THE PAISANO
fear, frustration: rage against ice in sa
By Marisela Cruz News Editor
San Antonio’s city council members took to the municipal building last Thursday to address the San Antonio Police Department’s legal obligations to cooperate with federal agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The meeting drew hundreds of protesters outside the municipal building with signs illustrating messages warding off ICE and demanding that city offcials be transparent. A long line of citizens waiting to watch the meeting or speak in front of the city council formed outside the building.
Approximately 350 people were able to occupy the municipal building, with 179 people signing up to speak during the public comment session.
The meeting began a little after 1 p.m. with a formal presentation titled “San Antonio Police Department Cooperation with Federal Agencies.” This was presented by Deputy City Manager Maria Villagomez, City Attorney Andy Segovia and Chief of Police William McManus.
Villagomez frst demonstrated the legal obligations that the city must obey, including Senate Bill 4, which San Antonio was sued for violating in November of 2018 by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Senate Bill 4 2017, the Anti-Sanctuary Cities Bill, requires the city and SAPD to cooperate with federal agencies in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
McManus then took the stand to reassure SAPD’s duties.
“I want to be very clear that SAPD does not enforce immigration laws. We simply do not do that because it is illegal for us to enforce immigration laws. Our role is public safety alone, not immigration enforcement,” McManus stated. It was emphasized by McManus that SAPD is legally obligated to comply with ICE, which was addressed with the Nov. 16, 2025, San Pedro incident. The Federal Bureau of Investigation-led operation had a narcotics search warrant, while the SAPD’s involvement included scene security and investigative units. This particular incident remains ongoing.
When the SAPD complies with federal task high-intensity drug traffcking areas, they are awarded a grant of up to $2 million. Under SB4, SAPD is required to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security in immigration-related incidents and events occurring within the SAPD’s jurisdiction.
Villagomez took over the stand again to further go over the statistics of FY25 dispatched calls received by the police department. SAPD received 2.1 million 911 calls in 2025, with 66 to reference immigration. Approximately 1.8 million calls were dispatched by SAPD, and 258 of those were reported to include the word “immigration.”
SAPD is required by law to comply with
immigration detainers, according to what was presented by Villagomez. In 2025, the SAPD arrested 51,064 individuals, and of those arrested, ICE issued 111 to be detained.
After Villagomez concluded her overview, McManus approached the stand to present another statement for SAPD.
“We will continue to protect San Antonio with compassion, integrity, fairness and respect,” McManus said. “And again, to our citizens out there, we are sensitive to your concerns, and we are very aware of the fear out there, and we certainly take that into account when we are dealing with our community.”
Throughout the presentation, demonstrators outside the municipal building banged on drums and those inside stomped their feet. Tension surrounding the meeting was addressed during the city council members’ allotted time to ask questions regarding the presentation. District 6 Council Member Ric Galvan directed a question to McManus, but because of the disruptive noise inside and outside of the building, McManus was unable to answer.
The frst recess was called when Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody took to the stand after the council members as the frst person to speak during the public comment session. At 2:18 p.m., Jones called the recess when an uproar of demonstrators started to boo and yell in distress, saying, “This is the public’s time to speak.”
Before Moody spoke again to fnish his allotted time after the recess, Jones addressed the attendees within the building.
“Before you start your comments again, let me just reiterate to our neighbors. We are here to listen. We also want to make sure every speaker, regardless of their viewpoint on the spectrum, is treated with respect and that we actually hear them,” Jones explained. “So we will recess as often as we need to, to make sure that everybody is heard.”
After various citizens voiced their concerns to those in attendance, Jhorielle Perez, a current UT San Antonio student took to the podium.
“As a young Chicana Filipino woman, I cannot begin to express the horror that I feel when I read these headlines every single morning my black and brown sisters and brothers, my immigrant siblings and the allies that believe in our right to exist in peace, now live in fear,” Perez stated.
After stepping down from the podium, she had the following to say to The Paisano during an interview.
“We need more young people here, the future of our nation. We need them to show up, to exercise their right to their First Amendment and to register to vote and to do as much as they can to prevent this from happening,” Perez emphasized.
The public comment session lasted over seven hours; the city council meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m. Jones’ next town hall meeting was rescheduled to Feb. 2 at 6 p.m., located at Walker Ranch Senior Center, 835 West Rhapsody Dr.
Awaiting his turn to approach the podium to speak infront of city council members, Alberto Peña protests during Thursday’s meeting.
Standing up from her seat, Cheryl Gonzales shouts across the municipal building during Bexar County Commissioner Grant Moody’s allotted time to speak to the council. Carlos Craig/The Paisano
Student loan payback pause, new plan
By Selasie Gifa-Johnson Staff Writer
President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that involuntary student loan repayments will be delayed until July after restarting them in May 2025. This follows the extended suspension of collections after the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. A notable change from their original plan to restart involuntary collections at the beginning of this year.
On Jan. 16, the Trump administration informed the public through a White House press release that there would be a temporary delay in restarting student loan collections. The collections would be performed through methods such as Administrative Wage Garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program for borrowers in default. Both methods allow the government to intercept paychecks and social security payments of individuals to be applied to their defaulted loan balances.
Involuntary collections were scheduled to begin again in January after being paused during March 2020 as part of the Department of Education’s COVID-19 emergency relief measures. The press release explained that this delay would beneft borrowers by providing additional time to explore the new repayment options offered under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, providing additional relief for the millions of student loan borrowers currently in default.
The bill notably offers fewer repayment options to borrowers, as the statement explains, “The Act
NEWS
UT System Board of Regents approves Eighmy’s salary increase
By Johnpaul Buwule Staff Writer
UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy received a salary increase of 37%, amounting to $1,264,875. The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted to give Eighmy the highest salary bonus of the UT System’s academic institutional presidents, placing Eighmy among the highest paid presidents in the UT System and in the San Antonio area as well.
Eighmy was voted to become president of UT San Antonio in 2017, and in 2020, the board assigned him to oversee the successful merger between UT San Antonio and UT Health Science Center at San Antonio.
On Nov. 20 of 2025, the board approved the salary increase after UT System Chancellor John M. Zerwas recommended the 37% bonus. Eighmy’s newly derived $1.2 million salary surpasses Zerwas’s $975,000 salary, allowing him to join University of Texas at Austin President James E. Davis in earning more than the members of the board of regents. As for the rest of the board members, Eighmy’s new salary outpaces them with an estimated difference between $400,000 to over $1 million in salary. The salary increase occurs after Eighmy was named president of UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio following last year’s merger on Aug. 20.
In a letter to Eighmy, Zerwas congratulated him on his raise from $735,316 to $1.2 million. Zerwas described it as a “well deserved 37% increase.”
The celebratory letter Zerwas wrote notes that Eighmy will still be eligible for annual salary increases at the discretion of the chancellor and board. Eighmy’s position as president of UT San Antonio is served without any fxed
The bill eliminates the Saving on Valuable Education program, which, despite offering some of the shortest loan repayment and forgiveness time frames in the country’s history, as described within the press release by the Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent as having “misled borrowers into believing their student loans would not need to be repaid.”
His statement is in reference to the loan forgiveness aspect of the program, which previously allowed the remainder of the loan to be forgiven after 20-25 years of valid payments. In comparison, the new IDR plan offers loan forgiveness after 30 years of payments or 360 qualifying payments.
In place of the SAVE program and the other alternatives that were previously available, the OBBB provides a new standard repayment plan, which requires fxed payments for between 1025 years. The new IDR option offered under the OBBBA is the repayment assistance plan, in which the monthly payment amount is determined as a percentage of an individual’s adjusted gross income instead of a percentage of their discretionary income, as it was calculated before the implementation of the OBBBA.
