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Vol. 71, Issue 12

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THE PAISANO

Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community

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Chisholm Hall residents forced to move to Blanco Hall By Hallie Lott Staff Writer

T San Antonio announced that Blanco Hall, the newest on-campus residential housing, is ready for students to occupy. The inaugural group of residents will move from Chisholm Hall to Blanco Hall, while Chisholm Hall undergoes renovation. With four floors, Blanco Hall will house 600 students in single and double units. The new residence hall will have laundry rooms, study areas and a community kitchen. Blanco Hall will also have communal bathrooms, a change from Chisholm Hall’s private, in-room bathrooms. The largest difference between the two residential halls is the room sizes. In Chisholm Hall — the oldest residential building on campus — the rooms are 365 square feet, including the bathroom. In Blanco Hall, the single units will be 87 square feet, and its double units will be 170 square feet. Chisholm Hall residents received an email about the move on Nov. 4, detailing the plans for the dorm switch. In the email, they were informed that Chisholm Hall would be closed from January to August 2026. The dorm will undergo “significant improvements,” including repairing the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, “to improve comfort and long-term reliability.” The email also noted that there were no current health or safety issues in Chisholm Hall and that the renovation was planned. Housing and Residence Life held a virtual town hall via Zoom on Nov. 5, where students could learn more and ask questions about the move. Following the meeting on Nov. 12, Chisholm Hall residents attended a housing event, “Harvest Your Home,” where they selected their preferences for either a single or double unit and their ideal room placement. Housing assignments were then

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A new residence hall was announced to open next semester, students forced to move with one month notice.

sent out to residents on Nov. 14, informing students whether they got a single or double unit and their room location. The Paisano interviewed two Chisholm Hall residents, first-year architecture major Anella Mason and secondyear kinesiology rehab science major Vincent Chau, on their thoughts regarding the move to Blanco Hall. “When I first heard about it, I was excited because

Construction workers working to finish Blanco Hall, set to open in January after multiple delays.

Chisholm is the oldest dorm at UTSA. I was like, ‘Wow, we get a brand new dorm. Everything is going to be clean. Everything is going to be amazing,’ but then I heard everything is going to be shrinking in size, and that made me upset,” Chau said when asked about his initial reaction to the email sent to him. In Blanco Hall, Mason will get a single unit, and Chau will move into a double unit. Mason expressed her worry regarding the lack of a private bathroom and the moving process. “I’m concerned about not having a private bathroom and about the decrease in room size. Even though I am getting a single, my room is still going to be way smaller,” Mason stated. When asked about the drawbacks to Blanco Hall, Chau emphasized the amount of time it will take to walk from Main Campus to the dorm. “The distance, [Blanco Hall] is going to be the furthest dorm from campus, so that’s going to be quite a walk,” Chau said. When asked about what he is looking forward to about the new dorm, Chau highlighted the lack of mold. “It’s the bare minimum, but it’s so exciting not to get mold in your AC vents,” Chau said. Both Chau and Mason wished that UT San Antonio had informed them of the potential move before they selected their housing and signed the housing contract. “They could have told everybody before the beginning of the school year, before everybody signed up for this dorm, thinking they would be able to stay here for a school year,” Mason said. She also added that they should not be forcing them to pack up during finals week. Chisholm Hall residents will have the choice to selfmove to Blanco Hall on Dec. 11-12, or professional movers will move items from Dec. 15-19. Blanco Hall will officially open on Dec. 15.

Texas population to reach 42.6 million by 2060 Carlos Craig/The Paisano

Population increases are expected in the Texas Triangle, including Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio. A 33% increase is expected to be seen in the next 35 years.

By Natalia Vázquez Felgueres Staff Writer Texas is expected to see its population climb to 42.6 million residents by 2060, driven primarily by migration and urban sprawl, according to new projections by the Texas Demographic Center at UT San Antonio. The data shows an ongoing shift toward urban concentration within the state’s biggest metropolitan areas, particularly throughout the Texas Triangle, which connects DallasFort Worth, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. Projections indicate that the population in Texas is currently estimated at around 31.3 million and will grow by more than a third over the next 35 years. The report suggests that most of that rapid advancement is a product of both domestic and global migration rather than natural growth. UT San Antonio Today has reported that the Texas fertility rate has remained below the replacement level since 2011, which means population gains have become increasingly reliant on people moving into the state. “More and more, Texas growth will depend on the level of migration,” an associate director and senior

demographer at the Texas Demographic Center Dr. Helen said “Migration will be the major driver of either growth or decline in the future.” The projections also highlight the degree to which distribution in Texas is geographically unequal. A great majority of new residents are expected to settle in urban and suburban counties within the Texas Triangle, while many of the rural and western areas will maintain slow growth or even see some population decline. For instance, Travis and Williamson counties in Central Texas are estimated to continue growing rapidly, potentially adding significant numbers of residents by 2060. Similarly, North Texas counties within DallasFort Worth, such as Collin and Denton, are anticipated to significantly expand because of continued suburban development. Meanwhile, growth in both West Texas and cities along the border is projected to slow considerably. El Paso Matters reported that births in El Paso County are expected to decline while deaths rise, suggesting the area’s growth rate will be one of the lowest in Texas through 2060. Projections from the Texas Demographic Center

also indicate the state is not only becoming older, but also more ethnically diverse. Texans over 65 years old are projected to make up approximately 22% of the population, while the Hispanic population will continue to grow as the largest demographic group, and Asian Texans will represent the fastest-growing ethnic category. The Texas Demographic Center’s projections shed light on how the state’s growth will influence future groundwork, especially for infrastructure and resource management. According to a report by Governing, Texas may require substantial investment in water reuse, desalination and aquifer storage to keep up with population demands, signaling that rapid growth could put a strain on resources, such as water and wastewater systems if planning falls behind. As migration continues to transform population distribution in Texas, these projections emphasize the importance of creating integrated development plans that can handle the state’s growing urban areas, ensuring sustainable management of critical resources and supporting its ability to accommodate future residents as population demands increase.

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NEWS

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Bexar County Jones discusses shutdown recovery, residents downtown revitalization efforts at risk for deportation By Marisela Cruz News Editor

Immigrants lacking permanent legal status targeted by ICE across Alamo City By Hallie Lott Staff Writer

Three days after President Donald Trump took office, the San Antonio Police Department announced that the department would work with federal authorities to enforce the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. Statistics regarding the number of residents who have been deported since Jan. 20 in San Antonio are unavailable because deportations are handled at the federal level and not by the state. San Antonio is not a sanctuary city, since the distinction is prohibited under a Texas law passed in 2017. In a press release on Oct. 27, the Department of Homeland Security claimed the Trump administration had deported over 500,000 people since the start of his second term. “This is just the beginning. President Trump and Secretary Noem have jump-started an agency that was hamstrung and barred from doing its job for the last four years,” Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said in the press release. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had a presence in San Antonio in the past, targeting workers at construction sites and markets over the summer, with one raid even occurring on UT San Antonio’s Main Campus in May. ICE has a San Antonio field office, located at 1777 NE Loop 410, Floor 15, San Antonio, TX 78217. On ICE’s website, ice.gov, under “Enforcement and Removal Operations,” no information is provided about any enforcement and removal operations that occurred at the San Antonio field office. In Bexar County, 5% of residents lack permanent legal status. According to a report by the Migration Policy Institute, 38,000 parents of Bexar County school children are at risk for deportation, and an additional 6,000 children do not have legal status. About one million children in the state live with a parent who does not have legal status. There is a wide range of San Antonio resources providing aid to undocumented immigrants and their families. One organization is RAICES, a non-profit that offers free and low-cost legal services, social services and refugee client services to families in Texas. They have locations across Texas, including in San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. Catholic Charities San Antonio offers their Caritas Legal Services, specializing in legal aid on several issues, including immigration law. Provided services include applying for a green card, applying for naturalization, family petitions, work authorizations and more. According to the City of San Antonio’s website, “residents can contact trusted community legal service providers to apply for free legal representation when they are facing deportation.” The providers include American Gateways, American Organization for Immigrants, as well as Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services.

