Vol. 66, Issue 11

Vol. 66, Issue 11

Est. 1981

THE PAISANO

November 7 - November 14, 2023

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

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@paisanomedia

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CEO of CPS Energy addresses Texas power grid concerns

By Kara Lee Graphic Editor n an interview with the CEO and president of CPS Energy, Rudy Garza, The Paisano asked questions regarding the Texas power grid and what Texans should anticipate this winter.

Garza discussed CPS’ future objectives and ambitions.

According to their website, CPS Energy is “the nation’s largest community-owned provider of electric and natural gas services.” They aim to provide 930,114 electric and 381,379 natural gas customers in San Antonio with safe and reliable services.

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“We have diversified our gas suppliers to the point where we have a lot more options [for] getting into our system, especially for the winter.”

When asked if Texans should expect or brace for power outages this winter, Garza stated, “I feel pretty good that we’re gonna be able to get our jobs done.”

He explained that the meteorologists with CPS ensure that their weather predictions for the winter are accurate and up-to-date. Currently, their meteorologists are anticipating a cold and wet winter.

Although temperatures are expected to drop immensely, it will not be for an extended amount of time.

“I feel good that we’ll do the work that is needed to take care of San Antonio,” Garza said.

Garza also explained the backroom operations used by CPS to actively maintain the operation of the power facilities.

“We take plants offline to do the work that needs to be

done so they’re ready,” Garza said.

“We have to take plants offline between October [and] mid-December to be able to get our plants ready for the winter. We actually have to declare to the state that we have done our jobs.”

During this break, plants are guaranteed to receive the necessary maintenance to withstand periods of peak electricity demand.

CPS has made investments to diversify the sources of natural gas in order to ensure that there is an adequate supply.

“We have diversified our gas suppliers to the point where we have a lot more options [for] getting into our system, especially for the winter,” Garza said.

According to Garza, CPS is attempting to gather more gas from the southern regions of Texas. However, their main sources of gas are still the Permian Basin in west Texas and the Houston Ship Channel. More gas storage space can be created, and collections from various regions of Texas enable a safety net in the event that suppliers experience problems.

Garza is optimistic that CPS will complete the task this winter. “Overall, I feel good that we’ve done enough over the last few years from a policy standpoint.” He explained that despite all of CPS’ efforts, there are certain external circumstances that might still have an impact on everyone.

The Electricity Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) is a membershipbased non-profit that manages the flow of electric power to more than 26 million Texans. CPS and ERCOT work closely together, as CPS buys and sells power through ERCOT. “If ERCOT gets into a situation where we’re short on power, then that affects everybody.

So I can’t control what’s happening outside of San Antonio. What I can feel good about is that

we will be prepared.”

Even with confidence in the grid, Garza stressed that it is crucial to have backup in case the electricity goes out.

CPS intends to keep all communities informed through a color-coded system that will be distributed to consumers on a daily basis. These colors will suggest whether or not it would be prudent for customers to practice energy conservation.

“We have a color-coded system that we send out to our customers almost every day — when we’re [on] a green day, which means that everything is good. Or we’re [on] a yellow day, which means you should conserve, but only voluntarily.”

Garza stated that in the event of an emergency, he would inform the public of what may be done to guarantee their protection.

“If we’re in a situation where there’s some emergency going on, you will see me standing next to the city manager and our elected officials — for vulnerable populations in our community, they’ll actually go out into the community and start knocking on doors to let them know what is going on,” he said.

“I feel good that we’ll do the work that is needed to take care of San Antonio.”

Customers will have many opportunities to stay informed thanks to the information and resources posted on the CPS website and social media. Visit cpsenergy.com to stay up-to-date with any further updates regarding the state of the Texas power grid.

ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas has expressed concerns about the state’s network of outdated gas and coal-fired facilities being replaced too rapidly by renewable energy. Garza believes that new power plants should be built while

aging facilities should be decommissioned.

“Pablo is a friend of mine and really was a great hire by ERCOT,” he said. “I have great confidence that he’s doing his part to make sure that our system is reliable.”

Garza also stated that a shortage of new plants will result in strain during the peak energy season.

“No new natural gas plants — not a lot — maybe 1500 megawatts have been built. So we’re getting further and further behind,” he said. “We’re not growing our generation base, which is why we get tight in the summer and winter times — the state of Texas has to get involved in policies that are going to move us in the right direction.”

Garza spoke on CPS’s plan to close the last coal plant and transition to more renewable energy by 2028. CPS has a climate action strategy in place to reduce its carbon footprint and mitigate the effects of climate change. The first step of which will be the closure of an older coal facility such as Spruce 1.

“We have a climate action and adaptation plan here in San Antonio — regardless of what you believe about climate change, the winter weather patterns are getting more extreme,” Garza said. “We’re investing in solar, we’re investing in battery storage, [and] we’ll continue to invest in natural gas, which is a cleaner-burning fuel that will help us continue to move our carbon footprint in the right direction.”

According to Garza, the most difficult aspect of transitioning to renewable energy is obtaining the necessary resources.

“When I go into city council and our board and ask to review our rates to ensure we have what we need to get work done. Nobody likes a rate increase, but it’s necessary when you’re trying to make these big investments to accomplish.”

Lastly, Garza wants to encourage young people to understand the energy space and get involved. He hopes to have a symposium where students can speak to him and create some Q&A. “I like to encourage students at UTSA and every other college to get involved, and pay attention to what’s going on, and develop their own opinions about these things.”

CPS customers should visit cpsenergy. com/en/customer-support/outage-center. html for updates on power outages, emergency preparedness tips or to sign up for energy alerts.

Kara Lee/The Paisano

SGA discusses student safety and open educational resources

By Kara Lee Graphic Editor

In their 48th General Assembly, the Student Government Association (SGA) launched its sixth session of the semester, addressing a variety of topics such as free textbooks and improved safety on the Main and Downtown Campuses.

The meeting began with an open forum where students were given the opportunity to express any concerns which were met with possible solutions and resources from SGA officers.

The first student to bring an issue to light was an auditing student having trouble obtaining his UTSA ID card. An auditing student is a student who takes courses for their own educational benefit rather than to receive academic credit. The student expressed that he has been unable to receive a UTSA ID card because he is not an official UTSA student. He added that this concerns him because it leaves him as an unidentified individual while auditing classes on-campus.

President Zachary Nepote commended the student for speaking up and presented him to their Academic Affairs representative Sharon Madiba Martinez.

Two liaisons, Manuel Bocanegra and Moses Hernandez, from UTSA Housing then took over the open forum to express their excitement about their plan to collaborate with SGA in the future. They expressed that they hope UTSA Housing can grow to assist students in becoming more involved on and off campus. The speakers mentioned that their residents’ success initiative team has recently

Department works directly with UTSA counseling services as well, emphasizing that student’s mental well-being is being prioritized as well. Counseling services and self-defense lessons are also provided for free. expanded from five to fifteen persons and It was also brought up that as the that they wish to collaborate with five or Downtown Campus expands, it will six SGA members to continue developing. see an increase in its total number of Following the open forum, guest officers, as there are currently only two speakers were free to outline any future police officers and a public safety officer plans or activities. working downtown. Officer Rubio also The first guest speaker was UTSA mentioned that future downtown student Police Officer Eric Rubio. He explained housing designs are in the works and that since UTSA is a public are expected to include 24-hour university, the police police protection as well as department’s top priority the previously mentioned is to keep students amenities. safe. Rubio added The remaining guest that UTSA’ s Police presenters were Open Department offers Education Coordinator several resources DeeAnn Ivie and for students to Library Services ensure their safety.