Further changes between the old IDR plan and the new one is if the required monthly payment is less than the interest payment for the month, the remaining interest amount is waived by the government. Additionally, $50 of the monthly payment is applied to the principal loan amount, preventing excessive accumulation of interest over time.
The press statement concluded with Kent elaborating on how the new system will beneft both borrowers and the government loan institution stating, “the Trump Administration is committed to helping student and parent borrowers resume regular, on-time repayment, with more clear and affordable options, which will support a stronger fnancial future for borrowers and enhance the longterm health of the federal student loan portfolio.”
State of the City Week of 01/27
By Neha Nathwani 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 harsh winter weather conditions, a fatal traffc crash and a criminal case involving a local educator.
by the board of regents.
Furthermore, Eighmy’s salary for 2026 places him at a higher yearly rate than any UT System academic institutional presidents, with the exception of Davis, as outlined in the Aug. 21, 2025, meeting for the board of regents. However, the Legislative Budget Board’s 2026 Administrative Accountability Report fnds that both university presidents’ earnings are roughly similar. The report fnds that Eighmy will earn $1.26 million and Davis will make $1.25 million, a $50 million difference from what the UT System’s August meeting displayed for Davis. Eighmy’s salary places him among the top earners to be president of a public or private university in Texas, with the salary raise outsizing all of his UT System presidential counterparts.
In addition to the salary increase, Zerwas explains plans to transition Eighmy from a tenured president to a tenured professor in the College of Engineering at UT San Antonio, awarding him a yearly $100,000 research grant for two years. For Eigmy’s pay as a tenured professor, Zerwas wrote, the president will earn a salary “equal [to] the average academic rate of the three then-most highly compensated, full-time, tenured faculty members.”
In addition to leading the merger with UT Health San Antonio, Eighmy has facilitated the downtown expansion and pushed for the Be Bold Campaign — an initiative to expand research, scholarship and faculty base, raising over $500 million. Under Eighmy’s leadership, UT San Antonio has bolstered its research base, spending $168 million on research, and has increased its endowment to $315 million in 2024 alone, a $28 million increase from 2023.
Since his time as president of UT San Antonio, Eighmy went from overseeing 36,000 students and 1,556 faculty in 2017 to over 42,000 students and 17,000 faculty members in 2024.
New law promotes assisted housing accessibility for veterans
By Cruz Delgado Managing Editor
President Donald Trump signed U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s Disabled Veteran Housing Support Act into law on Jan. 20. The act eliminates veteran disability-related income from being included in total income when veterans apply for housing assistance through the Community Development Block Grant.
The act aims to further housing access in the hopes of preventing veteran homelessness. De La Cruz believes that the law will “ensure federally-funded programs best serve our veterans and do not punish them for benefts they have earned.”
Based on a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, veterans comprised 7% of the homeless population on a given night in the U.S. during 2023. For this count, homelessness was defned as someone living in a shelter, on the street or any other place unft for human living.
Based on Close to Home San Antonio and Bexar County’s 2025 Point in Time count, veterans made up 6.5% of the city’s homeless population. 218 veterans were reported to
recurring infuences for veterans being unhoused include mental health issues, such as post traumatic stress disorder, intimate partner violence and military sexual trauma.
The National Defense Authorization Act, signed by Trump in December, acknowledges the mental health and fnancial issues faced by veterans and implements strategies to support military communities.
The act requires research into rental costs to ensure housing assistance keeps up with infation. It will also provide servicemembers with a 3.8% pay increase and require a Department of Defense assessment of telehealth availability, staffng, wait times and an improvement plan for mental health services.
Additionally, spouses of military personnel would receive support in the form of a pilot program to improve transitions for military families, and retiring servicemembers would be eligible to “move into careers in the defense industrial base and medical profession.”
Veterans in San Antonio experiencing homelessness currently have access to a variety of housing services.
The HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing offers rental assistance along with case management and clinical services. Rental assistance is determined by Housing Choice Voucher eligibility. To check for qualifcation, contact
An arctic cold front moved through South Texas late Friday night. Though the freezing rains have stopped, surface ice remains.City offcials activated the Emergency Operations Center, coordinating with the San Antonio Water System, CPS Energy and transportation agencies, such as the VIA Link, in preparation efforts. According to KSAT, record-breaking low temperatures can happen on Monday and Tuesday, with warmer weather in the low 60s coming back by the end of next week.
One person was killed and three others were critically injured in a twovehicle crash early Jan. 19. Police have reported that a minivan crashed into the rear of an 18-wheeler transporting jet fuel. The driver of the minivan, a 58-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene. Three passengers with critical injuries were transported to local hospitals. The victim’s identity has not yet been released pending confrmation by the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Offce.
616-9915 or visit them at the Bluff Creek Building, located at Veterans’ Housing Stability Program provides assistance through three distinct programs, focusing on prevention, rehousing and wrap-around services. To check eligibility, visit the SAMMinistry
Poe Middle School teacher arrested
A teacher at Edgar Allan Poe STEM Dual Language Middle School was arrested on Friday after exposing himself to a 9-year-old girl in a northwest Bexar County neighborhood, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Offce. Sheriff Javier Salazar identifed the suspect as Andrew Smierciak, 42 years old, who faced a charge of indecency with a child, a third-degree felony. Deputies are working to determine whether additional victims may be involved.
Fatal crash near San Antonio International Airport
Arctic cold front brings freezing rain and concerns
Sarah Campos/The Paisano
OPINION
President Eighmy’s full plan, an empty promise
University under delivers on its proposal to expand infustructure
Editorial
Sprawling academic buildings, intertwined with open pathways, trees and cozy recreational spaces, supplemented by ample housing, parking and a walkable 24-acre corridor, any student would fnd it diffcult to ask for more. This vision is what UT San Antonio’s 2019 Master Plan offers. However, seven years later, this award-winning proposal leaves students and faculty on the 1604 campus wondering when, and if, it will come to life.
Walking around the Sombrilla, it is easy to see why expansion is necessary. In 2019, Main Campus was experiencing an estimated building space shortfall of 1.3 million square feet, with anticipated enrollment increasing that fgure to 3.3 million.
To account for relentless growth, UT San Antonio spent two years interviewing staff, surveying students, meeting with focus groups and hosting town halls. What they came up with was the 2019 Master Plan. The 124-page project was made to accommodate an estimated student population of 45,000. It meticulously details how the university will add 5.3 million square feet in space across its four campuses.
The proposal itself is phenomenal, especially for the Main Campus, outlining a potential development strategy
in phases. It replaces the never-ending Brackenridge lots and unused space with housing, academic, research and recreational space, while still adding needed parking.
Walking corridors like the Paseo are expanded, and a 24-acre park called the “Paseo Verde” would stretch north to south, featuring lawns, plazas and nearby food services. It is the type of campus that would enshrine UT San Antonio’s ambition for greatness, giving students a
Talarico sets the record
Point v Counterpoint
By Richard Lujan Contributor
On Saturday afternoon, Texas State Rep. James Talarico and his opponent, U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, took the stage for the U.S. Senate Primary Debate. In a time where Texans are fghting uncertainty daily, a progressive senator who is a proven fghter against the current Grand Old Party is necessary, someone who will fip the Senate seat and fght “tooth and nail” for Texans on the national level.
Before joining the state legislature, Talarico began his career as a public school teacher in the underserved Westside of San Antonio. Once elected into the state legislature, he quickly rose to fame for his distinct style of debate against GOP leaders in the Texas House and for passing a historic Texas healthcare reform — an insulin copay cap at $25.
