft, started in the NFC Championship game last Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers. Traylor credits the pedigree of the coaching staff’s development of players as a significant reason why players chose UTSA over “It does help that our NFL success has really helped,” Traylor said. “Tariq Woolen, Pro Bowl. Spencer Burford [is] starting [in the] NFC championship game. We got kids in the XFL; we got kids everywhere right now. They’re doing well, and all that just helps.”

The two-year-old $40.2 million RACE facility has also helped draw in recruits. The state-ofthe-art facility includes a 14,000-square-foot weights and conditioning area, a kitchen with a snack bar, lounge rooms with pool tables, meeting and study hall rooms, and a full training room with advanced technology for

“Adding the RACE facility and all the wins have made it definitely easier,”

The name, image and likeness, better known as NIL, has been a game-changer Traylor, along with coaches at all universities around the country, has called out local boosters to help their programs market star players. In today’s game, the money opportunity can make or break an athlete’s commitment to a school.

Star receiver Zakhari Franklin has the highest income at UTSA, with a NIL valuation of $166,000. Quarterback Frank Harris falls just short at $163,000.

Running back Trelon Smith comes in third with a significant drop off of $23,000. $140,000 separates the second and third players at UTSA with NIL opportunities. With a lack of funds, players may choose to play elsewhere.

As much as NIL money, updated facilities, NFL representatives and recruiting rankings bring positive momentum to a team, coaching will determine whether these factors pay off.. Traylor and his coaching staff have turned UTSA from “just another Texas school” to an expected conference competitor.

“I’ve said it a million times, and I stand by it, the evaluation piece is important,” Traylor said. “The recruiting piece is important. Two of those three are done now; it’s the development part – that’s what is most important. It’s what we do with these kids from

Stephen Saenz/ The Paisano

‘The

Spurs lose final home game before 4-week road trip

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

SAN ANTONIO – Joel Embiid’s MVP quest was on full display in the 137-125 victory against the Spurs on Friday night.

With the local San Antonio Rodeo being housed in the AT&T Center, the Spurs start their annual month-long “rodeo trip” with an 8-game losing streak.

Embiid finished the night with a 33-point and 10 rebound double-double. The 76ers center-forward currently leads the NBA in points per game with 33.5.

Along with Embiid paving the way for the 12-point victory, Philadelphia shot 48.1% from three to the Spurs’ 33.3%.

“They made more threes which is not unusual. We are in that situation a lot,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

San Antonio also had seven more turnovers than the 76ers. Spurs starting point guard Tre Jones was out Friday night with foot soreness, alongside Jeremy Sochan, who was sidelined with a back injury.

“Their grunt and their ability to just play the game is super,” Popovich said. “But taking care of the basketball is pretty important, and we didn’t do that tonight.”

Jones’ absence made it hard for the team to distribute the ball. A bright spot in the loss, however, was rookie Malaki Branham scoring 26 points after scoring 22 points in Wednesday’s game.

“[Branham’s] looking good out there,” Spurs forward Jakob Poeltl said of his teammate. “He’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

The Ohio State alum has a season average of 7.5 points per game, though he has stepped up when called upon. Halfway through his first season, Branham feels the game has come easy to him.

“I feel like me, just slowing down,” Branham said. “Just slowing down, picking my spots on the floor, and just doing what I know how to do, I feel like that’s just how simple as it gets.”

Popovich thinks the rookie is coming into his own and noticed the positive differences he has made in his play.

“Being confident in shooting, defense, getting more comfortable in situations. He’s doing fine,” Popovich said.

Keldon Johnson finished with 18 points, and Jakob Poeltl added 16 points with 10 rebounds.

The Spurs will be on the road for the next nine straight games. San Antonio will face the Chicago Bulls at 7 p.m.