Assistant Chayla De He mentioned their La Garza.

Ivie gave a escort services, presentation on open Rowdy Watch and educational resources the LiveSafe App. (OER) and how students Rubio expanded can benefit from being on RowdyWatch and Co A educated on OER and its urte its importance, as it allows sy of UTSA SG many resources. students to apply for part-time Ivie explained that OER is a complex patrolling roles. Their duties include operating a UTSA-certified golf cart and resource that can create a deeper patrolling locations on campus. If the engagement for students at a university student detects any suspicious behavior by permitting them access to a wide while patrolling, UTSA police will be range of teaching and learning materials contacted. Students are compelled to that students can use and reuse at no cost give an ID to an officer under the Texas due to the Creative Commons license.

Education Code. “We can actually ID For example, access to OER can provide anybody without reasonable suspicion students with low-cost or free textbooks.

Publishing work under Creative or probable cause, we have to protect everybody here on campus,” the officer Commons licensing means that it is said. totally free for use by anybody without The officer added that the Police compensation to the creator, and it has

fewer limitations than standard copyright materials. Authors retain ownership of the copyright and can do anything they want with the information or even merge it with other items.

Ivie stated that with the grant program, the library has saved 13 million dollars thanks to OER and has granted over 150 grants to professors. What distinguishes OER from a library is the ability for students to continue to access all knowledge, even after graduation.

SGA will be hosting working sessions to offer students the opportunity to ask questions, discuss ideas and get involved.

A session was held on Monday, and another will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the SGA office (HEB SU 1.214) to further promote educational equity.

After the guest speakers concluded, the members of SGA analyzed previous events as well as impending news. SGA will have its second leader fund workshop on Nov. 26. This is a reimbursement fund that will allow student groups to obtain funds. The application form is accessible to all well-established student groups, and the application deadline is Dec. 7.

For more information on OERs at UTSA, visit lib.utsa.edu/oer/.

SGA will be holding a town hall meeting at 5:30 p.m. next Thursday at the Downtown Campus. Guests are encouraged to attend and voice their concerns “regarding safety, beautification, academic resources and general enhancements.” The meeting will take place in the assembly room in Building 1.338 on Buena Vista Street.

The next SGA general assembly will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 16 at the Harris-Travis Room (2.202 and 2.212) in the H-E-B Student Union, and all UTSA students are welcome to attend.

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NEWS

‘Runners exhibit diverse reactions to athletics fee loss

By Jake Mireles Opinion Editor

Two weeks ago, UTSA announced that the “Everyone Wins” proposal failed to pass a vote by students, causing Roadrunners to voice their mixed opinions on the issue.

On Oct. 25 and 26, ‘Runners had the opportunity to vote on a proposal to increase the mandatory athletics fee. On Oct. 27, the results were announced, revealing that the proposal had been firmly rejected by UTSA students, with 70.66% voting not to raise the fee.

This result has elicited diverse reactions from students. Some saw this rejection as a win, citing issues that they believe should take priority over an increase in athletic funding. Others see the rejection as a loss for the university and believe that an increase in funding for athletics would bring more national prominence to UTSA. Some ‘Runners turned to the r/UTSA subreddit to voice their opinions on a thread concerning the failed proposal.

One user, u/cigarettesandwhiskey, questioned the fee’s priority over addressing other campus issues, stating, “I’d rather they spent the money on bus service to campus or fixing the wi-fi, which still boots me off every minute or so.

I would have voted for a higher fee for those things.”

Another user, u/Ambitious-Joke4623, debated the necessity of increasing the athletics

fee in place of other fundraising methods, stating, “As a current grad student, why does a self-funded auxiliary need more fees from the academics? Raise your ticket price? Hold a fundraiser? Don’t force those who are already being buried in debt to fund a self-funded program. I’m an online only student, I’ve never stepped on campus or attended a game, that doesn’t mean I’m against sports. I’m against nickel and dime on the students.”

However, students in favor of the fee increase have also vocalized their displeasure with the loss on the ballot.

In an interview with San Antonio Express News, graduate student Bella Crockett expressed her concern about misinformation she believes contributed to the loss, as well as the possible implications the loss could carry for athletics.

“I think that the students who voted no, a lot of them were misinformed,” she said. “That was the key thing here, to inform our students more [about] the benefits this could have for them. I hope students realize that when they look around the sports facilities that we have and the limited transportation and see why nothing has changed, it’s because they voted no.”

UTSA athletics have stated that this loss on the ballot will not deter them from continuing to grow their programs through other avenues.

Visit paisano-online.com to read more articles concerning the proposal.

UTSA ranks among the top schools in the nation for Hispanic students

By Naydine De La Fuente Interim Copyediting Coordinator UTSA was recognized last month as one of the top schools in the U.S. for Hispanic and Latino-identifying students. According to the Top 100 Colleges and Universities List in the Hispanic Outlook on Education Magazine, UTSA has upheld high rankings within its categories, sustaining its credibility as a Hispanic Serving Institute (HSI).

Looking at the data gathered by Hispanic Outlook, one can identify the many accomplishments that UTSA has achieved in helping their Hispanic scholars and acknowledge their title as one of the top schools in the nation for Hispanic students.

In the 2021–22 academic year, UTSA was ranked ninth by Hispanic Outlook for total bachelor’s degrees granted to Latino graduates.

A total of 3,340 degrees were awarded to Hispanic students at the university, representing 58% of all bachelor’s degrees awarded that year.

In addition, UTSA granted 626 master’s degrees, and 48% of all master’s degrees

awarded that year were to Hispanic students.

This categorized the university in 17th place for total master’s degrees earned by Hispanic scholars.

Lastly, UTSA has also been recognized as one of the top ten institutions to award the highest number of degrees to Hispanic students in Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Architecture and Related Services, Natural Resources and Conservation, History and Engineering.

As the university continues to take further steps towards becoming a model Hispanicthriving institution where Latino students can succeed and flourish, there are other instances where the university is recognized for the accomplishments surrounding their scholars.

UTSA has been designated as an HSI since 1994, making it one of the earliest universities to be recognized for having an undergraduate enrollment that is 25% Hispanic. As of Fall 2023, the university has even identified 59% of UTSA constituents as Hispanic or Latino.

With targeted enrollment campaigns and success in creating purposeful policies, practices and support systems, UTSA has seen a 13% increase in newly admitted Hispanic students within the past five years and has even been recertified with the Seal of Excelencia by Excelencia in Education this past September.

As the university upholds its title as an HSI, UTSA continues to make contributions in support of its Hispanic-identifying students. To learn more about UTSA’s new ranking as one of the top schools in the nation for Hispanic students and their achievements in making the university a Hispanic-welcoming institution, visit utsa.edu/today and stay updated on current news surrounding UTSA.