Throughout the debate, Talarico proved he is unafraid to break the norms of the Democratic Party.
“Billionaires want us looking left and right at each other so we are not looking up at them,” Talarico said.
Talarico has a strong record of combating billionaire policy, leading the fght against Gov. Greg Abbott’s Texas Senate Bill 2, which uses state funds for private school vouchers. Talarico made his stance on billionaire tax breaks clear: he will fght to ensure that billionaires pay their fair share.
Talarico proposed plans to hold the current administration accountable for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s abuses, remarking, “We have to haul these masked men before Congress so the world can see their faces.”
Talarico also suggested his plan to reform U.S. immigration policies holistically.
“We can welcome immigrants who want to live the American dream,” Talarico commented. “We can build a
pathway to citizenship for those neighbors who have been here making us richer and stronger.”
If anyone is going to lead immigration reform, it is going to be the U.S. senator who understands the importance migration has played in the state’s history.
Talarico fts that bill.
Regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Talarico also put his foot down.
“I have said that if I am in the United States Senate, I will use every bit of this country’s fnancial and diplomatic leverage to end the death and destruction in Gaza,” Talarico said.
The issue has become critical to elections, as many American citizens are turning away from the Israeli state.
Talarico defned the debate best himself, saying, “I don’t think you should believe anything a politician says, I think you should look at what a politician has done.”
This quote rings true for his opponent Crockett, who, on Jan. 14, 2025, voted for a resolution that appropriated $3.3 billion in security assistance to Israel.
By Sam Recher Contributor
With districts, candidates and propositions changing every year, it is important to know “What’s on the ballot” in a given election cycle. This section will review notable races and issues leading up to the spring primary on March 3. This edition covers House of Representatives races in the San Antonio area.
on Main Campus
campus that is more than where they attend class. However, a plan is only as good as its ability to be executed. As the Downtown Campus grows and the UT Health merger provides new opportunities, it is evident that Main Campus lags behind. The master plan makes it clear that Main Campus desperately needs more academic space, but none has been added since its creation.
Improvements such as Guadalupe Hall and the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence indicate the university is still in its “pre-phase,” the least substantial part of the development. More concerning, both of these projects were already in development, meaning no visible headway has been made towards the master plan in seven years.
UT San Antonio’s evolution under President Taylor Eighmy has been astounding, but in his pursuit of greatness, the university’s core has been forgotten. A glow up does not happen in a day, but it has to start somewhere. Enrollment has already soared past 38,000 students, and upon reaching 45,000, the opportunity to get ahead will already be left behind.
If Eighmy truly wants to “realize UTSA as a university of the future situated in the city of the future,” his master plan would not be a distant land beyond the horizon; he would be sailing towards it.
Crockett delivers a plan
Point v Counterpoint
By Kassandra Jaime Contributor
A respectful response has led Texas nowhere, and a ferce energy to counter her Republican colleagues in Congress is what drives Democrat Jasmine Crockett through her campaign for the Texas Senate seat. On Jan. 24, Crockett faced her opponent — Texas House Representative James Talarico — in a live debate. Vowing to do “the edgy thing,” Crockett proved to be what Texas needs in a time of inaccessible healthcare, slanted economic schemes and unlawful violations of Americans’ human rights.
Even with Texans’ mixed opinions on her character, Crockett called attention to her background as a public defender, state representative and congresswoman.
“I have engaged in these fghts,” Crockett stated, acknowledging her commitment to Texans’ needs.
With Texas currently being a red state, Texans will turn to Crockett for a better chance at accessing healthcare. As a sponsor of the Medicare for All Act, Crockett set healthcare as one of her primary goals. With over 3.9 million uninsured Texans, including 909,591 children, Crockett used the debate to assure she would increase the health budget and
implement a progressive approach to healthcare for Texans; Crockett fghts for the people who can not take another hit, securing an effective 60-second response on the topic.
Crockett then addressed her stance on America’s economic state.
“I absolutely think that billionaires need to pay their fair share in taxes,” suggested Crockett, promising a more progressive form of taxation as many reel from historic economic inequality. Crockett proved to carry the best interests of Texans through delivering the cries of Texan employees whose wages stagnate while costs rise. To provide for Texans, Crockett proposed tariff rollback policies, especially for farmers who now pay the price of Trump’s tariffs. After 32 years of the Texas economy being weaponized by Republicans, now is the time for a fearless candidate to the Texas Senate.
the leading Democrat for this district. She is critical of ICE, pro-abortion and plans to combat gerrymandering. Although she is the right pick, she is fghting an uphill battle.
Texas’ congressional races are particularly notable right now thanks to the off-tempo redistricting that took place in August last year. San Antonio is down a congressional seat after District 28 was completely mapped out of the area; and, frankly, the sudden gerrymandering left these races looking to have no possible outcome except for a near full Republican takeover.
The one, and only likely Democratic district is District 20, which now covers most of central San Antonio, whereas it used to be a mere Westside district. This has
District 23 is also relatively untouched. The district has been Republican since 2015, and incumbent Tony Gonzales is running for his fourth term. It seems almost certain, though, that Republicans have their eyes on someone else this primary: YouTuber Branden Herrera. This gun-focused YouTuber had Rep. Gonzales on the ropes back in 2024 — only losing by a couple hundred votes — and he has only gotten more popular. Should he win, he would insist on reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, fght any laws that oppose concealed carrying and, of course, oppose abortion. Lastly, District 35, once a thin stretch up to Austin,
In response to the brutal deaths and detainment of immigrants and U.S. citizens, Crockett proposed solutions to address U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Crockett suggested impeaching Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, whose actions look like “modern-day slave patrols.” Furthermore, Crockett signaled a growing interest in defunding ICE and proposed the Track ICE act, prohibiting hidden tracking data and disclosure of restraints used on detainees. Crockett’s record not only demonstrates her concern for unconstitutional overuse of power, but also proves she has a wide range of initiatives in store.
The 2026 U.S. Senate debate allowed Crockett to vocalize what she is truly made of.
“We all deserve representation that respects us, knows us and is going to advocate for us,” Crockett said.
Texans deserve someone who is not threatened by corruption, but who confronts threats to democracy. Texans deserve Jasmine Crockett.
Texas, is now a large Eastern rural block. It takes up the entirety of Guadalupe, Karnes and Wilson counties, the latter two being predominantly rural and all three being extremely Republican. The leading Republican candidate here seems to be Jay Furman, who made the primaries in the 2024 race for District 28. He is pro-ICE, insists upon the Department of Government Effciency and is anti-abortion. The leading Democratic candidate is John Lira, whose main focuses are lowering the cost of living, ensuring that ICE acts within the bounds of the Constitution and helping veterans and families. Lira seems like a fne pick, but with the new counties he needs to win, things do not look great.
Nikki Pattridge/The Paisano
Nikki Pattridge/The Paisano
Noor-E-Saher Ahmed/The Paisano
Data centers only bringing harm
Commentary By Aidan Gonzalez Contributor
In communities like San Antonio, the proliferation of sprawling data centers, exemplifed by projects such as Stream Data Centers’ San Antonio III campus, might look like economic progress on the surface.
However, deeper research shows a host of environmental, infrastructural and social downsides that far outweigh their benefts.
To start, data centers are resourceintensive, industrial facilities. The servers inside these buildings generate immense heat, which requires massive amounts of electricity and water for cooling and operation. City leaders have explicitly voiced concerns about how this surge in facilities will strain local utilities. District
6 Councilmember Ric Galvan noted that San Antonio’s water and energy infrastructure may not be prepared for such rapid expansion without consequences for residents.