“This is just the beginning. President Trump and Secertary Noem have jump started an agency that was hamstrung and barred from doing its job for the last four years”

State of the City Week of 11/18

District 6 Councilmember Ric Galvan hosted Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’ fourth town hall meeting at John Jay High School. At her first public forum appearance since the approval of Proposition B, she addressed downtown revitalization, next steps for flood infrastructure, economic priorities and the current fiscal situation. Acknowledging the vote as an exciting time to fund downtown revitalization projects, Jones emphasized how this could be used for residents of the area. The allotted funds would be directed to the east side of San Antonio’s downtown area. Jones explained that the goal for the revitalization efforts should make the area more livable and affordable. “If you’ve got a downtown that residents can’t afford to go to, you don’t have a downtown. You have an amusement park,” she said. Jones views the proposed Spurs Arena as one interconnected project, including multiple developments. The key points she hopes the project considers are walkability, senior housing and green space. Jones then addressed the prioritized list of flood projects that are still in progress or pending state government funding. She noted that the 2027 bond is expected to be smaller than initially projected, making the priority of these projects more critical. “The state’s flood plan has 14 projects in San Antonio on that very long list of projects. 14 projects are currently scoped for $411 million. The reason it was really important that our delegation speak with one voice and advocate for San Antonio is because only four of those projects were in the top 100,” she explained. Jones further addressed the $150 million budget gap for FY27 with residents. As a daughter of a single mother who attended John Jay High School, she expressed how it is essential to primarily care for San Antonio’s community. “We may in fact need to make changes to our budget that will in fact impact the most vulnerable in our community who are themselves going to have less money in their pocket as a result of those federal changes,” Jones said. Although the government shutdown has ended, its impacts still linger. City officials, alongside Jones, took the initiative in raising funds for residents impacted by frozen Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. About $1.6 million was raised to distribute $150 HEB gift cards to SNAP recipients. “This was just a bridge as we can help the most vulnerable in our community get through a very difficult time,” Jones said. By investing in Pre-K and supporting public education, San Antonio can be better represented in the nation, she explained. She talked about reinforcing the investment

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Jones takes questions at the end of D6 townhall meeting.

Trump’s tariff powers challenged By Henry Holmes Staff Writer The Supreme Court heard oral arguments from the Trump administration to determine the president’s ability to impose sweeping tariffs without approval from Congress. Throughout the arguments, nearly every justice cast serious doubt on the president’s authority, with many points made by the federal government falling flat. A tariff is a tax on goods entering one country from another, designed to raise the prices of certain foreign goods. Individuals or businesses in a foreign country directly pay the tariff, but the cost is usually partially or fully offloaded to domestic consumers. Because tariffs make up a fixed percentage of a sale, their impact disproportionately affects low-income individuals. The Trump Administration increased the effective U.S. tariff rate from 2.4% in January to 22.5% in April. Today, that rate remains elevated at 18% after numerous district courts have blocked select tariffs and the Trump administration negotiated with foreign governments to suspend or lower rates. The effective tariff rate refers to the average rate fixed to any given import. The White House imposed a minimum 10% tariff on every country. Notable rates include 20% for Chinese and 25% for Mexican products, 25% on all automobiles and 50% on steel and copper imports. While tariffs are expected to generate $2 trillion between 2026 and 2035, this revenue comes at a steep cost to consumers. For the next two years, price increases will reduce the average household’s after-tax income by $1,808. Tariffs will also slow real Gross Domestic Product growth by .4%, or $122 billion annually. Historic tariffs have incited lawsuits to ask the Supreme Court whether the president can regulate foreign trade through sweeping tariffs without Congress’s approval. On Nov. 5, the Court heard oral arguments from the federal government and the Liberty Justice Center, a non-partisan,

Former Mayor running for Bexar County judge

Ron Nirenberg, former San Antonio mayor, announced his bid for Bexar County judge public on Saturday. Nirenberg will run against Peter Sakai, Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay up-to-date on the happenings who has held the position since 2023. Nirenberg says that his eight years as around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external mayor gave him a clear outlook on local issues and their necessary solutions. San Antonio news sources, State of the He announced that as judge, he would City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s focus on public safety, environmental protection and maximizing local topics range from a new bid for Bexar resources among other issues. County judge to relocations after a fire.

By Audrey Villar Web Editor

in public education as a national security and economic competitiveness issue as well. “I saw from my own time at the Pentagon that San Antonio has a unique role to play when it comes to national security,” Jones explained. “The number one reason why somebody will serve in the military is because they know somebody who has served. That makes Bexar County very special in that way. The vast majority of kids that serve in the military, they come from like 25 counties, and Bexar County is one of them. So if we are not raising enough healthy kids, enough academically prepared kids, it is in fact a national security issue.” After covering the town hall meeting’s agenda, Jones and Galvan answered questions from attendees to conclude the meeting.

non-profit organization, to decide. The federal government’s central argument rests on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which, among many things, gives the president authority to “regulate importation” in emergencies. In this case, the Trump administration declared a national emergency to close the nation’s $1.2 trillion trade deficit. Most justices, including the conservative majority, appeared to doubt the federal government’s argument. Chief Justice John Roberts appeared concerned that an affirmative ruling would allow the president “to impose tariffs on any product from any country for any amount for any length of time.” Roberts also questioned the precedent the federal government is relying on, with Justices Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh and Sonia Sotomayor joining. The power to tax and the act’s structure took center stage. Justices Elana Kagan, Roberts, Jackson and Sotomayor argued that tariffs are a form of taxation, a power exclusively reserved for Congress. “What [the IEEPA] doesn’t say is the President can raise revenue,” pressed Sotomayor. “There’s a lot of verbs [in the act], but none of them include ‘generating revenue’ as a side effect or directly.” The Court further probed into the unique nature of the power Trump acquired through tariffing. Kagan pointed out how even congressional tariff powers are not allowed to exceed a certain percentage or are otherwise limited in time. In this case, Trump’s tariffs would have no limits because the IEEPA does not impose any. Justice Neil Gorsuch expressed his worries about the nature of emergency declarations. Such a declaration would require a supermajority to overturn, meaning it could take two-thirds of Congress to overturn emergency tariffs. The Court will not decide for many months, but either way, its choice will have major implications for the future of presidential power and Trump’s economic agenda.

SAPD union criticizes conduct of Chief McManus

Families find new homes after fire

Following the acquittal of three former officers charged after the death of Melissa Perez, the San Antonio Police Department union sent out a letter admonishing police Chief William McManus’ conduct in the incident. Danny Diaz, president of the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association, called his actions “politically motivated.” The union will decide whether or not to put up a vote of no confidence in the police chief.

Following a fire last week on the Northwest side that displaced numerous families, donations from the local community have helped the affected individuals. In addition to donations, the Avistar complex that caught fire, on the Boulevard, provided the families with new units to relocate to as their building was unsalvageable. The families are still replacing lost items but are currently housed and fed.

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OPINION administration botches blanco hall debut Chisholm Hall students to be forcibly relocated halfway through academic year

Editorial T San Antonio finished construction on its newest on-campus dorm — Blanco Hall. Alongside the announcement of its opening in spring 2026 came the news that current Chisholm Hall residents will move to the new residence hall, while Chisholm undergoes renovations. Students were informed through an email on Nov. 4 that stated, “Beginning in December, current Chisholm Hall residents will relocate to Blanco Hall for the spring semester.” Upgrades are expected to be complete in time for the fall 2026 semester, but until then, Chisolm residents will be cheated out of the dorm they expected for their school year. Chisholm Hall features two-bedroom and threebedroom layouts, possessing the largest rooms among all on-campus housing options, complete with private bathrooms. The new Blanco Hall only offers one and two-bedroom options, which are significantly smaller and have only communal bathrooms. This living space downgrade is an insult to the students already living in the oldest campus dorm. Roommates will inevitably split as they kiss their three-bedrooms goodbye. The mass email sent to residents assured students that dorm costs would not increase and may even be lowered in some cases, but the university has failed to make guarantees, despite the obvious downgrade.