Be bold campaign raises $380 million

By Noah Willboughy Staff Writer

UTSA released its midpoint Impact Report for Be Bold: A Campaign for Our Future, a $500 million fundraising campaign, on Oct. 24. The report revealed that the campaign has raised a total of $380 million so far. This number represents 46,137 donors from 22 countries who have made 142,501 gifts and pledges.

The Be Bold campaign officially launched in 2022 and supports the university’s strive to continue its growth as a model for student success. It now boasts 91 endowed student scholarships that foster academic excellence for students, bringing UTSA’s total to 391 endowments for student support.

President Taylor Eighmy said he is “immensely proud of this extraordinary milestone and [remains] deeply grateful to our generous alumni, donors and friends, as well as our dedicated faculty and staff, who remain committed to advancing our great university.”

Among the donors is Harvey Najim, a UTSA Campaign Leadership Council member, who gave $2 million to the Najim Center, which he established to further experimental learning. The Hector and Gloria Lopez Foundation also awarded $2.4 million to benefit Latino and first-

generation students. Meanwhile, H-E-B made a $2 million donation to support workforce development programs.

Carlos and Malu Alvarez, Margie and Bill Klesse and Graham Weston have also contributed toward this campaign by giving gifts that directly support student scholarships, student success programs and enhanced research activity. The gifts made by the Alvarezes’ and the Klesses’ opened UTSA’s first two named colleges, while Weston’s gift was huge to the launch of the UTSA School of Data Science.

The Be Bold campaign also highlights the standings of UTSA Athletics in the American Athletic Conference through the Bold Champions in the American campaign. This campaign has raised $43 million through more than 7,000 total donors and has helped many studentathletes excel in their studies while maintaining their athletics.

Mia Sorensen is a volleyball player at UTSA studying neuroscience thanks to a full-ride athletic scholarship. “Because of UTSA’s donors, I can pursue my passion for volleyball and neuroscience. I wouldn’t be here without my scholarship, and I am so incredibly grateful,” Sorensen said.

To learn more about UTSA’s Be Bold campaign, visit utsa.edu/giving/be-bold/.

Kayla McCutcheon/The Paisano

Time changed for second commencement ceremony

By Kaitlyn Grace Dec. 9 at the Alamodome. The first is Staff Writer scheduled for 10 a.m. for the College Last week, UTSA Mohitha Ravikumar /T of Health, Community and he Policy, the College of changed the time Pa isa Liberal and Fine Arts the second fall no and the College of commencement ceremony Sciences. The will take place, adjusting it second will to 4 p.m. instead of 3 p.m. take place at According to UTSA 4 p.m. for graduates Today, this change was to of the Carlos Alvarez “ensure that traffic in and College of Business, around the Alamodome can be the Margie and Bill managed as efficiently as possible” Klesse College of Engineering and and to ensure that “guests and Integrated Design, the College of graduates of the earlier ceremony Education and Human Development have had sufficient time to clear the and University College. parking lots.”

For more information on UTSA’s Two commencement ceremonies fall commencement, visit utsa.edu/ will occur for UTSA graduates on commencement/.

State of the City Week of 11/7

By Noah Willoughby Staff Writer Not subscribed to local news but still want to stay up-to-date on the happenings around town? Look no further. Highlighting notable stories from external San Antonio news sources, State of the City summarizes the most captivating news headlines of the week. This week’s topics range from a shooting inside the North Star Mall to a special Spurs tribute to the history of San Antonio.

Shooting at North Star Mall On the evening of Oct. 31, a shooting took place at the North Star Mall when a security guard approached three suspected shoplifters inside a Macy’s store. Police said the security officer was shot in the leg and was taken to a hospital, where they are expected to make a full recovery. Edwardo Sanchez Jr., 52, was identified as the shooter and arrested on Nov. 3.

Over the past six months, this is the third incident involving gunfire to occur on the mall’s property.

Girl shot and killed near I-37 during an argument At 4 a.m. on Nov. 2, a girl was shot and killed by another girl during an argument in southeastern Bexar County near Interstate 37. When police arrived, they were told the shooter was still at large on the property, and they began searching for her. The girl was treated by medical personnel but was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released the ages of the persons involved. According to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, a suspect has been found and arrested.

Abbott travels to Israel to offer Texas’ support Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott announced he flew to Israel overnight on Thursday to affirm Texas’ support. Abbott flew over to learn more about how Texas could assist the country.

“Texas stands ready to offer our complete and total support to Israel,” the governor said. Abbott will meet with Israeli officials and visit with victims. This is the governor’s third trip to Israel since he was elected in 2014.

Tech day for Hispanics in STEM HACEMOS, an AT&T employee group that supports Hispanic and Latino employees and their communities, hosted a tech day — a local event where Hispanic students can envision themselves in a STEM career. HACEMOS partnered with the Junior Achievement of South Texas and the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology for this event, allowing students from Edison High School to explore inside the Boeing Center at Tech Port.

‘HemisFair ‘68’ themed Spurs Jerseys On Nov. 2, the San Antonio Spurs released their “City Edition” uniforms for the 2023–2024 season. The uniform is white with retro-style lettering, color tones and a logo that pays homage to the 55th anniversary of the 1968 World’s Fair and the Tower of Americas, which was built to coincide with the 250th anniversary of San Antonio’s founding. The Spurs will wear these jerseys in select games during the season.

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

UTSA Downtown Campus: a symbol of San Antonio’s progress

By Kaitlyn J. Grace Staff Writer

UTSA’s Downtown Campus, as well as downtown San Antonio itself, has seen a number of changes this past year, including the groundbreaking of San Pedro II, the relocation of the O. Henry residence and more.

O. Henry Residence relocated to UTSA Downtown Campus The O. Henry Residence, home of the short story writer William Sydney Porter, whose pen name was O. Henry, has been moved to the UTSA Downtown Campus.

Veronica Salazar, UTSA chief enterprise development officer and senior vice president for business affairs said, “UTSA is proud to take stewardship of the O. Henry House.”

Salazar went on to say that “The

O. Henry House provides a unique opportunity to advance historic preservation and contribute to placemaking efforts in the growing historical district developing adjacent to UTSA’s downtown presence.”

Scan to continue reading at paisano-online.com

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OPINION Rightsizing education will harm San Antonio’s youth SAISD proposes school closures and mergers due to declined enrollment

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Editorial

n Nov. 13, the SAISD Board of Trustees will vote on the recommendation of rightsizing the school district. The rightsizing would include five proposed campus consolidations and 19 suggested closures over the next two academic years.

SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino and other board members proposed this recommendation on Sept. 18 during a school board meeting. Aquino disclosed that although finances do not drive the proposal, the district must consider its financial future. The recommendation was introduced due to declining enrollment rates — originating from competing charter school enrollments — and San Antonio’s declining birth rates.

The board proposed the closures to end inequity in underpopulated schools. Aquino discussed how smaller schools with bigger minority groups receive less funding.