MBB: UTSA outmatched by MTSU, drops 10th straight

By Nate Henneke Staff Writer

MURFREESBORO – The last place UTSA Roadrunners took on the MTSU Blue Raiders on the road, where UTSA suffered a demoralizing defeat 84-60. With this loss, UTSA’s record on the season drops to 7-18 and 1-13 in conference play. The Roadrunners can’t seem to get things right as they lose their 10th straight game.

It was a tough scoring night for the ’Runners, as not a single player scored over 10 points. Guard Japhet Medor and forward Lamin Sabally tied for the team lead in points with 8 each. UTSA continued to struggle from three as the team shot only 16% from beyond the arc. The team kept it close for a half, but the MTSU offense exploded in the second half with a lead as big

as 30 points. MTSU scored nearly double the number of points as UTSA in the second half, never letting them get close.

UTSA started the game out strong going on a 6-0 run thanks to contributions from Japhet Medor and DJ Richards. The Roadrunners battled and kept it close throughout the first half despite starting the half 1-8 from the 3pt line and turning the ball over 11 times. They finished out the half only down six points and hoped to close the gap in the second half to escape with the victory. Unfortunately for our ’Runners, it was all downhill from there.

In the second half, leading scorer

Japhet Medor went scoreless as the Blue Raider defense shut him down completely. Guard John Buggs III tried to keep UTSA in the game, scoring 7 second-half points, but his effort was deemed fruitless as the UTSA defense failed to stop MTSU from pouring it on. A key reason for the defeat was the Roadrunners’ inability to stop MTSU from getting offensive rebounds; they finished with 20, 8 more than UTSA.

With what is turning out to be an extremely disappointing season for the Roadrunners, they will look to try and scrape together a win vs. UTEP next Saturday afternoon in the Convocation Center.

By Haley Aguayo Contributor

NEW YORK CITY

In one of the most prestigious track venues in the sport, UTSA traveled to New York City and competed amongst the best athletes in the nation at the Armory Track.

The Roadrunners are returning home with nine gold medals, having won six events over the weekend at the Scarlet Knights Open.

Bashiru Abdullahi won the 60-meter hurdles event, tying his school record with a time of 7.77 in the final. Jack Turner (9th) and Joel McFarlane (12) also competed in the event, clocking times of 8.39 and 8.58, respectively.

Gabriel Binion and Jemuel Miller finished first and second in the men’s triple jump event. The transfer from Australia leaped a distance of 15.44-m (50-8) on his final jump, moving him to No. 5 on UTSA’s alltime performers list.

Miller, who was initially in first place, jumped

15.40m (50-6.25) on his second attempt. Jacob Jenkins placed fifth in the event with a distance of 15.15m (49-8.50).

In the men’s long jump event, four Roadrunners placed in the Top 5. Miller would take the win. The 7.63m (25-0.5) distance on his fourth attempt was good enough to win the event and tie for second on UTSA’s all-time performers list.

Michael Campbell won both the men’s weight throw on Friday night and the men’s shot put on Saturday.

The Connecticut native had an event-best 17.10m (56-1.25) on his fifth throw. Teammates Paul Bouey and Angel Robles finished second and third, giving UTSA the clean podium sweep.

Trevion McCalla and Dennis Phillips finished with gold and silver in the men’s 60m event on Saturday night. McCalla crossed the finish line in 6.79 seconds,

while Phillips ran a 6.83.

Phillips turned around and won the men’s 200m event with a time of 21.40, while McCalla finished third with a 21.66.

Phillips, along with Mike Roth, Logan Masters and Noah Rhodes, took home the win in the men’s 4x400m relay with a time of 3:16.24.

The women finished runner-up in their 4x4m relay, clocking a 3:50.80.

Alanah Yukich, who was the anchor leg in the 400m relay, finished second overall in the 400m hurdles race with a time of 56.19.

UTSA will compete in one final race before the Conference USA Indoor Championships. The Roadrunners will travel to Houston for the Howie Ryan Invitational on Friday, Feb. 10.

Courtesy to NBAE/Michael Gonzalez

Jonathan Porter and Andrew Christianson/ The Paisano