UT San Antonio held Harvest Your Home on the evening of Nov. 12 in the Chisholm Hall Activity Center. The packed event allowed for relocators to select roommates for the new residence hall by waiting in a crowded, hours-long line. The university stated that no roommate selections were guaranteed, and assignments have since been released. The university seemingly loves to inconvenience its students and holds a blatant disregard

Marcela Montufar Soria/The Paisano

for their well-being. Chisholm Hall residents received barely more than a month’s notice concerning the relocation, being expected to move from Dec. 15-19, inconveniently right after finals season. Those who will not remain on campus for winter break will have their belongings transferred

by professional movers, whether or not they desire to have strangers handling their possessions. Students must accept the massive demotion as the university provides no alternative option for those facing the abrupt, unjust relocation. While UT San Antonio made it clear that the building’s heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system needs to be upgraded, the ideal time would clearly be during the summer when the fewest number of students remain on campus. Forcing students to move halfway through the school year is not only a massive inconvenience but also puts their health at risk. Moving is an upheaval that can spark depression among other issues. On top of the forced mid-year relocation, many campus dwellers are freshmen, still settling in after leaving their hometowns to attend school. The unnecessary change to their housing instability needlessly piles on more mental strain. UT San Antonio did not fully consider this relocation and the best interests of its students. The possible ramifications of such a sudden move could pose too great a risk to their health, and student expectations of what their dorm lives would look like will shatter as they return to a complete downgrade in the spring semester. UT San Antonio needs to think about its students before implementing such ridiculous and sudden changes for students.

Neurodivergence is not someone’s ‘type’

Concealed carry undergoes state change

Commentary

By Jasmine Williams Managing Editor

Too many neurotypicals have become comfortable with openly fetishizing autistic people on dating apps and social media. The widespread glorification of a neurological developmental disability is equally disgusting and reflective of rampant ignorance regarding the disorder. Cisgender, heterosexual men are increasingly listing “slightly autistic,” “mildly autistic” or “has a touch of the ‘tism” as traits they want in their ideal woman. These men desire women who likely have level one Autism Spectrum Disorder, which appears “mild” to nonautistic, or allistic, individuals. What allistics do not see is the internal strife level one autistics experience while being expected to adhere to a

neurotypical society they do not fit into. They do not see the overstimulation, meltdowns and burnout induced by masking one’s

ASD traits to blend in with “normal” people. Anyone who claims to prefer women with “a touch of the ‘tism” knows absolutely nothing about how debilitating living with ASD can be. These “preferences” are not uplifting. The adverbs preceding the disorder specify only a narrow window of traits palatable to the men and imply behaviors outside the scope unacceptable. Dating is already challenging enough for women with ASD. The last thing they need is additional restrictions on what it takes to be dateable to allistics. One of the desired traits is talking about hyperfixations. Instead of putting in a little effort to make conversation with allistic women, men are turning their attention to autistic women who will go on and on about their latest hyperfixation. Stimming behaviors, like repetitive blinking, rocking back and forth or repeating specific phrases, are nowhere near as romanticized; however, they are among a myriad of less socially acceptable traits that are central to an ASD diagnosis. If an autistic person dares to display their “distasteful” behaviors, they may be labeled “too autistic” and considered undateable. This precedent being set is repulsive. Claiming to want someone with a disability that is not visible completely dehumanizes that person, boiling them down to a set of semi-sociallyacceptable traits that set them apart from others. Picking and choosing how disabled someone prefers their partner to be is downright deplorable. No one would tolerate someone saying they love it when someone is only slightly paralyzed, and the same should be applied to people with ASD.

By Kassandra Jaime Staff Writer

Introduced by Senators John Boozman and John Cornyn, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act aims to allow all civilians to carry loaded handguns permitless and without firearm safety training. In a misguided effort to protect the Second Amendment, this legislation extends damaging exemptions to firearm owners. As Boozman’s proposition supposedly embodies “a commonsense solution to protect concealed carry privileges,” it actually allows for unfavorable legislation, a negative societal impact and an overall pessimistic reflection on the nation’s safety. As of March, 21 U.S. states require a permit to carry a concealed gun in public. Having to obtain a license encourages background checks, firearm training and educational insight on the proper way to possess a concealed gun. In contrast to these mandates, the new legislation being presented overrides current handgun laws. By not establishing a national standard for concealed carry, this legislation requires all states to recognize the concealed carry standards of every other state, even those with no permit requirements. That being said, this mandate scorns threatening ideals to civilians. It is vital to understand that this act impedes states from protecting their civilians from gun violence. Allowing states to impose handgun laws within their boundaries promotes the appropriate usage of firearms. If passed, this legislation can boost detrimental gun violence activities. Firearm ownership is associated with increased homicide, suicide, injuries and unintentional deaths.

Owning a license and using it within the borders of one’s permitted states should not be questioned, especially as the U.S. Surgeon General has acknowledged gun violence as a public crisis. America continues to ignore the common denominator that imposes fear within communities. With a sharp decrease in gun violence from previous years, the U.S. has still experienced 11,197 shooting deaths in 2025 alone. Furthermore, this number only reflects deaths caused by shootings in public spaces. “People want to be able to walk through their neighborhood and be safe,” Dr. Vivek Murthy, the nation’s top doctor, said. While this legislation assures to protect “law-abiding citizens’” rights, the propositions to make this possible are unnecessary and only create new routes to increase gun violence activity. All citizens are entitled Jasmine Williams/The Paisano to exercise their Second Amendment rights; however, not at the expense of the safety of others. It is crucial to allow all gun owners to relish their liberty while also abiding by laws and restrictions imposed in each state. Now, more than ever, it is urgent to act swiftly and pass legislation that, instead of granting easy access to disruptive guidelines, promotes the safe and proper use of firearms.

Sudan stays abandoned, US in need to take lead

Commentary By Liam Lines Staff Writer

The United Nations called the Sudanese civil war “The world’s largest ongoing humanitarian crisis,” with more than 12.4 million forcibly displaced from their homes and 637,000 facing famine and starvation since the latest iteration of the conflict began in 2023. In its wake, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity take place with no foreseeable end. The U.S. should lead the charge to stop the bloodshed in Sudan. The conflict centers on the Rapid Support Forces, an Arabsupremacist militant faction that split from the Sudanese Armed Forces, which controls the western

Darfur region of Sudan. The RSF and SAF collaborated to overthrow the joint military-civilian government in 2021, yet distrust grew between their respective leaders, who accused each other of seeking power for themselves. In 2023, RSF and SAF forces officially engaged, and each quickly moved to control territory. Both the RSF and SAF have been credibly accused of war crimes. Still, it was the RSF that has engaged in what former Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared to be a genocide in January. RSF militants indiscriminately shoot and kill non-Arab civilians with the undeniable goal of ethnically cleansing the region. Reports of armed men entering homes, demanding women surrender to them and subjecting them to rape and assault are now commonplace, with victims as young as one-year-olds. The U.S. — with its notable diplomatic and economic leverage over key players — is the only country that can feasibly intervene to stop the horrors, and it should endeavor to do so. With a clear, limited goal, the U.S. can secure the safety of Sudanese civilians and do so without military intervention. First, the U.S. needs to exert diplomatic pressure on the

United Arab Emirates, a major financial and military backer of the RSF, and consider imposing possible sanctions for its role in the conflict. The UAE is a major importer of gold and seeks to secure access to Sudanese gold mines controlled by the RSF. Without UAE backing, RSF’s power will weaken, and their interest in maintaining legitimacy will supersede their desire to fight a losing war. Secondly, the U.S. should establish lines of communication with the RSF and SAF, appoint special envoys and incentivize both sides to engage in peace talks. To achieve genuine peace, both sides must see a potential benefit from dialogue. The U.S. should lead these potential talks, in coordination with regional allies, to maximize pressure. Finally, the U.S. should expand its presence in Africa long-term to achieve two critical objectives: making inroads with the global south and foiling Chinese and Russian expansion on the continent. If the U.S. is successful in securing lasting peace, it will signal to the world that the U.S. remains a worthwhile arbiter to engage with. If nothing is done, the atrocities will continue unabated and U.S. influence will yield to its adversaries.

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OPINION

Jeff and Donnie: good ol’ days

The Paisano

Commentary

Editorial Board

By Emma Cavanaugh Staff Writer

President Donald Trump lies awake at night shivering in his timbers — Jeffrey Epstein still haunts his mind. Memories of those jet trips to a sacred island of pedophilia and prostitution never seem to be buried deep enough. Recent attention to the Epstein files set off an investigation by the House Oversight Committee. On Nov. 12, Democrats and Republicans released 20,000 pages of Epstein’s private messages. Trump’s teeth must be chattering, fearful of what information the Epstein files hold. It seems Trump’s closet holds far too many skeletons. The iron grip the president has kept on these files should make all of America afraid of what he has to hide. If Trump is as innocent as he pleads, the files should prove it — unfortunately, the revelations found in these emails ruin any benefit of the doubt left for ol’ Donnie. Trump has long denied any involvement or knowledge of Epstein’s sextrafficking operation; these probable lies are an embarrassment. In 2019, Epstein shut down the chance for Trump to continue repudiating, sending in an email, “of course he knew about the girls.”