If no change is made, there will be a budget shortage of $300 million in five years. However, if SAISD wants to improve its enrollment rates and be a desirable school district, it needs to take the community into account and put children and education first, not an issue that resulted

Noah Willoughby/The Paisano

from negligence.

If the board votes for the closures, families will need transition specialists to assist with the changes.

SAISD has resorted to a rushed, inconvenient solution.

SAISD parents and trustees expressed discomfort and disappointment regarding the recommendation, claiming the proposal was sudden and lacked community involvement. If parents and board trustees had been made

aware of the enrollment decline sooner, the proposed solutions may have been more appropriate.

Although mergers, redesigns and closures could potentially benefit SAISD’s underpopulated schools in terms of academic and personal resources, this recommendation proposes too many school closures. If San Antonio wants to tackle the issue of underpopulated, under-resourced schools, it cannot be done in two years.

Rushing school closures will not benefit minority groups who have found community and resources in their current schools.

SAISD is pushing for this recommendation without carefully considering the feelings of those who matter most — the children and families. Change needs to take place, however, this recommendation should not have been sprung on those who were not made aware of the issue. With the upcoming community meetings SAISD will hold, families need to use the opportunity to have a voice and advocate for an end to this outrageous proposal.

Stop Tuberville’s tantrum Commentary

By Elizabeth Hope Staff Writer

Getting an abortion is a very personal decision that the government, senators or any other person should not have a say in. In February, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville began putting holds on military promotions. He has been blocking these promotions due to his stance in the pro-life movement and his disapproval of the Department of Defense Pregnancy Policy.

This policy was put into place f o r

Calli Recore/The Paisano

“service members to take up to three weeks of administrative leave for abortion or fertility treatment and reimburse them for travel expenses.

It gives service members more time — 20 weeks — before they have to notify commanders about their pregnancies. It also restricts health care providers from telling commanders.”

By disregarding these military promotions, Sen. Tuberville is not only putting holds on these promotions but on the military as well. According to the Secretary of Defense, these holds are “having a cascading effect, increasingly hindering the normal operations of this Department and undermining both our military readiness and our national security.” Not only are citizens and other senators opposed to these holds, but so is the Pentagon.

The Senate is the body that approves specific military nominations and promotions. Still, just one senator can bring this process to a halt by putting holds on these nominations and promotions. When doing this, the process slows, and each promotion has to be examined individually, taking numerous hours each.

The Department of Defense (DOD) Pregnancy Policy is important to uphold and support. This policy protects those who are pregnant. The DOD will fund abortions where the pregnant person’s life is endangered if the pregnancy was carried to term or was a result of rape or incest.

In 2016, “14,900 members (8,600 women and 6,300 men) were sexually assaulted” while serving in the military. Those numbers only reflect those who reported their incidents; 81% of victims do not report the crime.

Keeping this policy functioning and accessible will save and protect many of our service members.

Sen. Tuberville is putting a hold on the military, soldiers’ lives and America.

Cashless or classist campus Commentary

By Allana Llabres

Assistant Social Media Manager Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, many places have gone cashless. This includes businesses and college campuses, as well as UTSA. These places have started only accepting credit cards, digital payments through apps or tap-to-pay methods. In response, many large cities, including Los Angeles and New York City, have placed bans on cashless businesses, claiming that it is discriminatory to lowincome people, people with learning disabilities, seniors and people of color. Nevertheless, people still see cashless payments as modern and efficient as opposed to paper currency.

The debate over cashless businesses in the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic has raised valid concerns about accessibility and equity. While cashless transactions are undoubtedly convenient and efficient, they exclude segments of the population who may not have access to the necessary technology or financial resources. Economic disparities are a significant issue, as not everyone has access to a bank account or credit card, and low-income individuals often rely on cash for their transactions.

A 2022 survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco showed that 18% of people still make all or most purchases with cash. The more places that only accept cashless transactions, the less accessible these places are to some of the population.

For colleges, going cashless can streamline transactions on campus, making it quicker and more convenient for students and staff. This efficiency can be valuable in campus cafeterias, bookstores and parking services. Going cashless can also reduce the need for handling physical cash, which can lower the risk of errors and theft as well as the risk of disease transmission. Cashless transactions are also easier to trace, which can be useful for students to do financial tracking and budget management.

That being said, going cashless can exclude students who may not have access to digital payment methods or bank accounts. Many students, especially those from low-income families, may rely on cash for their financial transactions, and campuses going cashless could pose a barrier to their participation on campus.

For UTSA, 75% of students qualify for financial aid as they are considered to come from low-income families. Many of these students could rely on cash transactions, but with a cashless campus, they would be limited to what they could be involved with on campus.

Handling cash can also be an important life skill, especially for college students transitioning into adulthood. Using cash can help students develop better financial literacy, as they can see and manage their physical money more effectively than through digital transactions.

The decision to go cashless or not should be made carefully, taking into account the needs and preferences of the student body. A hybrid approach may be the most suitable to accommodate different preferences and needs. Having both cashless and cash payment options can prove beneficial to the campus, as they will still utilize increased efficiency while ensuring that no student is excluded from participation due to their payment preference or financial circumstances.

Mohitha Ravikumar/The Paisano

100 gecs for your Grammy consideration Commentary

By Lesley Fuentes Contributor

“Unique artists should be given the recognition they deserve to encourage a more diverse and exciting industry, one that champions innovation and celebrates the extraordinary.”

Read the Article online

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OPINION

Stop Fortnite’s fueling of climate change Commentary

By Malaki Lingg Web Editor

In 2017, Fortnite’s Battle Royale game mode was released, and since then has become one of the most popular video games of all time. Being prevalent among a diverse range of players and heavily influencing pop culture, developer Epic Games’ pet project turned into a machine, raking in $26

billion in profit since its initial release. With the absurd profits Fortnite was generating, it was only a matter of time until the game would garner internet-breaking in-game collaborations with Marvel, Dragon Ball and Basquiat, to name a few.

Fortnite’s most recent collaboration seems to come straight out of left field, as they have collaborated with Shell — a multibillion-dollar

Mariana Ramos/The KaraPaisano Lee/The Paisano

Subpar maternity care plauges the U.S. Commentary

By Carley Martin Staff Writer

As of Oct. 25, two labor and delivery units in Alabama have closed. Princeton Baptist Medical Center and Shelby Baptist Medical Center have ceased providing maternity care, and Monroe County Hospital will soon join on Nov. 15. This will be devastating for pregnant women in Monroeville County, who will now have to drive 45 minutes to the closest hospital with a labor and delivery unit.

There was a report released in August by March of Dimes detailing just how dire the situation has gotten in the

United States. An important statistic to mention is the fact that more than one-third of U.S. counties are considered maternity care deserts. Also notably, there has been a 4% drop in birthing hospitals, with nearly 6 million women living in areas with limited or no access to care.

This is absolutely unacceptable. With so many women having to drive to another county to deliver their child, there are a number of things that could go wrong. If a birth does not go as planned, the pregnant woman could end up in the emergency room without anyone trained

oil and gas company. While in previous seasons gamers would ask their squad if they would like to drop at “Tilted Towers,” now they can ask them which Shell gas station they would like to fill up at.