This is not a hypothetical, as data centers already consume billions of gallons of water annually across Texas. Projections suggest usage could skyrocket from 49 billion gallons in 2025 to 399 billion gallons by 2030. In a state where drought is common and water resources are fnite, diverting water toward cooling computer servers rather than supporting households, agriculture and local ecosystems is reckless and unsustainable.
Electricity consumption adds another layer of concern. These facilities require continuous, high-capacity power, and San Antonio’s grid is not immune to the stress.
The city has already experienced outages from weather events and infrastructure strain, and adding enormous energy demands for data centers increases the likelihood of future reliability problems.
Beyond utilities, data centers often bring minimal long-term employment opportunities. Unlike traditional industrial developments that might anchor an area with stable jobs and local economic activity, data centers are largely automated and require few full-time workers once construction is complete. Councilmember Galvan and other offcials have pointed out that these projects can generate temporary
Trump’s first year in the pig pen
Commentary
By Emma Cavanaugh Staff Writer
Gluttony for supreme power has been President Donald Trump’s main theme in his frst year back. Jan. 20 marked the anniversary of Trump’s second term in offce. Unleashing power to wreck America, Trump forcibly displayed his disgusting “piggy” tendencies during his frst year. Trump’s power-hungry behavior led him to sign 230 executive orders thus far, surpassing the 220 he signed during his frst term. Trump reeks of greed. Trump steamrolled into the White House, signing 26 executive orders on Inauguration Day, some addressing foreign relations, cutting diversity, equity and inclusion programs and education. One established the Department of Government Effciency, where Trump made the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, decide how to cut funding for everyday Americans.
DOGE defunded the National Institutes of Health, causing irreparable damage to American health advancements. It destroyed the Internal Revenue Service tax enforcement and cut international aid. DOGE initiated mass layoffs across the country, with an estimated one in eight federal workers leaving their jobs. DOGE promised to save $1 trillion, yet federal spending did not go down; it increased.
Trump’s hoggish behavior came at the expense of Americans. Trump increased tariffs on U.S. imports from all global
partners. These tariffs created an average tax increase of $1,000 in 2025 and $1,300 in 2026 per household. This move also harms small businesses with impossibly high bills. Moreover, the Big, Beautiful Bill was a giant disaster; the Congressional Budget Offce states it will add $3.4 trillion to the defcit and result in more than 15 million people without health insurance after 10 years.
Trump’s appetite for tearing up America is insatiable.
Close cahoots with Israel have been apparent, with continuous U.S. military support. After Israel’s bombing of Iran, Trump followed suit, striking three Iranian nuclear facilities, reportedly to prevent Iran from building nuclear weapons.
Trump helped accomplish a ceasefre in Gaza, which is currently holding on by a thread, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressures against the deal.
Trump and Netanyahu, two pigs in a pen, those guys are.
Trump’s gluttony carries on, bombing boats off the coast of Venezuela, with no clear evidence of drug traffcking or legal justifcation. His actions set a terrifying precedent, leaving Americans fearful that the president can just kill as they please. To sweeten the plate, Trump abducted the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump has even turned on the closest of American allies by slapping on harsh tariffs and threatening to invade them.
Trump’s presidency is an extreme threat to Americans, with the National Guard occupying cities and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on patrol. A mass deportation agenda that supposedly deports violent criminals is instead attacking citizens and children. He aims to instill fear into America, not protect it. Clearly, Trump has been fooding the zone on the domestic and foreign policy front. It is impossible to keep up; that is on purpose. It is important to remember that Trump is only a wannabe dictator; citizens can still fght back against the gluttonous Mr. Trump.
construction jobs but contribute little to lasting workforce growth.
The environmental footprint also extends to noise, land use and pollution issues. Industrial cooling systems can produce constant noise that disrupt nearby neighborhoods. Further, the construction and operation of data centers contribute to broader air quality and greenhouse gas challenges, particularly when powered by fossil-fuel-dependent grids. Meanwhile, large facilities can replace natural landscapes or agricultural land with impervious surfaces, worsening local stormwater runoff and reducing green space.
Crucially, many residents feel left out of the conversation about this explosive growth. What initially seemed like isolated facilities has become a cluster of dozens of data centers concentrated on the west side, raising questions of equity, transparency and community input. Without public engagement and enforceable commitments from developers, these projects risk benefting corporate interests while leaving local neighborhoods to shoulder the costs.
The current model of unchecked data center expansion in San Antonio is not delivering a clear public good. Instead, it strains water and energy resources, contributes little to local employment and imposes environmental and quality-of-life costs on residents.
Keep the cameras rolling for commencement
Commentary
By Jasmine Williams Editor-in-Chief
Here is a test that any college-educated student should be able to pass with ease. Spot the lie in the following passage from UT San Antonio’s commencement website:
“At UT San Antonio, Commencement is more than a ceremony. It’s a celebration—a defning moment—of the resiliency and dedication of our trailblazing Roadrunners as they take the next step toward their bold futures by earning their degree.”
For those who cannot spot the falsehood, it is the word “celebration.”
If a student dare attempt a semblance of a celebratory gesture while crossing the commencement stage, cameras get cut, and the UT San Antonio commencement logo appears on the video feed. After working tirelessly for years on end, university students ought to be able to express themselves with more than a smile at their commencement ceremony.
Multiple UT San Antonio students who participated in the commencement ceremony last fall went viral on social media for their celebrations. They received upwards of 10 million views and 2 million likes by performing fraternity strolls, opening a pack of Pokémon cards and reenacting an artifcial intelligencegenerated baby holding its laugh and a stock photo of a man pointing at himself while on stage. Considering everything they went through to get their degrees, they have earned at least fve seconds on the commencement stage to celebrate their achievement.
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average student will borrow $30,000 in pursuit of their bachelor’s degree. The average federal student loan debt exceeds that fgure, sitting at $39,075 — an increase of over $10,000 from 2014. It is estimated that
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Karis Vickers | Social Media Editor Socialmedia@paisano-online.com
the next 20 years of students’ lives will be spent paying off their debts.
Financial hardships are not the only thing to plague college students; their mental health can take a hit as well. A study by the National Library of Medicine found “60% of those who had a mental health problem at baseline continued to report at least one mental health problem 2 years later.” Eating disorders, depression, self-injury and suicidal thoughts were among the mental health problems examined in college students. Alcohol use disorder and binge drinking are common concerns too, with one in fve and around 44% of students suffering from them.
A few moments on a stage recognizes a great accomplishment during what could have been the most tumultuous years of students’ young lives; it does not deserve to be cut short by their university, especially when there is no written policy prohibiting their actions.
On UT San Antonio’s Commencement FAQ page, holding a child while walking across a stage is prohibited. Searching “commencement” on the University Catalog’s website yields no banned actions. The Alamodome has a comprehensive list of rules for guest conduct in the facility. One vague rule could arguably be applied to graduating students, “Not creating a disruption to the progress of the event by their actions,” but the students are participants in the event, and commencement continues as per usual, whether or not they celebrate.
Graduating students should have the opportunity to look
Jaclyn Banda | Buisness Manager Buisness@paisano-online.com Te Paisano is published by the Paisano Educational Trust, a non-proft, tax exempt, educational organization. Te Paisano is operated by members of the Student Newspaper Association, a registered student organization.