These files are filled with Trump’s name — a truly concerning moment for all of America. The nation’s president seems deeply involved in the largest sexual predator scandal — it is no wonder his administration so passionately guards these files. Michael Wolff, an American journalist — known for exposing the elite — has now been caught chatting with Epstein on how he could manipulate the narrative, giving public relations strategy in 2015, “I think you should let him hang himself. If he says he hasn’t been on the plane or to the house, then that gives you a valuable PR and political currency. You can hang him in a way that potentially generates a positive benefit for you, or, if it really looks like he could win, you could save him, generating a debt.” In 2016, shortly before Trump would win his first election, Wolff advised Epstein, “There’s an opportunity to come forward this week and talk about Trump in such a way that could garner you great sympathy and help finish him.” Wolff talked extensively about exposing Trump with the information Epstein held. Epstein allegedly had the ability to “finish”

Trump but never exposed him. This raises an eyebrow as to why Trump has been allegedly giving Epstein’s beloved co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, special treatment. Maxwell experiences what some call the princess treatment in prison for her role in Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking schemes. Perhaps Wolff’s suggestion of blackmail was picked up; Trump may have a lot to hide to be this much of a pushover. One thing Americans can count on the president to do is post on Truth Social. Trump has addressed the controversy by making a mockery of the country, posting, “Now that the Democrats are using the Epstein Hoax.” He continues to blabber, “This is another Russia, Russia, Russia Scam, with all arrows pointing to the Democrats.” It seems all he can do is spew nonsensical bullhonky. It is a shame that Americans not only have an alleged predator but also a fool for a president. Trump’s lies can only take him so far. The American justice system may be flawed, but the release of these emails is a sign that there is a possibility for the truth to finally and fully come out. Trump cannot run from this forever.

YouTube is complicit in genocide Commentary By Yashasvi Sapre Contributor

For nearly two decades, YouTube has been a source for news and current events for millions around the world. It is an easily accessible platform for users — including corporations, organizations and individuals — to post videos to their liking. However, over the past few weeks, YouTube has been silently deleting over 700 videos of Palestinian rights organizations displaying Israeli war crimes and terror against the Palestinian people, leading users to wonder whether YouTube truly upholds free speech. The three large Palestinian human rights channels YouTube recently removed without warning are Al-Haq, Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. These channels offered hours of documentation by journalists and activists, hoping to show the world evidence of Israel’s crimes against humanity. Notable evidence posted by these channels includes the inquisition into the death of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh,

a documentary about children murdered by Israeli strikes while playing together on a beach and testimonies of the torture Palestinians are subjected to. According to The Intercept, when asked why these videos were taken down, YouTube stated the removals were a consequence of President Donald Trump’s administration’s increasing defense of Israel’s crimes in Gaza and the West Bank. U.S. Department of State sanctions have been placed against various human rights non-governmental organizations due to their work with the International Criminal Court in issuing warrants for arrest against Israeli war criminals, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Senior staff attorney Katherine Gallagher of the Center for Constitutional Rights states, “[i]t is outrageous that YouTube is furthering the Trump administration’s agenda to remove evidence of human rights violations and war crimes from public view.” This level of censorship is dangerous. It silences the voices of Palestinian victims and their stories while simultaneously protecting those who deserve to be held accountable.

“YouTube’s removal of a human rights organisation’s platform, carried out without prior warning, represents a serious failure of principle and an alarming setback for human rights and freedom of expression,” said a spokesperson from the West Bank-based channel Al Haq. Allowing Trump to dictate what is shown in the media is the exact definition of an authoritarian takeover and should not be taken lightly. YouTube is complicit in the Palestinian genocide, and blood is on their hands.

By Alexander Sormani Contributor

Gov. Greg Abbott took to X on Election Day to make a bizarre statement: He will impose “a 100% tariff on anyone moving to Texas from NYC.” This announcement came as the self-described Democratic Socialist mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, was projected to win New York City’s mayoral race. Abbott’s threat to New Yorkers was intended solely to impose fear, deterring New Yorkers from voting for Mamdani into office. This tactic is not isolated to Abbott or the Republican Party. A tariff is a tax on the import of foreign goods, typically imposed by one country on others to limit those countries’ ability to sell to the government enforcing the tariff. Tariffs have been a popular talking point in the past few years, with President Donald Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on a seemingly never-ending list of countries. Abbott’s threat to tariff New

Yorkers is baseless, as states are unable to impose taxes or tariffs without the consent of Congress per the importexport clause. Furthermore, the power to regulate commerce lies within the federal government, not the state. Abbott should not make any threats, let alone ones containing flagrant disinformation. The nation’s leaders should not tolerate this behaviour. This is not the Republican Party’s first instance of making threats to alter election results. President Donald Trump also had something to say about the New York mayoral race in his endorsement of Andrew Cuomo. He stated in a Truth Social post, “You really have no choice. You must vote for him,” and that in the event that Zohran Mamdani were to win the race, “it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds,” to the city of New York. Once again, in another post filled with lies, Trump refers to Mamdani

Jasmine Williams | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Marisela Cruz | News Editor News@paisano-online.com Luna Infante | Opinion & Magazine Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Magazine@paisano-online.com Christopher Delgado | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com Rylan Renteria | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Audrey Villar | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com Diego Cisneros | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Sarah Quintanilla | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com Regan Williams | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Jaclyn Banda | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Karis Vickers | Social Media Manager Socialmedia@paisano-online.com Neha Nathwani | Copyediting Coordinator Copyediting@paisano-online.com Miles Jones | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com

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Threats have no place in politics

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as a communist, which Mamdani previously refuted. Trump continues to claim he will restrict federal funds to the city — a power the president does not possess. Instead, the power to control federal funds lies in Congress. While the president can veto Congress’ spending plans, the department can overrule that veto with a two-thirds vote in the House. Such blatantly incorrect statements spread by the nation’s political leaders are either a sign of incredible political incompetence or an insult to the intelligence of the American people and a sad attempt at retaining control. These posts and threats are intended to fearmonger and influence their followers to stay compliant. Petty lying and childish threats from American politicians are an embarrassment and should not be tolerated by the country’s people. Citizens should scorn and turn their backs on politicians who behave in such a manner. Politicians should not attempt to strike fear into the people that they are intended to lead. They should not try to influence elections by threatening finances. Politicians should fear constituents: the people who vote for them. They should respect and revere those who give them power and can just as easily take it away.

Instagram: paisanomedia Sports Instagram: Paisanosports X: Paisanosports TikTok: thepaisanoUTSA Youtube: ThePaisano Pinterest: paisanomedia The Editorial is the official opinion of The Paisano editorial board. Commentaries are the opinion of the individual writer. The Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization. The Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization. The Paisano is NOT sponsored, financed or endorsed by UT San Antonio. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods. The Paisano is distributed on the UT San Antonio Main Campus. Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tri-point and a variety of apartment complexes near the UT San Antonio Main Campus. All revenues are generated through advertising and donations. Advertising inquiries and donations should be directed to: 14526 Roadrunner Way Suite 101 San Antonio, TX 78249 Phone: (210) 690-9301 © 2025 The Paisano The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures states in 5.03 that: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will not exercise control over the format or content of Student Publications, but will regulate distribution on campus. Student Publications will be free of censorship and advance approval of copy, and their editors and managers are solely responsible for editorial and content policies and decisions.Editors and managers of Student Publications will not be subject to arbitrary suspension/ expulsion or removal from their positions within a Registered or Sponsored Student Organization (Student Organization) by the University because of student, faculty, administrative, or public disapproval of editorial policy or content. Student Organizations that distribute Student Publications are afforded the same rights and privileges as Student Organizations that do not distribute Student Publications.

The University of Texas at San Antonio assumes no responsibility for the contents of this publication. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of The University of Texas System, UT San Antonio, or of UT San Antonio’s faculty, staff or student.

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ARTS & LIFE Sports, coins, Come forth to Fall Fest boyfriends By Jasmine Williams

By Hallie Lott Staff Writer

As the final weeks before Thanksgiving break drag on, Roadrunners weigh in on a wide variety of topics. From intramurals and daylight savings to money and a Vogue article, ‘Runners had answers to give and plenty to say. This week, The Paisano interviewed first-year multidisciplinary sciences major Nyomi Aranda, philosophy master’s student Christian Olmeda, firstyear biology major Sophia Podojil and second-year civil engineering major Andrew Garcia.