Fornite’s recent collaboration with Shell is known as “Shell Ultimate Roadtrips.” In the collaboration, gamers may play on the custom Shell island — using island code 0314-6322-8548 — via Fortnite’s creative mode platform. Joining the game will allow players to drive and race around scenic roads across six different types of terrain, all powered by Shell’s new “Shell V-Power® NiTRO+ Premium” gasoline.

With younger generations becoming increasingly vocal about political issues such as climate change, it has become increasingly harder for companies such as Shell to gain their support. It is no wonder that Shell would target youth to show fossil

fuels in a positive light; if their car in Fortnite drives faster on Shell’s new premium gas, imagine how fast mom’s minivan could go?

Shell’s collaboration with Epic Games and Fortnite is blatant propagandizing.

With the lack of support for new fossil fuel projects from youth, companies have to become creative with their marketing. If someone that children look up to, such as a Fortnite content creator, showcases something in a positive light, their young audiences will be swayed into supporting it much easier.

This collaboration feels like the modern-day equivalent of Joe Camel, while instead of making cigarettes seem cool to minors, it is non-renewable fuel sources.

With all the influence that Epic Games has with Fortnite, it is a shame to see them partner with corporations that care for nothing except their profits.

Join the Paisano | Journalism | Writing | Photography | | Audio/Video Production | | Graphic Design | Magazine | | Advertising | | Marketing | Podcasting | | Website Management | Social Media | General Meetings every wednesday at 6 p.m.

Our meetings are held at our off-campus building, located at 14526 roadrunner way in delivering a baby. If there is any kind of complication on the way to the hospital, the mother or child could die before they even get there, not to mention that some do not have access to reliable transportation to take them to the county to have their

baby. Something needs to be done to address the lack of maternity care throughout the United States. For a developed country, this is something our citizens should never have to experience. Pregnant women deserve access to quality healthcare.

Social media inhibits Specify free speech Commentary social development

By Shanie Spinler

Commentary

By Luke Lawhorn Sports Editor

The days of being real are over.

In 2023, social media is more popular than it has ever been for both positive and negative reasons. Though social platforms have increased, they have come to affect users detrimentally, having altered our social development in ways that had not been seen as an issue before consumers became so “locked in” to cell phones.

With the constant need for approval, social media users cannot seem to refresh their feeds fast enough to see the new trending topic to join in on. This may seem harmless, but what this turns into is people no longer being themselves; they would rather change their way of thinking to be seen as what is “in.”

Not only is social media taking a toll on what a person thinks of themselves, but it is also a detriment to their mental health.

Social media and Generation Z have simultaneously grown together in this world, with the younger users only knowing life through their phone screens. In a post from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, nearly two in

Staff Writer three adolescents are often exposed to hate-based content on social media.

Teenage girls and people in the LGBTQ+ community are also more likely to experience cyberbullying, leading to more negative mental health amongst social media users.

It would be OK if users who suffered from social media addiction handled their mental health in a positive manner. However, what has happened is that people, specifically those closely tied to social media, have taken their one-sided approach to social media and applied it to themselves.

According to a article on LinkedIn, people no longer know how to treat people due to the increase of online media and phones in general.

The author claims that “the rise of social media has amplified existing narcissistic tendencies in the workplace,” pointing out the toxicity social platforms bring and their effect on those in working environments. People are used to controlling their own lives through a screen, and its users have taken that to the next level as they have forgotten how to actually treat people.

Christine Porath from the

Recently, U.S. citizens have adopted a mindset of thinking they can say and do whatever they want without any repercussions as long as it is within the boundaries of the law. “It is a free country” is a justification often used to excuse unnecessary speech.

Although people have the right to speak their minds, there must be limits on how far they can go.

When the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, author James Madison ensured U.S. citizens would be granted their inalienable rights, one of the most significant being freedom of speech. The First Amendment says, “Congress shall make no law abridging Harvard Business Review conducted a study of over 2,000 people from more than 25 industries across the globe. Porath found that 78% of respondents experience incivility at least once a month, while 78% witness incivility at work once a month. Porath adds that 78% of people believe that bad behavior from customers toward employees is more common than it was five years ago, as well as 66% believe that bad behavior from customers to other customers

the freedom of speech.”

Despite this rather vague statement, the Supreme Court has set up a few limitations since.

Supreme Court rulings are often rather broad and do not dive into specifics.

For example, Brandenburg v. Ohio allows a state to prohibit certain speech if it is “producing imminent lawless action,” but imminent lawless action is a wide range. What exactly counts as a threat in the eyes of the law? Is it something that just “scares and intimidates” people?

While this is the dictionary definition of a threat, it raises the question: at what point is legal intervention called for?

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is more common than it was five years ago.

In a world where people are more isolated than ever, the increase in social media has caused its users to forget how to interact with others. It is hard to navigate this issue with a set answer, more so when social media continues to grow as the years go by.

If users of social media platforms do not go back to treating people with respect, our world will continue to be more divided than ever.

The Paisano Editorial Board

Laynie Clark | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com Chloe Williams | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Jessica McLaren | 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 Malaki Lingg | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com Dustin Vickers | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Kara Lee | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com Marcela Montufar Soria | Multimedia Editor William Barnes | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Jenna Taylor | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Sofia Mejia | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com Zach Geocaris | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com

Assistant Editors

Amber Serio | Assistant News Editor Luna Infante | Assistant Opinion Editor Lauren Hernandez | Assistant Arts & Life Editor Haley Aguayo | Assistant Sports Editor Kylar Royer | Assistant Photo Editor Allana Llabres | Assistant Social Media Manager Genevieve Vega | Assistant Multimedia Editor

Staff Andrew Dotson | Staff Writer Kaitlyn Grace | Staff Writer Elizabeth Hope | Staff Writer Nicholas Kingman | Staff Writer Ahavah Kirwan | Staff Writer Faith Kouadio | Staff Writer Carley Martin | Staff Writer Logan Martinez | Staff Writer Misty Olawumni | Staff Writer Rylan Renteria | Staff Writer Ray Rodriguez | Staff Writer Abraham Roman | Staff Writer Aramis Santiago | Staff Writer Marissa Silvas | Staff Writer Connor Suehs | Staff Writer Shanie Spinler | Staff Writer Armin Suljovic | Staff Writer Noah Willoughby | Staff Writer Samantha Ysaguirre | Staff Writer Storm Goodman | Graphic Artist Mohitha Ravikumar | Graphic Artist Calli Recore | Graphic Artist Caroline Puckett | Graphic Artist Kayla McCutcheon | Photographer Jonathan Porter | Photograher Eric Trevino | Photographer Stephen Saenz | Photographer Naydine De La Fuente | Copyediting Coordinator Jada Thomas | Marketing Manager

Advisory Board Diane Abdo | Advisor Steven Kellman | Advisor Jack Himelblau | Advisor Stefanie Arias | Advisor Sandy Norman | Advisor Mason Hickok | Advisor John Helton | Advisor Corey Franco | Advisor Imelda Robles | Advisor Donna Miller | Advisor

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 UTSA. New issues are published every Tuesday during the fall and spring semesters, excluding holidays and exam periods.The Paisano is distributed on the UTSA Main Campus.