Jasmine Williams /The Paisano
ARTS & LIFE
McNay ART Museum Celebrates culture
ByMcKenzie Siller Staff Writer
Down the stairs and past the sculptures of the McNay Art Museum, visitors are transported to locations of the past and present. Hispanic and Caribbean heritage are celebrated with the Ferias, Parques y Plazas exhibit. Museum-goers are greeted with abstract brush strokes, intricate hatch lines, lively photographs and vibrant expressive colors that tell stories of the joys, struggles and the mundane of the community. The exhibit is a celebration of tradition and different human societies in a visual expression.
Over 40 pieces of artwork are on display, featuring 24 artists. Each one depicts community and culture in their own form. Walking onlookers are hit with color — almost all the paintings and photographs are flled with different intensities. Various mediums are displayed throughout, from water colors to oils, linocuts to lithographs. Observers are surrounded by artistic diversity and distinctive atmospheres to complement each one.
George Overbury “Pop” Hart’s “Market Place, Trinidad” is what its title states: a market place in Trinidad. The solids of the water color fll in the black and white detail of the graphite. At frst glance, it may look like a blobby mass of blues, browns and greys. Taking a long second look will
reveal the full structure of the painting. The discernible sketches of the graphite and unshapen watercolor shows the fast pace of the market; trade, conversation and negotiation are rendered onto the paper in a layered form. The painting is a work of life, a moment in time frozen on the page.
Along with the bustle of reality, there is struggle. This is shown through the linocut “Rumbo al Mercado” by Leopoldo Mendez, an artist who fghts for the rights of indigenous people. The artwork is a print from a scene in the Benito Alazraki flm “Raices,” a flm that illuminates the hardships Mexico’s indigenous people face. The flm’s young couple is shown fghting for their lives, trudging their way to the livestock market. Mendez, using his medium, draws the attention of the audience to the trials of these characters — human barriers that most can relate to.
The world is not just flled with sunshine and grey, however. There are times where it is mundane. Marion Koogler McNay’s “To Market Navajo Weavers” shows the tedious work of weaving. Three women adorned in vivid garments decorate the canvas. One designs a new textile, a second woman fddles with a spool of thread and another explores their place of work while a baby is nestled into bed on the foor. Their dedication is evident in their focus, heads trained on the task at hand. The repeated event of making textiles, captured and rendered in a watercolor
medium, a painted day in the Southwest. The good, the bad and the drawl of existence are all experienced through the people of another era. These paintings are depictions of past heritage, and that history inspires artists today. Adriana M. Garcia, for example, is a woman whose works are flled with a powerful color scale and smooth texture that personify families and cultural traditions. Her mural “De Todos Caminos Somos Todos Uno (From All Roads, We Are All One)” is featured in the exhibit through a photo and an acrylic study on canvas. The mural is meant to be
By Natalia Loera Staff Writer
To promote their new and fnal album, thrash metal band Megadeth launched a listening party in theaters for their self-titled, “Megadeth.” Fans of all ages flled the seats, donning band merchandise and an excited attitude to see “Megadeth: Behind the Mask.”
As the lights dim, the movie opens with a message from the frontman and last remaining original member, Dave Mustaine. The theater roared with distorted guitars, rapid doublepedaled drums and infamous vocals. The flm covers the process of production to songwriting for the album. The history of Megadeth was also widely discussed, from album cover art stories and other intriguing anecdotes.
The frst of 11 songs, “Tipping Point,” shows the band performing in an abandoned prison and Mustaine fghting his own demons, attempting to escape. It is a captivating track with fantastic visuals, but the artifcial intelligencegenerated graphics made it look sloppy and cheap.
“I Don’t Care” is an ode to the art of being punk — behavior that is careless, reckless and nonconforming. The visualizer showed teenage boys with liberty spikes, cut up shirts, skateboards and quintessential punk attire. Disappointingly, the video sexualizes young alternative women, showing them near nude and being choked in a very concerning, sexual manner.
Courtesy/McNay Art Museum
a celebration of all San Antonians, going back to early Yanguana people who frst settled by the waters.
The Ferias, Parques y Plazas exhibit can be enjoyed at the McNay Art Museum until April 12 in the Charles Butt Paperworks Gallery. Take a trip into history detailed in paint and see how it has infuenced the paint of today. The museum’s hours are 12-5 p.m. on Sundays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesdays to Saturdays and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, visit the museum’s website at mcnay.org.
Megadeth moves on Jazzmeia Horn jazzes up the crowd for KRTU
own faith, admitting to the metal community that believing in religion is not something to be ashamed of and refects back to his speech when Megadeth received a Grammy in 2017.
Thankfully, human-made art by Blake Armstrong was implemented in the album cover and visualizers. However, the use of artifcial intelligence was consistent, showing AI generated pictures of other band members and animations of the work made by Armstrong. Mustaine mentions various times that production of their releases can never be lazy, yet the use of AI contradicts that statement.
“I Am War” seemed repetitive at this listening point. Lead guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari delivers another great solo, but it seems Mustaine is constantly recycling lyrics. The frontman mentions that this track was inspired by “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu.
“The Last Note” provides a chilling intro, containing eerie words spoken by Mustaine refecting on all the band has gone through, making it a very impactful ending to the album. The track beautifully mixes in classical guitar, further elevating the experience with perfect harmony.
By Audrey Villar Arts & Life Editor
Jazzmeia Horn heartily kicks off the KRTU FM 91.7 50th anniversary concert with “Tip,” an original composition. Her count off led straight into the breezy tune. It is immediately made evident how much fun Horn has on stage, bringing an infectious energy that coats the entire theater. Her “doops” and “bops” breathe soulful life into the tune as the piano “tip toes” up and down the melody.
Following a tale of her grandfather’s stories that taught her to set aside the animosity of others, Horn introduces “Happy Livin’.” The piano sets the tune in motion with slow notes accompanied by Horn’s euphonious lyrics. The drums then kick to life and the tone evolves into a loud, bold anthem of freedom. As Horn belts catchy riffs, it becomes clear that she truly lives up to her name. Horn can only be described as a master of jazz and swing.
For the next song, “Submit to the Unknown,” Horn shares her music with the audience, tasking them with a call and response. She repeats the phrase “I challenge you,” daring the crowd to let go and put their faith in a higher power. The song becomes a canticle of belief as the audience repeats “bless the most high,” becoming louder with each reiteration. Onlookers cannot help but be inspired by Horn’s bold confdence. The song reaches a slamming peak as instrumentation takes over before lulling back into a sense of calm to allow Horn to take back the melody. She scats away, incorporating a yodel that displays her masterful skill and experimentation of her craft.
and the bass jumps up and down scales. The band comes together in perfect unison, as the hi-hats time precisely with the bass and accent notes of the piano.
“Voicemail Blues” is what Horn says would play if one were to reach her voicemail. She comes in with a loud and clear tone before calling on the crowd once again to participate in the music. This time, however, she scats, increasing in diffculty as the audience struggles to keep up with her musical prowess. Horn smiles in amusement at the participants, and her palpable enjoyment puts the crowd at ease as they continue to scat along. She switches to call and response with Clemens instead, as he responds to her phrases with cheeky riffs that resound within the room as he evolves into a fast-paced ride of a solo. The rest of the band and Horn join back in to fnish the song, but the musicality can barely be heard over the acclamation for the drums.
As the concert wraps up, the crowd stands and delivers a thunderous applause that echoes the boundless performance that they just witnessed. Horn, along with her band, join together to deliver one fnal bow as the evening comes to an end, a resounding success.
The absence of the three other members of Megadeth was unsatisfying. Mustaine was the only member who commented on the band’s history and the process of creating the new album — commentary from other members would have been insightful. Throughout the flm, Mustaine’s commentary seemed to focus on the history of the band rather than the growth of himself and the current members. Much of the insight was also negative, having unpleasant attitudes with former members — including Metallica.