Do you play any intramurals?

While these ‘Runners do not take part in any intramurals, a few highlighted other activities they currently partake in or pursued in the past. “I do not play anything for the school,” Podojil said. She added that she used to play golf. “Unfortunately not,” Olmeda remarked, though he pointed out that he helps run the philosophy club as his extracurricular. Aranda and Garcia both responded with a resounding “no.”

Should we get rid of daylight saving time?

The Roadrunners were divided on whether daylight saving should stay in place or be nixed. “I think yes,” Aranda said, a little unsure of her answer. “I don’t know the history behind it, but it seems unnecessary, and we’re one of the few countries that still do it,” Olmeda replied thoughtfully. Two ‘Runners, Garcia and Podojil, agreed that daylight saving should remain in place.

If you could put anyone on a coin or dollar bill, who would you choose?

From historical figures to celebrities, the students chose wisely on who they thought should be put on a coin or dollar bill. Both Olmeda and Garcia responded with historic leaders: Sitting Bull and Martin Luther King Jr., respectively. Alternatively, Podojil chose her favorite singer, Lana Del Rey. Aranda went with a classic answer — Jesus.

Do you agree with the Vogue article, “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”

‘‘Runners had lots of thoughts about the viral Vogue article, titled “Is Having A Boyfriend Embarrassing?” Aranda and Olmeda agreed that no one should be centering themselves around one person, with Olmeda adding, “It’s a shared relationship.” Podojil was less certain. “Yes and no. I think it only [applies] for some girls, not all of them.” A firm “nah” came from Garcia. Scan the QR code below to have a question featured in a future edition of Bird On The Street.

5SOS accepts boybandhood By Sarah Quintanilla Graphic Editor

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Managing Editor

he sweet sound of music echoed across Main Campus from the North Paseo Building to the Engineering Building. The sun’s warm rays and a cool, gentle breeze coaxed the students from their classes to the source: UT San Antonio’s first Fall Fest. Patrons packed into the Sombrilla for this momentous occasion on Nov. 12 at 11 a.m. Student volunteers and professors in the Academic Introduction and Strategies Department hosted the festival. Sophomore construction science and management, David Montero, volunteered to perform live for the entirety of the fourhour event. The seasoned performer has over a decade under his belt, and his vocal prowess showed it, one song after another. “I’ve done about 400 gigs across the state and in different states,” Montero shared. “There’s a lot of covers, and eventually they get boring, so I try to just have my fun on them, essentially. “I made this one a bit with a jazzbolero beat to it, but otherwise it’s the same song. Let’s challenge y’all’s taste here. This is called ‘What You Won’t Do for Love.’” With Monero’s vocals in the background, students explored the array of tents throughout the Sombrilla. AIS sold customizable tote bags, candles, beanies and bracelets. The less creatively inclined could purchase cowboy hats, koozies, pet IDs and vinyl decor from the AIS booths as well.

Campus Services created a tree out of leaves, but the leaves were letters written by students sharing what they were thankful for. UT San Antonio Dining sold conchas and horchata. Next to the two tents stood the tent of Gardopia Gardens. “Gardopia is a nonprofit. We do garden-based learning. We started on the Inner East side,” farmers market coordinator Jodi Cruz said. “We have a micro farm there where we have some garden beds where we grow produce that we harvest and put out in our

community pantry. “We’re offering a donation-based payment. So whatever they want to pay for whatever they want to take is how we’re working today,” Jodi affirmed. “We’re hoping to build a partnership here with UTSA.” Suddenly, tragedy struck. At 11:30 a.m., multiple walls for the hay bale maze of cardboard boxes tumbled to the ground. The structure was nowhere close to finished when Fall Fest started, and what little progress was made was repeatedly set back by the wind. The breeze proved to be a blessing and a curse. The student volunteers, despite their frustrations, quickly returned to rebuilding. Their dedication was commendable and far outshone the

final product. Sophomore art major Chandler Wiginton and freshman music major Evan Pena worked tirelessly in the afternoon sun to finish the maze. “The walls were going to be higher, but obviously the wind [was] blowing it down, so we had to go to two boxes,” Pena admitted. “It was definitely a long and complicated effort, but we were fortunate to have a lot of helpers.” The walls, wrapped in a haybaledtextured sheet, stood no more than a foot tall, but this did not deter students from navigating the twists and turns. “I think right now what we have is pretty good for our first year,” Wiginton said. “It’s amazing how a lot of people are really enjoying this and taking advantage of it.” Aside from the maze, festivalgoers could toss rings on the tops of large pumpkins and play cornhole while sampling new iced tea lemonade flavors from Lipton’s tent nearby. A few dozen people sat at a long Thanksgiving table in front of the John Peace Library to paint tiny pumpkins supplied by AIS. “I’ve been seeing people walking around with the crafts they’ve made. I saw Spider-Man Pumpkin, and I’m so jealous, I gotta make myself one,” Wiginton noted. “When I was walking through, everyone seemed pretty happy. And the music is a great touch, I think it adds a lot to the environment.” Minor setbacks and a major turnout made the first-ever Fall Fest a success. The efforts of the AIS department paid off, bringing in an autumnal atmosphere to the warm, sunny Alamo City. The second annual Fall Fest is eagerly anticipated.

Ethical features of archival justice By Zahara Latson Staff Writer

Handling the most precious contents of a community is not as simple as taking the items, storing, labeling and cataloging them. Historical materials in web databases or held in archival repositories should be tended to with ethical standards and cultural considerations. Information specialist with a PhD in anthropology Javier Ruedas and head of digital humanities and user engagement Veronica Rodriguez are qualified experts who were the speakers at the Digital Indigenous Archives workshop, shedding light on this work. Rudeas dives straight into the basics of archival work, such as data sovereignty and the importance of metadata. Both involve the ways people store and represent historical pieces of a culture. He presents the reminiscence of the Shingwauk residential schools, which were developed into Algoma University, as a primary example. The local native people — who attended and graduated from the university, and had ancestry that belonged to the residential schools — created a collaborative grassroots archive after realizing they had heritage items that should be stored and cataloged. They formed the organization, Children of Shingwauk Alumni Association, and began to gather their items. The archive started in the 1980s and, over time, gained funding with the ability to start a web archive and hire professionals who could create what is now known as the Algoma University Archives and Special Collections. For the native diaspora, the call for data sovereignty is dire. For years, indigenous communities have not determined the value of their heritage items. Rodriguez explains how in indigenous communities that have more resources, there are more people involved in archival storage, and it

becomes more representative. “You would hope by now that in cultural institutions, libraries, museums and archives that they would have better awareness of the materials that they own and where they come from,” Rodriguez states. “Most major institutions do that, but I can see how it can still slip through the cracks of the person who’s hired to manage the archive because it’s not something that we emphasize.” The indigenous grassroots collaboration archive of the Shingwauk residential schools provided traumainformed metadata. This includes using accurate terms, indigenous language and context when labeling heritage items or redacting unwanted information from public access.

“There’s been a very strong movement to help communities reclaim their histories.” Practices like these allow power to be returned to the community when releasing information to the public. Reconciliation efforts done across the U.S. give native people control over the archival of their heritage items and historical documents. This is achieved through collaborating to provide ample context to archives that capture a moment in history for that community. “We live in a community that has a lot of indigenous communities around it, and it’s sort of empowering to know that across the world there’s been a very strong movement to help communities reclaim their histories, and that’s important,” Rodriguez proclaims. After Ruedas elaborates, he pulls up the Algoma University Archives and Special Collections website and tours it for the students, showing the different elements in which the people of Shingwauk have organized and put together all of the items. They also explore other web-based archival

platforms, such as the Great Lakes Research Alliance and the Plateau People’s Web Portal. Here, the use of metadata to identify heritage items is noticeably exceptional. Under each item, one can see its condition, where it originates, what facilities are currently holding them and paragraphs of descriptions and context. “[It] digitally reunifies scattered items,” Rudeas states. He explains how some community-centered archives have a focus on the decolonization of language and challenging dominant narratives by “reclaiming the way these stories are told.” Rodriguez finishes the seminar by unraveling the different protocols and legislation that go into the ethical storage of heritage items — things like the UN Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This emphasizes the autonomy and support that indigenous groups need to protect and promote their advocacy and provide meaningful planning centered on community goals. She also provides some outlines and tools used to enact fair use of this information. Control, authority, responsibility and ethics are known as the CARE and fair principles for the betterment of storing indigenous information. Traditional Knowledge Labels are another initiative used to prioritize human and nature-centered language, providing consistency and control over the filing of heritage items and documents. “And it’s sad because cataloging is being taken over by AI, and there are benefits to this, like you can get your books cataloged quickly, but when working in [indigenous] archives, it’s very sensitive,” Rodriguez confides. “I would like to see students from this area and this state go into cultural work. I think that they would be empowered by it.” Rodriguez shares how she is planning to host more events like these in the future, and hopes that by talking about these tools and informing students, it will inspire them to look into community-based careers.