Additionally, Paisano publications are distributed at a variety of off-campus locations, including Tripoint and a variety of apartment complexes near the UTSA 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 © 2023 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.

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arts & life ‘Día De Muertos’: The legacy of love and embracing the afterlife The annual celebration of San Antonio’s ‘Día De Muertos’

A message board at The Pearl.

Kelsey Zientek/The Paisano

Cultura

By Kelsey Zientek

O

Contributor

“There [are] people dancing, people embracing, people exchanging conversations, people singing. There’s just so much warmth that surrounds the occasion.”

The Pearl’s ofrenda on display.

‘Priscilla’ in the land of grace and grooming Reviews

By Faith Kouadio

Staff Writer Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for the movie “Priscilla.”

Teen media in the 2010s was saturated with the trope of a teenage girl catching the eye of the hottest male star at the time. Author Anna Todd’s novel “After” and the subsequent five feature-length movies were based on her online fanfiction about Harry Styles. It would take years to get through all the fanfiction written about Justin Bieber. But very few girls will ever be able to say they lived the dream of marrying their idol — and Priscilla Presley is one of them.

In Sofia Coppola’s latest movie “Priscilla,” she applies her signature female-oriented direction to explore the relationship of American rock and roll royalty through the perspective of Priscilla Presley, based on her autobiography “Elvis and Me.” As soon as the film was announced, it was met with pushback. The Elvis Estate condemned the movie, claiming it aimed to ruin Elvis’ legacy. Even the late Lisa Marie Presley, the couple’s daughter, accused the production of manipulating her mother and her story. Though Priscilla refutes and disagrees with all her family’s aylor/Th Jenna T o

e Paisan

claims — after all, the movie is based on her account in her book — the estate consequently denied the rights to use Elvis’s discography in the film’s soundtrack. This did not stop Coppola, who once famously juxtaposed 2000s pop-punk tracks over a montage of a teenage Marie-Antoinette trying out the latest eighteenth-century fashion with her friends.

And so, the whirlwind story of fourteen-year-old Priscilla meeting twenty-four-year-old Elvis begins at an Army base in West Germany, set to the tunes of slow and sweet doo-wop and sixties pop and rock.

Similar to the way “That’s What Makes You Beautiful” and “Baby” were the soundtracks to the 2010 teen girl fantasies about love, songs like “Crimson and Clover” by Tommy James and the Shondells and “Baby, I Love You” by the Ramones reflect the hazy romantic noise emitting from Elvis and Priscilla’s passionate and very public relationship.

The many contrasts of their fairytale romance are established when the couple first meets. Priscilla, sipping on a Coke at a diner, is invited by someone to Elvis’ house party and several times again later by Elvis himself to hang out alone. Coppola presents this through the back-and-forth between Priscilla’s life, filled with muted pastels and flowers, and Elvis’, surrounded by solid dark blues and reds in dim lighting made smoky from his entourage, who are smoking cigars and drinking whiskey. The classic charm of Elvis’ deep southern drawl is replaced with tense mystery as he remarks to Priscilla, “Why, you’re just a baby,” to which she replies with higherpitched naivety, “Thank you.”

Many other people in their lives notice this difference as well, but the charm itself works to allow Priscilla to move in with Elvis at Graceland. Suddenly, Priscilla’s pastel world is magnified by his, but she as a person becomes dwarfed by it. The costume design shows her off in the latest fashions of the time, specifically sixties baby doll dresses in newer, brighter colors that complimented Elvis’ outfits, most notably baby blue.

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Beyond the big top

Behind the scenes of Cirque du Soleil Read at paisano-online.com

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

n Nov. 2nd, San Antonio’s “Día De Muertos,” celebration took place at the Historic Pearl, located downtown. The community of San Antonio gathered for a night of remembrance and festive celebration to honor those who have passed. The Pearl displayed multiple altars for community use and encouraged attendees to write notes, bring sentimental objects and place pictures of their loved ones.

They also provided a series of activities including face painting, bread sampling, vendors, live music performances, art installations, costume competitions and children’s activities.

One attendee, Tess Sarosdy, shared that her favorite part of this celebration was, “The happiness and joy that surrounds this event and [her] culture.” She also said that she enjoys living in San Antonio because “It’s a place that comes together to celebrate all types of diversity, especially Mexican Heritage.” Celebrating this event “allowed [her] to share stories with others: relatives, children and even tourists who were visiting from Montana.”

Her daughter, Chloe, said her favorite part of this celebration was the “warmth” that filled the space. “There [are] people dancing, people embracing, people exchanging conversations, people singing. There’s just so much warmth that surrounds the occasion.”

Glenda and Mercedes, another mother and daughter duo, spent the majority of their time at the writing station, where they wrote letters to their loved ones and pinned them on the remembrance posts. When asked what her favorite part of the celebration was, Glenda shared that, “seeing the traditions passed on to younger generations” made her happy. “It is important to carry traditions on to younger ones. Families [shape] their children’s future, through the traditions of their past.” Her daughter, Mercedes, shared that she loved the “colors, costumes, vibrance and lively atmosphere” that an event like this creates. This celebration is special to her because “it shines a positive light on the [aspect of] mourning and calls for a celebration instead.”

An additional highlight of this event was the live band, Los Nahuatlatos, a group of five who bring their “Mexican-inspired Music to any movement.” The band was instrumentally talented, and their musicality contributed to the energetic sound they produced as a whole. The members of Los Nahuatlatos were incredibly upbeat and interactive with the audience and kept the crowd captivated until the celebration came to a close.

With the help and participation of the community, the celebration was a spirited success. This tradition is celebrated worldwide, but no one comes together quite like San Antonio.

When the altars glow around 210, we cherish the opportunity to keep the memories alive, as we celebrate Día De Muertos: the birthday of eternity.

Host a memorable and inexpensive Friendsgiving

Spare Change

By Chloe Williams

Managing Editor Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and while this time is often spent with family, it is also an opportunity to appreciate and recognize your friends. Join us as we share tips and tricks on how to host or help create an unforgettable and affordable Friendsgiving.

Chloe Williams/The Paisano

Invitations A fun invite can get your friends excited about the event and make sure they have all the necessary information. There are several free digital invitation options, but if you want to go the extra mile, you can use some of your allocated $12 a semester to print the invitations on campus. A couple of options for free invitations are: - Create your own or use a template on Canva.

- Send one through Evite.

- Download through Adobe Stock using your UTSA login.

Decorations One of the most exciting parts of Friendsgiving, besides spending time with friends, is the atmosphere and decorations.

The table setting and plating do not have to be an unattainable or expensive addition.

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Arts & Life Top three guitar stores in San Antonio

SA Gems

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

With guitar playing growing more and more popular each day, it helps to know what the best local guitar stores in San Antonio are. Whether you are looking for a brand new guitar, pickups, an amplifier or pedals, a local guitar store is essential to the experience that the stringed instrument brings. The store provides a personal relationship that aids and assists in finding the perfect gear to create the perfect sound. If you are a beginner looking to get into the world of guitar playing or an advanced player looking to upgrade your equipment, these are the top three local guitar stores in San Antonio.