“Hey God?!” came from a time in which Mustaine questioned his
One more track remained. The theater went ballistic when the fnal bonus song, a cover of Metallica’s “Ride the Lightning,” started to play. The track was written by Mustaine and co-written by other members of Metallica. A while after Mustaine was kicked from the band, Metallica named an entire album after the song. It seems a little late, unnecessary and even petty to cover this track, but the singer insisted it was not an attempt to “clap back” at Metallica, but a way to heal a part of himself.
Overall, it is impressive that the band has been able to maintain their classical 80’s thrash sound and themes. “Megadeth: Behind the Mask” showcased a very fascinating but incomplete commentary for the album; the flm demonstrated Mustaine’s impressive memory. Regardless, Megadeth’s “Megadeth” was a fantastic loop to the band’s past, and a breathtaking last strum for the group.
The theme of faith continues on past the end of the music, as an audience member shouts “Hallelujah!” and Horn echoes the sentiment. The crowd is still buzzing with energy as Horn refects on the diffculties of raising her daughters and a particular song that got her through it — “Destiny.”
Horn begins unaccompanied by any instrumentation, using snaps and “do-dos” that swing high and low perfectly encapsulated by her angelic voice. She mimics the chorus in her mind that got her through an especially tough day, scatting before the bass takes center stage with an otherworldly solo that draws a “Go Mr. Bass Man, go!” from the crowd as he walks up and down the neck.
Horn then switches to a more lively tune with “When I Say,” perfectly encapsulating the sassiness of her two daughters. She jumps straight into the tune, scat-singing over the quick, swinging melody as the piano races
“Bailando” by Frank Romero, screenprint.
School, snow, spring
Bird On The Street Week of 1/27
By Audrey Villar Arts & Life Editor
As school kicks back into gear with the start of a new semester, students emerge from their winter-break slumps and take on the challenge of the current term. The return to campus for the spring session brings to mind questions of what back-toschool supplies are needed and the Texas winter that barraged the state in full force over the weekend.
For the frst week back, The Paisano interviewed freshman environmental science major Chanel Reed, freshman chemical engineering major Monique Nnate, sophomore psychology major Jayden Avila and freshman software engineering major Isaiah Galvan.
How do you unwind after a school day?
Nnate turns to Netfix after a long day of work, voicing that she is currently watching “Gossip Girl.” Galvan agrees, saying that Netfix and Hulu are his preferred modes of tv-watching. He also notes that he will listen to music to alleviate stress. Reed has a different answer, declaring “I usually use my meal card to get Panda Express.” Avila provides a few different methods of relaxation, including video games, friends and work, but thinks “that’s not really unwinding.”
Snowy or warm winter?
Galvan is quick to answer, noting that he prefers a chilly winter. Reed says that a snowy season is superior, adding that she likes “being bundled up under warm blankets” and wearing comfy sweaters, pointing to the fuzzy zip-up she currently adorns. Nnate agrees with her fellow freshmen, expressing her favor for a colder climate despite the usually warm Texas winter. Avila dissents, expressing a penchant for warmer weather and a strong dislike for the freezing climate. What’s your #1 back-toschool essential?
Reed decidedly names her laptop as a requirement for the school year. Galvan concurs, pointing out the device’s importance as a software engineer. Avila names airpods as his top necessity, stating, “I don’t have them right now ‘cause I was in a rush, but if I did, they’d be in right now.” Nnate, on the other hand, says that good pens, markers and pencils are a must-have to make school fun.
Classes in the morning or afternoon?
Avila and Galvan both prefer afternoon classes in favor of slow mornings. The former remarks, “I usually stay up and I like to sleep in,” and the latter asserts, “It’s a pain to wake up in the morning.” The others have a different view. Nnate declares her preference for morning classes in consensus with Reed, who states, “I wanna do stuff throughout the day, so I’d rather get it done in the morning.”
Scan the QR code below to submit questions for next week.
ARTS & LIFE
Boredom resolved: Go get involved
By Jasmine Williams Editor-in-Chief
The HEB Student Union sprang to life with the energy brought about by bright, young minds in a ballroom full of endless possibilities. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Jan. 22, students gathered in the HSU to attend the Get Involved Fair, one of UT San Antonio’s many events held as a part of Roadrunner Days.
The ballroom was packed wall to wall with dozens of student organizations. Fraternities, sororities, major specifc, religious and ethnic organizations, along with clubs based on shared interests or hobbies set up their tables and pitched their groups to passers by, offering opportunities for them to get involved in one way or another.
UTSA Student Theatre was among the frst tables students saw upon entering the ballroom. Those who stopped and spoke with them may have had the pleasure of hearing Public Relations Offcer John Pelayo’s story.
“Honestly, before doing any sort of college theatre, I’m gonna be so real, I was kind of a bum,” Pelayo admitted. “UTSA Student Theatre kind of gave me an opportunity to really put all of myself into something and really invest my time, my energy, everything into the pursuit of a collective.”
This organization is the only student-run theatre club on campus. The members perform plays and musicals that anyone of any background is welcome to audition for and participate in.
“It was instrumental to my growth as a human being,” Pelayo added. “I would not be half the person I was without actually doing it.”
Auditions for the organization’s upcoming show “The Laramie Project” will be held Feb. 9-11. Additional information can be found on their Instagram, @utsatheatre.
Venturing outside of the ballroom, students were greeted with refreshments and a handful of sponsored student organizations. providing [the] Spurs College Pass program,” Viviana Ortega of Spurs Sports & Entertainment said. “It’s a new program we came out with this season. It gives college students discounted tickets throughout the season. So today, we’re out here having people sign up for our email list so they [can] sign-up form can be found at nba.com/spurs/ little ways away stood the Roadrunner Productions table.
At frst glance, it was not entirely clear what the organization did, but Entertainment Chair Allyne Rios made sure to
Productions, we are an event production org here on campus where we strive to get students involved,” she stated.
“The university supports us in
order to get students involved on campus, for them to be able to have the space to meet other students and just feel safe.”
According to Rios, the organization is responsible for the coordination behind big events on campus like Día en la Sombrilla. She promoted the organization as an opportunity for students “to see the logistical aspects of what it takes to create an event, a successful event,” and highlighted their importance to school culture.
The Get Involved Fair could not be contained within the HSU’s ballroom; upstairs, in the Harris and Travis room, community partners promoted their volunteer, internship and work opportunities.
Local nonproft Keep San Antonio Beautiful’s Executive Committee President, Maggie Hernandez, detailed the important work the group does around the city.
“We just go around picking up any litter that’s in the park. We weigh everything, and we also sort some of the bags, just to see what kind of litter is actually being discarded there,” Hernandez said.
The nonproft runs entirely on volunteer support. They organize cleanup events at local parks and rivers, partner with San Antonio Parks and Recreations, coordinate recycling for events like Fiesta Fitfest and collaborate with Adopt-A-Spot street cleanups.
To register to volunteer, visit keepsabeautiful.org/index.php.
Tucked away in the corner of the Harris/Travis room stood a colorful table adorned with bright plushies. Closer inspection would reveal it to be a table for Kawacon Anime & Gaming Convention.
“For a really, really long time, anime was seen as something that was kind of nerdy and frowned upon. I feel like it’s only recently hit the mainstream, and Kawacon, as well as other conventions offer a sense of belonging for people who want to enjoy their hobbies without being judged,” Volunteer Coordinator Ann Roddick shared.
On top of all the convention offers for guests, it has opportunities for volunteer work behind the scenes. Volunteering comes with a perk: once the shift ends, volunteers get a free day pass for the convention.