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ARTS & LIFE

Repertoire for stars — Broadway is gagged By Emma Cavanaugh Staff Writer The lights dim and alas, the tubas roar — silencing the murmurs of the waiting audience before awaking a cheer for conductor Ron Ellis and the creative team. They say a few words and warn the audience about an experience they will adore. The sonata form voyages down New York and makes one dream like a “Glee” character — hoping to dance and sing. Ellis even gives a little shake and a pop — a flirty yet dramatic invitation to “DEAR BROADWAY, LOVE UTSA.” The Wind Ensemble and Lyric Theater at UT San Antonio came together on Nov. 15 to create an unforgettable performance. The set list features musical classics from “Newsies,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” “Hamilton,” “Rent,” “Wicked,” “Waitress” and “Les Misérables.” While preparing for the show, symphony performer Lauren Garcia, a third-year music education major, has dashing remarks about her constituents. “Listening to the singers absolutely nail the “Wicked” riff at the very end of the song was pretty unbelievable” Garcia says. These artists challenge the classic idea of what a symphony performance should look like; the modern twist garners much praise from the audience. “Newsies” places the audience into a New-York state of mind. The boys on stage let the audience know exactly what they are in for. As the clarinets built, a sense of grit and dedication flows out of the ensemble, pointing and jabbing at anyone doubting their quality. “Dear Evan Hansen” begins with humorous music that keeps jumping and a bass that riffs into a swoon. Then, the emotional tax comes. The polite tubas air h e a r t b r e a k . Hansen could not make a moment of happiness

last. Insecurity keeps winning. The music became stronger and overpowering just like his busy mind. His voice breaks, and a love interest appears. The piano invites hope, and the flutes carry that hope into an infatuated eruption of the crowd. The dichotomy of the light airy jumpy beat of Hamilton’s “You’ll be back,” contrasting with its angered language like “I’ll kill your friends and family” has the crowd bursting into giggles. “Rent” is due, and the zealousness ensues. The stressful trombones and terrifying clarinets argue like those playing Roger and Mark. The drums slam. Voices belt. Everyone argues and everything is entirely overwhelming. The ensemble singing at the crowd and pinning their fingers with anger only adds intensity. Not everything was so exacting. The Angel steals the show with his fierce attitude. The music captivates, but his stage presence makes him the main attraction. “Rent” is profuse. The crowd’s applause follows the last chime. Intermission offers a break. The amazed crowd whispers adorations and sighs of relief echo throughout the room as the musicians survive a tragically beautiful performance. Audience member and first year music education Karla Perez had some comments about the star-studded performance as she fought through tears. “[The show has] brought back a lot of memories, and it made me really emotional because [Dear Evan Hansen] helped me through so much, and hearing it live and hearing it all together was — it was very vivid. I loved everything about it,” Perez cries. The trombones and clarinets warn the audience that the show must carry on. The instruments slam, demanding attention. The clarinets quickly play, tension builds, magic emerges and the tubas celebrate — the Wicked Witch is dead, and Elphaba rolls in her grave. Glinda makes her much-awaited appearance, and the ensemble runs along to her angelic voice. Elphaba shocks the

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Alexandria Hoeker/The Hoeker/The Paisano Paisano Alexandria

crowd with her stunning powerhouse voice. She truly defies gravity. As Glinda and Elphaba argue, the drums scorn Elphaba, and the tubas roar at her defiance. For a moment, their friendship returns, and the flutes rejoice with the triangle. With a smite of her witch’s broom, the squabble ceases, and the crowd seemingly multiplied. The volume of their praise is unmatched. Having to follow that performance seems impossible, but Jenna in “Waitress” stuns the audience. How one could still get chills is an anomaly. Her voice, only backed by piano, is powerful and poignant. The collective sadness she evokes in the audience tightens the air. “Les Misérables” proves to be a strong end to a handsome performance. The growling of the ensemble’s voices, matched by a harrowing marching beat, feels like leaving war. The show ends, and the crowd roars for one minute and 38 seconds with a standing ovation to congratulate the stars on stage. After the performance, Alaina Cordero, senior vocal performance major and an absolutely “Wicked” star, has a few words for The Paisano. “MiMi and Glinda are both two of many dream roles as a musical theater performer,” Cordero says. “I’ve been performing since I was in middle school. To prepare [for those roles] I just really felt the characters and studied the text. “[Right before the show started], I was so so excited. I was a little nervous just because I know a lot of the stuff we were doing was really iconic, and I wanted to do it justice. It was just really important for me to serve — to serve. But also to serve truthfully with authenticity to each character.” The performers brought to the stage a truly mesmerizing performance. UT San Antonio should be proud to call these artists Roadrunners.

Dead in the water ‘Shoot myself with rock n’ roll’

By Christopher Delgado Arts & Life Editor

By Miles Jones Distribution Manager

Spoiler Warning Director Mario Chernovetsky squanders the allure of a horror movie infused with Aztec mythology by relying on drab visuals and a metaphor for grief that feels all too familiar in his film “Sacrificios,” which premiered at the Austin Film Festival on Oct. 25. Chernovetsky tells the story of grieving father Juan, played by Jorge A. Jimenez, venturing into the sea’s vastness in an attempt to find solace in the sorrow and guilt bestowed upon him by his son’s death. During his odyssey, Juan becomes blessed with an opportunity to bring his son Andrés, played by Siddhartha Tonalli, back to the world of the living — at a cost. Water straddles the line of life and death. Blundering rain sets the mood for tragedy, and the open sea offers redemption. This motif carries much of the film’s beauty. Scenes of Juan journeying through seemingly endless waves add texture to the frame, and the ocean’s tranquil bobbing of his boat juxtaposes the occasional frantic editing and creates an irksome atmosphere during the film’s daytime scenes. These moments on the water, coupled with a symphonic-synthesizer score composed by Jason Carmer, catalyze intrigue and investment, yet they are too far and few in the film’s wandering narrative. Opening with the roar of crashing waves as Juan howls “Andrés” and the score rising to a crescendo sets up one of the film’s many anticlimaxes. Rather than cutting to a title card, the scene cuts into the domestic life of Juan and his wife Alma, played by Frida Astrid. The introductory scene draws the viewer in only to disconnect itself from the narrative. The role of the Aztec god of death, Mictlantecuhtli, meets a similar fate as the opening scene and much of the narrative in the film’s hazy, garbled final act. Despite being introduced as the driving force behind Andrés’ death, Mictlantecuhtli makes scant appearances throughout the rest of the 90-minute runtime. Unfortunately, this god’s removal and the film’s shift to the cam girl that Juan was ogling while Andrés fell to his death only cheats the narrative of exploring grief through the lens of generational trauma and violence compared to the film’s flaccid commentary on grief and guilt. “Sacrificios” provides moments of uneasiness and an opening act that ultimately derails into clichè, complimented by muted color-grading that is to be expected of a film invoking an aesthetic that matches a rudimentary perception of grief. If not for the awe invoked by the visuals of Andrés’s seafaring journey and Carmer’s tantalizing score, audiences might just feel completely cheated by the directionless narrative.

Musicians across the world, including two from San Antonio, have come together to record the mouthful of an album “Plenty More Where We Come From: a Guided by Voices/Robert Pollard Tribute Album.” Organized by Joe the Band, a musician local to San Antonio, the album contains 14 covers from across the Guided by Voices catalog. The result is a worthy tribute to a prolific, indierock mainstay. Started by Robert Pollard, Guided by Voices has released 41 albums since their start in 1983. Drawing influence from garage, psychedelic and punk rock gives them a distinctive lo-fi sound. Here is a ranking of the album’s 14 tracks from worst to best:

14. Pittsburg, PA — Ex Pilots, “Thee White Flower” from “Suitcase 3 (2009)”

Ex Pilots caps off the album with a track that does not change much from the original, adding little to the listener’s experience

13. United Kingdom — Joseph Hooligan, “Expecting Brainchild” from “Vampire on Titus (1993)”

A tight cover showcases some great musicianship, but it suffers from a lack of identity in the cover.