Spacetone Music The selection of guitars and gear at Spacetone Music is truly one of the best in San Antonio. Offering a variety of used, affordable gear, the shop has nearly everything a guitarist could ask for. Being mostly a used guitar store, Spacetone often receives new equipment on a weekly basis. While they do not specialize in one particular guitar brand, Spacetone has a plethora of used Fender and Gibson products. The store also carries popular guitars from Dean, Charvel, Ibanez, the EVH collection and more. Some of the many hidden gems at Spacetone include a Dean Dave Mustaine flying-v, an EVH relic, a Charvel San Dimas and custom shop Fender Stratocasters.

Though their guitar selection is incredible, it is their gear and customer service that make Spacetone Music the number one guitar store in San Antonio. Customers should have no trouble finding the perfect effects pedal, amplifier or guitar pickups with the help of a Spacetone employee. The store even sells various guitar parts, such as necks, pickguards and bodies, for those looking to “Frankenstein” their very own guitar. Employees at the shop are incredibly nice and are willing to let you test out almost any guitar you wish to play. Guitar players looking for great and affordable guitars and gear should have no trouble finding them at Spacetone Music.

Robot Monster Guitars Robot Monster Guitars is a store that offers so much more than an average guitar shop. Their selection consists mostly of used gear, ranging from Fender Stratocasters to special ESP custom guitars. The shop also carries a wide array of effects pedals, including the Dunlop Wah Cry Baby and a plethora of Boss effects. With extremely well-priced gear, great inventory and a tremendous atmosphere, Robot Monster is one of the best guitar stores in San Antonio. There is always a chance to find a hidden gem, whether it is a rare guitar, amplifier or effects pedal.

Employees at Robot Monster are also willing to help and answer any questions that customers may have. They are constantly making an effort to help you find the right piece of gear, in addition to giving their own opinion on what sounds best. With reasonable prices, the employees are almost always willing to work out a deal or trade when negotiating equipment.

What makes the store so unique is the additional clothing and music equipment they carry. Unlike other guitar stores, Robot Monster has an entire subsection dedicated to vintage clothes, including rare band and artist tour shirts. They also carry other musical equipment, such as vintage drum machines and samplers, for those looking to produce music through analog means.

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Best museums in San Antonio Arte de San Antonio

By Nicholas Kingman Staff Writer

Being the oldest major city in Texas, Alamo City is rich with culture spanning before Spanish colonization in the 1600s. San Antonio is home to some of the most interesting museums in the state. Museums are great spaces to learn and appreciate history, culture and creativity. We are going to highlight just five out of the many great museums in the 210.

Witte Museum Since its founding in 1926, the Witte has been one of the most popular museums in San Antonio. A trademark feature of the museum is the revolving exhibits they have on display for a limited time. From ancient Egyptian artifacts to metricate particles from out of this world, every time you head to the Witte, you are bound to discover something new. Adult tickets are $15 on normal days, but every Tuesday, the museum offers free admission to all patrons from 3 to 6 p.m.

McNay Art Museum In a beautiful Spanish Colonial Revival mansion, the McNay Art Museum has been a major destination for

Cultura

tourists and locals since opening its doors in 1952. The museum houses a variety of art styles, such as European, American and Modern Contemporary, totaling 22,000 pieces on display. Much like the Witte, the McNay Museum also has a variety of limited-time exhibits.

Currently on display is Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” collection. Entry to the McNay is $15 for students and $20 for adults.

UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures Built for the 1968 Hemisfair World’s Fair, the UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures has one of the most comprehensive collections dedicated to Texas history in the state. Each nationality that settled in Texas, as well as the many Native American tribes, are represented with an assortment of artifacts. Outside, there is a mock pioneer town where you can enter and experience how Texans lived when settling in the region in the 1800s. The Institute of Texan Culture only asks for a small donation to enter the museum.

Hopscotch Located adjacent to Travis Park, Hopscotch is different compared to the other museums listed because everything on display is geared towards immersive interaction. A notable exhibit on display is the “Perspective Room,”

By Misty Olawunmi Staff Writer

On Nov. 4, the Kimchi Festival hosted by the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures took place in the Student Union. Sponsored by the Korean American Association of San Antonio, the Korean American Cultural Center of San Antonio (KACCSA) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Houston, the festival provides locals an opportunity to experience Korea right at home.

Started by the now-defunct UTSA East Asia Institute in 2011, the event aims to promote Korean culture by presenting the cultural symbols that make Korea what it is. Despite the name, the Kimchi Festival is more than making the dish it is named after; however, that does not take away from its importance.

Dustin Vickers/The Paisano

where, if you stand in a different part of the room, you can appear larger or smaller. The “Secrets” exhibit is also interesting because you can anonymously hear other people’s secrets and also voice your own. Hopscotch is $20 for students and $24 for adults.

The Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum Out of a former prohibition saloon, the Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum are two museums in one. The Buckhorn Museum is dedicated to Western United States culture from the 1800s to the early 1900s.

The Buckhorn also has a large collection of taxidermy animals from around the world. Opened in 2006, the Texas Ranger Museum holds valuable artifacts from the iconic agency’s history, and some pieces are more than a century old. Being an old saloon, the museum also features a working bar and café that serve burgers. Adult tickets for the Buckhorn are $22.99, but one ticket gives you access to both museums.

San Antonio has over 300 years of culture and history that are preserved along the streets of Alamo City. This city is waiting to be explored and experienced to the fullest.

Experience Korea at UTSA “If you look at a Korean dining table, kimchi is always there,” Deuk Hee Gong, associate professor of practice in the UTSA Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, said. “[The original creators] used kimchi as a symbol of Korean culture.”

When the UTSA East Asia Institute was discontinued, the Department of Modern Languages stepped up to host the event, realizing its importance to the wider community. Open to the public, anybody can experience a small taste of Korean culture they might not have otherwise experienced.

“This event is helpful [by offering] people [the chance] to experience not just Korean food. The culture includes many things,” Gong stated. “Many people, although they’re interested in Korean culture, don’t have many chances to visit.”

From a gimbap cooking demonstration by professional chefs to hanbok origami making, the various booths

Lauro Martinez/The Paisano

Kayla McCutcheon/The Paisano

provided insight into activities, music and foods regularly enjoyed by Koreans. One notable example is Tuho, a traditional Korean game where players take turns throwing arrows into a pot. As easy as it may sound, the game is quite difficult and requires a lot of precision.

This trend existed for many booth games like Jegi Chagi, Korean hacky sack, and Paengi Chigi, a game involving a spinning top.

In addition to the booths, a ceremony was also held that featured remarks from Consul General Young Ho Jung, a taekwondo demonstration from the National School of Martial Arts and a traditional flower crown dance and Korean drum dance from the KACCSA Kids and Adult dance teams. The UTSA Korean Culture Club performed a rendition of HWAA by (G)I-DLE, which features traditional Asian instruments in its arrangement, while Sharon Baik and Eric Kim sang “Breathe” by Lee Hi, a song written and in part composed by the late Jonghyun.