“I actually started out as a volunteer [in] year two, and now I am the head of convention services and the volunteer coordinator for Kawacon,” Roddick said. “I think we have a 98% return rate with people who have volunteered wanting to come back because they enjoy it so much.”
Their frst event of the year, KawaCHIISAI, is scheduled for Feb. 14 at the Norris Conference Center. Tickets can be purchased at kawaconsa.com/kawachiisai. The second event, Kawacon’s annual three-day convention, will take place July 3-5.
Student involvement has no linear path, but there are avenues anyone can take at UT San Antonio as seen at the spring 2026 Get Involved Fair.
The Den serves students full plates
By Neha Nathwani Staff Writer
Warm pendant lights hang low on dark wooden tables, casting a glow across the space and creating a relaxed and homestyle atmosphere. Couches line the back walls, and students settle into chairs with backpacks tucked beneath the tables. Inside the Student Union, The Den serves as a late-night campus living room.
The Den, created by Denny’s, a major American dinner-style restaurant, was made to act as a smaller scaled restaurant specially for college campuses. It opened in January at UT San Antonio’s Main Campus, adding a new dining option for students, faculty and staff. It is located inside the Student Union between the Panda Express and the Campus Technology Store, making it easily accessible for students moving between classes, meetings or study sessions.
The menu offers a range of different items, including classic Denny’s meals items, such as the Original Grand Slam
burger, along with wraps, burritos, sides, sauces, desserts and breakfast menu items. The restaurant features menu items that students will fnd familiar as Denny’s staples — all day breakfast, burgers and comfort food — while tailoring its atmosphere to a college campus. Unlike Denny’s traditional roadside diner aesthetic, The Den at Main Campus leans into a softer, student-focused design. The space blends diner-inspired elements with campus-specifc artwork and neutral tones, creating an old-school yet modern feel and an environment that encourages people to stay — even after devouring their meals.
Inside The Den, there is a large mural depicting the Student Union. In this artwork, students walk across campus with backpacks over their shoulders, framed by warm colors and recognizable campus architecture.
Smaller tables line the side walls of The Den, while couches near the left side of the entrance and the backside walls create spaces where students can spread
out notes, open laptops or catch up with friends. Outdoor seating is also available for those who prefer fresh air. The Den’s hours cater to the active and scattered schedules of college life. The restaurant is open Mondays from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m, Tuesdays to Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. the following day and on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. On Saturdays, it stays open from 5-10:30 p.m., and on Sundays, The Den is closed. These timings make The Den one of the only options for places to eat on campus past midnight. The restaurant offers pickup and delivery through Grubhub. Orders can be placed directly through the app inside the restaurant at the kiosks, giving busy students fexibility.
As UT San Antonio continues to expand its on-campus dining options, The Den offers a place in the Student Union that functions as a restaurant and a small gathering spot. It serves students looking for a quick bite, a late-night meal or a recharge between responsibilities.
Carlos Craig/The Paisano
UTSA football transfer portal roundup
Rylan Renteria Sports Editor
After a disappointing 2025 campaign resulting in the team fnishing with their second straight 7-6 record UTSA football lost 23 players to the NCAA transfer portal. Some losses hurt more than others, and fans could make the argument that there’s little to lose from a program that has underperformed since joining the American Conference in 2023. But make no mistake, UTSA took some hits this offseason. They also picked up players who could help the Roadrunners rise back to title contention in 2026. Here are the three most impactful losses and acquisitions the ‘Runners’ made this portal season.
Losses:
Devin McCuin to Ohio State University
Following the departure of former wide receiver Joshua Cephus in 2023, UTSA tabbed standout freshman receiver McCuin as the next man up going forward. In his next two seasons, McCuin led UTSA with 1,140 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. McCuin fnished the season with the Roadrunners and caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in UTSA’s win over Florida International University in the First Responder Bowl. McCuin committed to the Buckeyes 12 days later.
Jimmy Wyrick to Southern Methodist University Wyrick played his frst three seasons at Stanford University before joining the Roadrunners in 2024. In his frst season in the Alamo City, Wyrick suffered a season-ending injury in the ‘Runners’ win over Houston Christian University. In 2025, Wyrick posted 52 tackles, seven pass breakups and an 81.5 pass coverage grade, per Pro Football Focus. Wyrick got a good look at his future stadium in the First Responder Bowl. Hopefully, he liked playing at Gerald J. Ford Stadium because it will be his home for his last year of eligibility.
Patrick Overmyer to the University of Houston
In 2024, Overmyer was named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic. He built on his frst full year as a key contributor for the Roadrunners by increasing his receiving yards and receiving touchdown totals. While Overmyer was a threat in the passing game, his true value came as a run blocker. Overmyer received a 90.3 grade from PFF when lined up on run plays. The Kingwood,
Texas, native returned home after entering the transfer portal, committing to play for the Houston Cougars.
Honorable mentions: Kenny Ozowalu to the University of Oklahoma, Houston Thomas to Texas
A&M University and Nnanna Anyanwu to the University of Virginia.
Additions:
Elijah Baldwin: The University of Texas at El Paso to UTSA
Baldwin played high school football right here in San Antonio, Texas, at John Jay High School. In his redshirt freshman year with the Miners, Baldwin was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection after posting 16 tackles and fve sacks.
Xavier Walton: Angelo State University to UTSA
Walton is another San Antonio native addition, playing at John M. Harlan High School before joining Angelo State. In 2025, Walton registered 68 tackles, six interceptions and nine pass breakups en route to being named the Lone Star Conference Defensive Back of the Year and earning All-LSC First Team honors.
Walton will help UTSA bolster a secondary that lost three safeties — including the aforementioned Wyrick — to the portal.
Brandon High Jr.: the University of California, Berkeley to UTSA
Welcome home, Mr. High. After spending his frst two seasons with the Roadrunners, High packed his bags to follow former UTSA running backs coach Julian Griffn. After Griffn parted ways with the Golden Bears, High committed to return to UTSA. With star running back Robert Henry Jr. declaring for the NFL Draft, High will help the Roadrunners maintain a two-headed monster in the backfeld with sophomore standout Will Henderson III.
Honorable mentions:
Joel Rodgers from Louisiana State University, Miles Campbell from Florida
A&M University and Dylan Spencer from Texas Tech University.
Portal season is usually a tumultuous time for Group of Five programs. UTSA has had a hard time adjusting to the Transfer Portal Era but will continue to fnd value where it can in hopes of its frst American Conference championship.
UTSA women’s basketball at midseason
many expected UTSA women’s basketball to step back into the same position it held a year ago. Last season ended with a 26-5 record, a perfect 13-0 mark at the Convocation Center and an American Conference regular-season championship. This season has unfolded much differently. A rebuilt roster, expanded roles for returning players and injuries have reshaped expectations. Through it all, the Roadrunners have stayed competitive, holding a 9-9 overall record and a 4-3 mark in conference play. It has not been clean or comfortable, but UTSA has remained in the middle of the league race when a deeper drop could stability has been driven by UTSA’s defensive structure. The ‘Runners are allowing just 57.9 points per game, the best scoring defense in the American, while holding opponents to a leaguelow 36.9% shooting from the feld. UTSA has consistently forced teams into tough halfcourt possessions by contesting drives, shrinking the paint and limiting clean looks at the rim. That has helped offset an offense that ranks near the bottom of the conference at 60.3 points per game.