12. Philadelphia, PA — Hello Whirled, “Earmarked for Collision” from “Let it Beard (2011)”

Loud guitars, roomy drums and clean vocals make this a great recording, albeit indistinct from the source material.

11. Annapolis, MD — Angelhead, “Dodging Invisible Rays” from “Tigerbomb (1995)”

An impressive cover of an already great song unfortunately suffers from poor mixing.

10. Unknown — Urnfire’s, “If We Wait” from “Sunfish Holy Breakfast (1996)”

Courtesy/Oleta Media

This track remains true to the original, highlighting a recurring issue throughout the album: Faithfulness sometimes comes at the expense of listener interest.

9. Indiana — Leashkid, “A Salty Salute” from “Alien Lanes (1995)”

A splendid rendition of the original, complete with fuzzed-out guitars and distorted vocals. A strong opening song to the album.

8. Austin, TX — Yarrow Stalks, “The Best of Jill Hives” from “Earthquake Glue (2003)”

Played slightly slower than the original and accompanied by some truly exceptional vocals, this song turns into a ballad rather than a rock song.

7. Nashville, TN — Bachelorette, “Little Whirl” from “Alien Lanes”

B a c h e l o r e t t e ’s cover has a faster tempo, and the female vocals add another dimension to this song, making it their own. However, t h i s recording is at a noticeably lower volume than the rest of the tracks, which is disappointing as it diminishes the compilation’s quality.

6. Austin, TX — Christian 2 Christian, “Hot Freaks” from “Bee Thousand (1994)”

This track feels like a cross between 1980s new wave and garage rock, looping drum and guitar tracks with slightly distorted, spoken word verses and sung choruses.

5. San Antonio, TX — Pink Notes, “A Good Flying Bird” from “Alien Lanes”

The Pink Notes really play to their strengths and lean into the lo-fi nature of Guided by Voices; lots of tape distortion, roomy drums and gritty guitars give the track a more rugged sound than even the source.

4. San Antonio, TX — Joe the Band, “I Am a Scientist” from “Bee Thousand”

Loud punk-style guitars sound like they were recorded through a practice amp. Vocals with echo effects and a driving drum beat round out the track. Joe the Band does the original justice while adding flavor. Continue reading online at paisano-online.com

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SPORTS

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UTSA eliminated by Texas Tech in NCAA tournament opener Courtesy/UTSA Athletics

UTSA midfielder Zoe May walks off the field following the Roadrunners 2-1 loss to Texas Tech University in the opening round of the NCAA tournament in Lubbock, Texas.

By Rylan Renteria Sports Editor In the team’s first NCAA tournament appearance since 2022, UTSA soccer fell to Texas Tech University 2-1 on Friday at the John Walker Soccer Complex. After falling behind early in the first period, junior goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler delivered the equalizer in the 61st minute. With the Roadrunners seemingly headed for their third-straight overtime appearance, Texas Tech forward Taylor Zdrojewski drilled the go-ahead goal in the 77th minute, eliminating UTSA and advancing the Red Raiders to the second

round of the NCAA tournament. “Our kids did a phenomenal job in how we prepared. Our coaching staff did a phenomenal job in getting them the information they needed and they performed exceptionally well tonight,” coach Derek Pittman said after the game. “I thought they slowed down a very attackminded and difficult Tech team for sure.” The ‘Runners’ lone goal came from an unlikely source. Kessler launched a free kick from midfield and perfectly placed it above Red Raiders goalkeeper Faith Nguyen to tie the match at 1-1. Kessler’s score marked the first time in program history a UTSA goalkeeper has connected

with the net. “This goal kind of showed how special this team is,” senior midfielder Zoe May said after the game. “For Kessler to score that goal it’s pretty amazing.” Zdrojewski ended the Roadrunners’ season with her right foot, but senior defender Kameron Kloza — who played three seasons at Texas Tech — remains proud of her team and what they were able to accomplish despite being picked to finish eighth in their own conference. “There isn’t another team I’d rather be doing this with,” Kloza said. “We came into this season as underdogs, and no one thought we could achieve what we

achieved. I’m just so dang proud of this team for making the conference tournament for the first time in this conference, not only making it but winning it. “Coming here tonight, it’s been an honor to come back to Lubbock and play the team I used to be on. They’re a great team, and I have nothing but love and respect for them. I’m just so dang proud of our team for fighting tonight.” The Roadrunners will return for spring ball against the University of the Incarnate Word at 2 p.m. March 2, 2026 at Park West Athletics Complex.

Noah Schwencke/The Paisano

Texas esport players gather for a winner-take-all tournament in the Shananigans game room Sunday, Nov. 16 at 5251 Timberhill Dr. Ste 105 in San Antonio, Texas.

Alamo City hosts Texas collegiate esports showcasing By Noah Schwencke Staff Writer

The Shenanigans game room, located at 5251 Timberhill Dr. Ste 104, was packed on Sunday, hosting esports teams from across the state of Texas. The room felt competitive, yet collective, with a sense of camaraderie among participants. Roadrunner Gaming was hosting its largest tournament yet, with 23 teams from 13 universities, and a total of 139 players. Teams and players traveled over four hours from cities including Dallas, while others simply traveled across town. Some players were seasoned veterans of the competitive scene, while others were fresh entries hoping to make their debut. All of them convened here in San Antonio to compete in the classic fighting game: “Super Smash Bros Ultimate.” The tournament was set in a best-ofone, five-on-five, double elimination crew battle format. In this tournament style, most comparable to wrestling dual meets, players and teams must perform well on an individual level while still significantly impacting the team’s overall outcome. Each team is given a pool of 15 stocks across all players in each match-up. In other words, three stocks are distributed to all five players on a team. Individual players then compete in 1-on-1 matches,

and in a king of the hill style premise, players knock out opponents’ stocks until their three stocks have been taken. In practice, if a team has an incredibly strong competitor, or “anchor,” their team can remain at the same stock count while continually knocking out multiple players from the enemy team. More practically, battles are often neck and neck, with all the pressure coming down to the final match-up. When walking between gaming setups during the tournament, it was easy to tell how far along a crew battle was. Starting match-ups were casual yet focused, while the energy around final matches was palpable. An ample crowd could often be found behind the two opposing team members, shouting moves, character voice lines or straight cheers. One of the commentators for the event, Chris “AbsurdGod” Rios, put it best when The Paisano asked about the energy surrounding the tournament. “Electrifying,” Rios said. “Teams of college students, all rooting behind their players, in intense, last-stock, last-player matches. You see a lot of regional people pushing together. Anyone from Houston, they’re rooting for another team that’s in Houston. Anyone in San Antonio is rooting for the other San Antonio teams. Yeah, it’s been electrifying.” The tournament itself spanned over 10

hours across 45 crew battles, with lunch breaks and sponsorship announcements in between. Each player paid a $10 entry fee for the pot prize and venue fees, contributing to a large cash pool for the winning teams. The Varsity Team from the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Houston’s Red Team both saw undefeated streaks leading up to their face-off match in the winners’ semi-final. With an intense showdown, resulting in Houston Red’s victory by only two stocks, UT Dallas Varsity was positioned for a second chance in the losers’ final. Sadly, due to the slower-than-anticipated pace of the tournament, UT Dallas Varsity had to back out to drive back to Houston that same day. UTSA’s very own Road Runner Gaming was broken up into three teams: Orange, Blue and Black, with the Orange Team progressing the furthest. After being knocked into the losers’ bracket by UT Dallas Varsity, the Roadrunners came out on top in a San Antonio showdown between RRG Orange and the Texas A&M University — San Antonio Team. Even after taking down the sister school, UTSA was then pitted against A&M-San Antonio’s Maroon Team. It was in this match-up that Roadrunner Gaming’s final team was knocked out of the tournament, with A&M-San Antonio Maroon sweeping the match with an eight-stock lead.