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sports UTSA rushing attack buries down North Texas Roadrunners earn their first win in Denton since 2013

Sophomore running back Kevorian Barnes dives into the Mean Green end zone for a 3-yard touchdown on Saturday.

By Nicholas Kingman Staff Writer

D

ENTON - UTSA football remains undefeated in conference play after beating American Athletic Conference opponent North Texas Mean Green 37-29 Saturday afternoon at DATCU Stadium.

With the win, the Roadrunners (63, 5-0 AAC) became bowl-eligible for a fourth consecutive season.

“It was as good as we could play in the first half; I don’t think we punted,” UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor said. “It was a really remarkable job.”

UTSA opened the game with a Brandon Brown sack and a forced fumble. Running back Kevorian Barnes scored the first touchdown of the day after his 17-yard rush set up a 3-yard touchdown run, giving the ‘Runners a 7-0 lead.

North Texas (3-6, 2-3) receiver Jordan Smart fumbled and was

recovered at the 5-yard line by defensive lineman Trumane Bell II. A 29-yard rush by running back Rocko Griffin set up a Chase Allen field goal, making the score 10-0.

At the start of the second quarter, North Texas put their first points on the board with a 25-yard field goal.

On the next drive, Barnes had a 44-yard rush to set up an 11yard touchdown run by running back Robert Henry, bringing the Roadrunners’ lead to 17-3. North Texas responded with a 32-yard rushing touchdown.

Two 20-yard-plus receptions by tight end Oscar Cardens and receiver Joshua Cephus gave way for a 7-yard Griffin touchdown.

In the waning seconds of the second quarter, quarterback Frank Harris ran up the left side for a 30yard gain, setting up another Allen field goal and extending the lead to 27-13 going into the half.

In the second half, linebacker Trey Moore intercepted a North Texas pass at the 25-yard line, allowing a

third Allen field goal. North Texas rallied in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns and converting both 2-point tries.

A 78-yard interception return

by Donyai Taylor gave Barnes his second touchdown.

Barnes led the rushing offense with 129 yards on 16 carries and two touchdowns. All three running backs found the end zone today, scoring all four Roadrunner touchdowns.

The Roadrunner defense ended the day with three sacks, two interceptions and one forced fumble.

“You want to put yourself in the best position in November.

Coach Traylor preaches to us [that] November [and] December [are] when you want to play your best ball,” Taylor said.

UTSA will return home to play the Rice Owls at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the Alamodome.

Follow The Paisano Sports on X @paisano_sports for live game coverage.

Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics

Photo courtesy of UTSA Athletics

Quarterback Frank Harris surveys the field for an open receiver.

Texas Rangers defeat Arizona Diamondbacks to win World Series

By Connor Suehs

Men’s basketball scores 125 points against McMurry University

Staff Writer

Christian Tucker finishes top scorer of the evening with 16 points

Jonathan Porter/The Paisano

By Logan Martinez Staff Writer

In its second exhibition game of the season, UTSA men’s basketball defeated McMurry University 12584 Monday night in the Convocation Center.

The team’s scoring ability continued to shine, as they scored 125 points on 55% shooting against the War Hawks’ defense.

“We’re all unselfish; I’m really proud of how we score the ball,” point guard Christian Tucker said of his team’s scoring ability.

Tucker led the bulk of the scoring with 16 points off the bench. Eight different Roadrunners reached double-digit figures by the end of the night, and the bulk of the team’s scoring came from within the paint.

With a total of 26 second-chance points and 72 paint points, UTSA proved to be a force on the inside

against the War Hawks.

The team’s bench also contributed heavily to the scoring output, as all bench players contributed 69 points to the effort. Key players such as Tucker, Nazar Mahmoud and Chandler Cuthrell all provided efficient scoring and rebounding off the bench for the Roadrunners.

Starting guard Adante’ Holliman had nothing but praise when asked about the team’s bench output on the night.

“We got a lot of good pieces, a lot of guys that can score the basketball,” Holliman said.

The starting guard also left his mark on the game, scoring 14 points along with four key assists. Tasked with initiating the offense, Holliman found himself bringing the ball up against the McMurry full-court press for the majority of the game.

“It wasn’t super hard; I’ve seen pressure all my life, so it wasn’t too much,” Holliman said of the pressure

faced by the War Hawks defense.

While Holliman only had two turnovers for the night, the Roadrunners did commit 20 turnovers against McMurry’s press defense.

Despite the turnovers, the team still managed to hold onto their lead for the majority of the game, with their biggest lead being 48 points in the second half.

With their blowout win against McMurry University, UTSA’s preseason schedule is officially over.

The Roadrunners will now look to start the season against Western Illinois.

“I’m super excited to play with my teammates; I can’t wait to get that first real game under our belt,” Holliman said about the upcoming game.

UTSA will play Western Illinois in their first official game of the season at 7 p.m. Monday in the Convocation Center.

After losing back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011, many fans of the Texas Rangers never thought they would see their team lift the trophy. Texas has gained a reputation for “choking” in the postseason, which has led many fans to give up hope on their team for some time. That all changed in the 2023 season, as the Texas Rangers lifted their first World Series trophy, defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks three games to one.

In games one and two, it looked like the series would be a tight, wire-to-wire affair.

Game one was a nailbiter and saw the Rangers trail 5-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Adolis Garcia hit a walk-off in the bottom of the 11th to give Texas the early series lead. Arizona would come out firing on all cylinders in game two, rocking the Rangers bullpen win by a comfortable score of 9-1.

The Rangers took that game personally and completely controlled the series. Game three saw Corey Seager hit another two-run home run, and game four saw Seager, Marcus Semien and Jonah Heim hit long balls while pitcher Andrew Heaney had a solid outing. With a three-to-one series lead, Texas was one game away from being crowned world champions.

In game five, Texas turned to undoubtedly their best pitcher of the postseason, Nathan

Eovaldi. The 2023 All-Star went six innings and gave up no runs, while the Rangers were finally able to get a run off of D-backs pitcher Zac Gallen via a Mitch Garver RBI single.

The ninth inning would see Texas tack on four runs, which included a massive error by Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas and a two-run homer from Semien. Josh Sborz came in to close out the game, and the Rangers became World Series champions.

Eovaldi, the best pitcher for Texas this entire playoff run, became the fourth player in history with five wins in a single postseason. The Texas native had been a standout for the Ranger’s pitching staff and carried the load despite numerous injuries to Jacob Degrom and Max Scherzer.

Speaking of Scherzer, “Mad Max” has now won his second World Series title after previously winning one with the Washington Nationals in 2019.

The future Hall of Famer was acquired just before the trade deadline from the New York Mets and proved to be a vital pickup as the season progressed, despite a few injuries.

The rest was history, and it shows that despite all the adversity the team had faced, they got it done when it mattered most. Now, they will be immortalized as world baseball champions in 2023, giving the Dallas-Fort Worth area the glory they have so desperately wanted.

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N o v e mb e r 7 - N o v e mb e r 1 4 , 2 0 2 3

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