UTSA’s +2.4 scoring margin refects the tradeoff: winning games by controlling tempo, fnishing defensive possessions on the glass and keeping opponents uncomfortable enough to grind out close
The Roadrunners have also stayed afoat because of several players making meaningful jumps. Senior forward Cheyenne Rowe has become the team’s most dependable night-to-night engine, scoring 12.6 points per game and grabbing 8.8 rebounds — both top-10 marks in the American. When UTSA needs a stop, a rebound or a possession that has to end with a good shot, Rowe is usually involved.
Transfer junior guard Ereauna Hardaway has also given the Roadrunners structure and late-game composure. Hardaway is third in the conference at 5.1 assists per game, and her assist-toturnover ratio is among the American’s best for primary ball-handlers. In close fnishes, she has been the organizer, the one who can steady the offense and still make the play that swings a game.
Sophomore guard Mia Hammonds has also stepped into a larger role on both ends and shown the most growth on the roster. Her size and lateral quickness allow the ‘Runners to switch defensively while still protecting the rim in help coverage. Offensively, she has become a reliable secondary scorer by attacking the basket and fnishing through contact. The expanded role has positioned Hammonds as a potential replacement for the production Jordyn Jenkins once provided.
Even with the individual growth, the obstacles have been just as clear. UTSA has struggled with opponents’ runs.
Losses to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of South Florida, East Carolina University and Memphis
University all featured extended scoring bursts that fipped momentum. Slow offensive starts have also created uphill battles. Against Memphis, UTSA scored just fve points in the opening quarter and 14 in the frst half. Against UNLV, the Roadrunners had a whopping two points on an abysmal six percent shooting in the frst period, leaving no margin for recovery. Ball security remains another issue. UTSA commits 17.8 turnovers per game while forcing 16.9, keeping the margin close but limiting separation opportunities.
Health has also played a role. Junior forward Idara Udo has dealt with availability issues that have impacted frontcourt rotation stability. When the ‘Runners have been able to use her interior scoring and rebounding consistently, the offense has fowed better through the paint. Despite sophomore center Emilia Dannebauer helping fll that gap by providing rim protection and strong decision-making out of the post, the rotation remains thin against physical conference opponents. The grade, considering the circumstances, is still a B+. UTSA has not looked like last season’s group, but it has not needed to. This team is learning how to win in different ways, and the fact it is still sitting in striking distance says the culture has carried over even as the personnel changed. If the ‘Runners can cut down the droughts, tighten the turnover stretches and avoid letting games swing on opponent runs, the defense is good enough to make UTSA a problem for anyone in March.
UTSA transfers reciever Devin McCuin (top) and safety Jimmy Wyrick (bottom).
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
UTSA overwhelms St. Mary’s in 2026 season opener
New-look Roadrunners handle cross-town rival Rattlers at home
Rylan Renteria Sports Editor
AN ANTONIO — UTSA
Swomen’s tennis defeated St. Mary’s University 5-2 in the Roadrunners’ season opener on Thursday at the UTSA Tennis Center.
Boasting fve newcomers on a nineplayer roster, the Roadrunners (1-0) rolled past the visiting Rattlers in the opening
hour of the event, fnishing a perfect 3-0 over St. Mary’s in doubles. UTSA looked poised for an overall sweep of the Rattlers before Spanish sophomore Natalia
Castaneda Guerrero and Japanese junior Akari Tomoyose were defeated in the fnal two singles matches. Despite the late defeats, head coach Ki Kroll was pleased with his team’s performance overall.
“The win is always important. Getting that frst one under your belt gets everyone going,” Kroll said. “There’s a lot of nerves going on in the beginning. We have a lot of new players, but they all stepped up. We’re looking forward to trying to have a really good season this year.”
Castaneda Guerrero, one of the few
UTSA comes up short in Rowdy Rodeo thriller
Logan Martinez Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO — A 25-point performance from sophomore forward Baboucarr Njie was not enough to lift UTSA men’s basketball past Temple University in a 70-64 loss on Saturday at the Convocation Center.
Despite leading for the entire frst half, UTSA (4-16, 0-8 AC) faltered in the second. After suffering an apparent ankle injury in the frst period, Njie could no longer carry the team’s late-game scoring load. Though the forward played through pain in the second half, his offensive output was limited. The Owls (13-7, 5-2 AC) quickly took advantage of this and embarked on a 9-2 scoring run. With the team now facing a 10-point defcit, a once ecstatic Convocation Center fell silent. While the team did all it could, UTSA failed to regain the lead over the Owls.
“It defnitely did hinder me a bit,” Njie said about his ankle injury. “Regardless, I just have to be able to come in and do whatever it takes to win.”
The Roadrunners attempted to claw their way back into the game thanks to Njie. The sophomore made key blocks and scored easy, second-chance buckets to
bring the ‘Runners within six with three minutes left. Junior guards Austin Nunez and Brent Moss led the way for the team down the stretch, scoring a combined six points in the fnal two minutes. Despite consistent offensive execution, UTSA failed to create the defensive stops needed to retake the lead. The Owls continuously attacked the basket, scoring at the hoop or drawing a foul. Going 7-9 from the charity stripe in the fnal minute, Temple held the Roadrunners at bay.
“This is clearly the best we’ve played in league,” coach Austin Claunch said.
“They got to the line better than we did, and I have to look at some things in flm tomorrow, but I’m really proud of this group today.”
In the frst half, the Roadrunners came out fring on all cylinders. Focused on getting downhill early, UTSA coasted to an early lead over the Owls. Njie scored 14 of his frst-half buckets at the rim, relentlessly attacking the defense and forcing the referees to call fouls. Moss and junior guard Jamir Simpson followed behind with eight points apiece. Players looked engaged, moving without the ball and making the right pass when the play called for it. Despite a few defensive
returning players from 2024, paired up with true Italian freshman Giuliana Giardina during match one and earned a hard-fought 6-4 win. Match two saw the 2026 debut of Japanese duo sophomore Aoka Nagasawa and Tomoyose. The pair were the fnal doubles game to fnish, taking the match 6-3. Israeli freshman Celine Absawi and Spanish freshman Laia Tarazona Peyro were the quickest team to secure a win. The freshmen duo cruised to a 6-3 win.
In singles, Giardina, Nagasawa and Tarazone Peyro were the frst three to fnish, surrendering just three sets total across the three matches. Absawi was the fnal Roadrunner to secure a win on
the day, before Castaneda and Tomoyose were defeated to close out the matchup.
“The idea is we want them to go out, be coachable and work hard,” Kroll said.
“Both girls did that. One girl is playing in a high position this year. It’s very new for her, which makes it a little more diffcult. The other one, she’s brand new. But [Tomoyose] played a very good girl at the three spot and did a great job. I’m happy with her performance, and I think that she’ll really grow into a good player for us.”
UTSA will head up I-35 to face Texas State University at 11 a.m. Friday at the Bobcat Tennis Complex.
miscues, the ‘Runners headed into the break leading 33-31.
“We really focused on energy today,” Moss claimed. “We’ve been having fat starts to games, and we really wanted to get stops and bring energy and effort early.”
UTSA beat out Temple in nearly every statistical category. The rebounding battle
was won 37-34, points in the paint 44-34 and second chance points 12-10. UTSA’s bench was held scoreless in the game, but starters Simpson, Njie, Nunez and Moss all scored in double fgures.
The Roadrunners will take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Convocation Center.
Japanese sophomore Aoka Nagasawa and Israeli freshman Celine Absawi in the Roadrunners 5-2 win over St. Mary’s Thursday, Jan. 22, at the UTSA Tennis Center.
Noah Schwencke/The Paisano
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
Austin Nunez versus Temple on Saturday, Jan. 24, at the Convocation Center.