As the grand final approached, the crowd at Shenanigans unfortunately dwindled. Regardless, the hardcore supporters and final teams remained till the very end, just as invested as in the opening matches. Many attendees and supporters watched the final matches live on the TeamShenanigans Twitch channel during their long drives home, cheering from the chat. The grand final saw the undefeated Houston Red Team vs the A&M-San Antonio Maroon Team. The grand final operates exactly like the rest of the tournament, but with the winner of the losers’ final needing two wins to take home the gold — and that’s exactly what A&M-San Antonio Maroon did. A&MSan Antonio took the first match with a four-stock lead and then knocked Houston Red out with finality by eight stocks in game two, securing first place. With A&M-San Antonio smashing the competition in the grand finals, the team went home with the prize pool winnings and first-place title. All in all, the tournament served as a foundational event for Roadrunner Gaming: a day packed full of top-notch gameplay and a stage for A&M-San Antonio’s notoriety in the Texas esports scene.

8 | s p o r t s@ p a i sano-online.com

SPORTS

N o v e mb e r 1 8 - N o v e mb e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 5

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Henderson rushes for 185 as utsa handles charlotte Left to right: UTSA offensive lineman Demetris Allen celebrates a touchdown, UTSA running back Will Henderson III breaks away for a 59-yard rushing touchdown.

Roadrunners end road woes against 49ers in Queen City clash Rylan Renteria

Sports Editor

ophomore running back Will Henderson III rushed for a season-high 185 yards, helping UTSA football to a 28-7 win over the University of North Carolina at Charlotte on Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium. A promising seven-play, 85-yard opening drive from the Roadrunners (5-5, 3-3 AC) was followed by five consecutive scoreless possessions. It wasn’t until there was a little over three minutes remaining in the third quarter that UTSA found paydirt

again. Not that it mattered; the ‘Runners’ defense pitched a shutout against the 49ers, (1-9, 0-7 AC) with their lone score coming on special teams. Powered by a steady rushing attack led by Henderson, the Roadrunners secured their first road conference win since 2023. “I was just proud of how our kids competed the whole game,” coach Jeff Traylor said after the game. “We had some adversity early — played very well and just couldn’t score — the poor decision by Owen on the interception, big ‘Rell losing his head, getting a 15-yard penalty trying to defend his teammate. Other than those plays, we executed at will.” On the opening drive, junior quarterback Owen McCown went 4-of-5 through the air and connected with junior wide receiver Devin McCuin for a 45-yard

touchdown. A near-two quarter scoring drought was snapped by Henderson on a 59-yard rushing touchdown on fourth down. Henderson was the Roadrunners’ primary back against the 49ers, with senior running back Robert Henry Jr. struggling in an eight-carry, one yard performance. “We came through a lot of adversity on the road, people saying you’re not mentally tough, but I just don’t think it’s true,” Henderson said. “Ain’t nothing different but the crowd, so I think we did good, and it just felt great getting an away win.” UTSA added to its lead in the beginning of the fourth quarter after McCown connected with sophomore wide receiver David Amador II for a 7-yard touchdown. On the ensuing kickoff, Charlotte wide

Roadrunners fall flat in I-35 rivalry defeat

Miles Jones/The Paisano

Jamir Simpson scores season high 22 points Logan Martinez Staff Writer UTSA sophomore forward Mia Hammonds drives through a Texas State defender.

Hammonds, Rowe spur UTSA to dominant win over Texas State Aramis Santiago Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO — A strong first half from sophomore guard Mia Hammonds, followed by a dominant second half from senior forward Cheyenne Rowe, propelled UTSA women’s basketball to a 64-41 victory over Texas State University on Thursday at the Convocation Center. Fired up by a crowd of over 1,200 attendees, the Roadrunners would put a 0-2 start to the season behind them and extend their program-record home winning streak to 17 games. With a defensive intensity that saw UTSA (1-2) hold Texas State (0-3) to 16 points on a dreadful 6-for-33 shooting after halftime, the Roadrunners cruised to an I-35 rivalry victory. From the opening tip, the Roadrunners dictated the terms of the game. UTSA’s defense smothered Texas State, contesting every touch inside and forcing rushed looks on the perimeter. Sophomore guard Damara Allen drilled a corner three and Hammonds pushed the pace relentlessly, attacking the lane and hitting from outside as the ‘Runners opened 6-for-6 from the field and built an 18-8 lead. By the end of the first quarter, UTSA led 21-12 behind Hammonds’ steady scoring and a defensive effort that rarely allowed the Bobcats to breathe. Texas State tried to disrupt the tempo with a full court press in the second quarter, but the adjustment only sparked more UTSA momentum. Junior forward Idara Udo powered inside early, then found Hammonds for an uncontested layup.

receiver Derrick Eley took the rock 88 yards to the end zone in the team’s first and final score of the game. The Roadrunners responded on the very next drive by marching 65 yards down the field, where McCown called his own number for a 2-yard bootleg score. UTSA tallied up over 500 yards of total offense while holding Charlotte to under 200 yards on offense. The Roadrunners kept McCown upright throughout the game, allowing zero sacks while registering three of their own. Senior safety Tyan Milton had the lone takeaway for the ‘Runners with an interception deep into the fourth quarter. UTSA will return home for its final two games of the season, the first of which comes against East Carolina University at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.

Moments later, Rowe blew up a midrange attempt by forward Kyla McBride and dropped a precise pass to Udo to stretch the advantage to 27-14. Hammonds’ euro step finish and transition three pushed the lead to 30-14 as she reached 14 points before halftime. “We know we can get assists,” Hammonds said. “Anytime my teammates pass me the ball, I’m gonna do my best to put it in the basket for them.” Still, Texas State clawed back late in the half by packing the paint and forcing UTSA into perimeter-heavy possessions. The Roadrunners’ brief cold spell allowed the Bobcats to trim the margin to eight, but a late bucket by sophomore center Emilia Dannebauer sent UTSA into the break up 12. The second half belonged entirely to Rowe. The senior opened the third quarter with back-to-back scores, then hit a post fadeaway to put the ‘Runners up 5431. UTSA’s defense, meanwhile, was suffocating. The Bobcats shot 3-for-19 in the third period and at one point missed 12 straight attempts. Rowe’s and-1 early in the fourth quarter sealed the blowout, while UTSA’s interior presence — 43 rebounds to Texas State’s 29 — ensured the gap never closed. “Everyone cares about each other here,” Rowe said. “That is not something you get on a lot of teams and I am happy to say this team has it.” UTSA will stay in the Alamo City and take a short drive to face the University of the Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the McDermott Center.

Defensive miscues and a 17-point first-half deficit held UTSA men’s basketball back in its 80-69 loss against Texas State University on Wednesday at Strahan Arena. A flat opening half forced UTSA (1-2) into a double-digit deficit early, and countless offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities squandered any hope for a Roadrunner comeback. The team was outrebounded by the Bobcats (2-2) 47 to 33, and committed 11 turnovers on the night. Senior twoguard Jamir Simpson led the team with a season high of 22 points, though it was not enough to secure the victory. UTSA looked unprepared in the opening period. The defense was lackluster at best, as the Bobcats consistently found wide-open looks from various spots on the court. While the team stifled Texas State for a couple of possessions in the first half with a 1-3-1 zone defense, the ‘Runners failed to bring the deficit within 10. UTSA continued to leave players open in the short corner, allowing for easy scores within the paint. If the Roadrunners were able to make a key defensive stop, it was quickly erased due to an offensive rebound and secondchance score. Texas State snagged six offensive rebounds in the first half and scored 15 points off turnovers and fast breaks. The offense was no better in the first period. In seven minutes, UTSA had scored zero points and committed six turnovers. The half-court offense looked stagnant, as the ball aimlessly traveled the perimeter each possession. Players were either forced into last-second shot attempts or pressured into isolation situations, leading to multiple empty possessions. UTSA shot 37% from the floor, 17% from three in the first half and finished trailing 38-26. The ‘Runners looked lost at times and

were never able to gain control of the contest. Texas State dictated the game’s pace for all of regulation, bringing the Roadrunner offense to a screeching halt. In the second half, the team made valiant efforts to shorten the double-digit deficit. Sophomore forward Mo Njie led the way for the team with nine points in the final 12 minutes of the game. Njie was perfect from the floor and managed to bring UTSA within six points with a little over 10 minutes remaining in the game. Though the momentum almost shifted towards the Roadrunners, they immediately gave up a three-point play, dropping the deficit back to 10 and forfeiting any hopes of a comeback victory. The Roadrunners were beaten in every statistical category. As a team, they shot 39% from the floor and 27% from the three-point line. UTSA spent all of regulation trailing and failed to bring the g a m e within single digits.