Vol. 73, Issue 8
Est. 1981
October 13 - October 20, 2026
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community
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Courtesy/Cooper Bryant
Protesters and supporters gathered outside the Freeman Coliseum Wednesday to watch President Donald Trump campaign with Attorney General Ken Paxton and Carlos De La Cruz.
TRUMP RALLIES At Freeman Coliseum
By Elia Naz
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Contributor resident Donald Trump campaigned in San Antonio to support U.S. Senate candidate and current Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressional District 35 candidate Carlos De La Cruz. The Oct. 7 rally drew many supporters of the administration’s policies; however, Trump critics also showed up to protest against the president. The Paisano spoke with both Trump supporters and protesters outside the Freeman Coliseum. Rally-goer and native San Antonian Rubin Gomez explained how his support for Trump stems from the president’s drug policy. “When I see them blow up boats with drugs, I cheer. I cheer because finally somebody’s getting back for the homies that OD[’d],” Gomez said. The Trump Administration has conducted 35 strikes on boats allegedly smuggling drugs, killing at least 115 people. Ben Saul, special rapporteur on human rights and counterterrorism for the United Nations, concluded that Trump’s airstrikes violate international law and human rights. Gomez stated that although he is Hispanic, he favors Trump’s immigration enforcement. “There are a couple of [people without legal status] that are great, but just because they work doesn’t mean at night they can rape you or do whatever they want,” Gomez said. Studies have found that immigrants without citizenship have lower crime rates than both native-born Americans and immigrants with citizenship. The total crime rate between 2012 and 2018 in Texas for people without
citizenship was 400 per 100,000 people, less than the 800 and over 1,000 per 100,000 people for both immigrants with citizenship and U.S. citizens, respectively. Attendee Alexander Diaz also shared approval of Trump’s policies. “I feel like Donald Trump has been a great president so far. He doesn’t get enough credit. There are a lot of critics,” Diaz said. Diaz continued to praise Trump, saying he helped the country and resolved his supporters’ grievances under former President Joe Biden. “As soon as Joe Biden came into office, inflation came out of nowhere because of the Inflation Reduction Act. When you use money you do not have in a country, it blows up in a big way,” Diaz said. The Inflation Reduction Act was set to incentivize green technology, expand affordable healthcare and other tax initiatives. The Penn Wharton Budget Model projected that, under the act, the economy would grow by an estimated 0.05% in 2024. The IRA also created a new 15% corporate alternative minimum tax, extended the holding period on certain investment funds for taxpayers whose income exceeds $400,000 and introduced other reforms to lower climate and drug prices. Diaz also criticized U.S. Senate Democratic candidate James Talarico. “He supports trans children’s rights. I don’t know about you or other people, but back in my day there were no such things as trans children; there were just women who liked to dress in boys’ clothes that were tomboys,” Diaz said. “You had couples that were interested in the same sex; that’s fine but there was no [#MeToo] movement; there were no trans children’s rights, none of that.”
In his time as a state representative, Talarico voted against Republican legislation restricting transgender student-athletes from sports’ teams coinciding with their gender identity. Since then, Talarico has changed his position on transgender athletes. The Texas Tribune highlighted Talarico’s reservations about transgender individuals participating in sports. “Every sport has to be safe and fair,” Talarico said on Fox News. “As a former public school teacher, I care a lot about our student athletes; I care a lot about our students. And so I will oppose trans athletes playing in girls’ sports if it risks safety or fairness.” Protesters expressed grievances with the Trump administration and Republican leadership overall. “We’ve had Republicans in charge of the Texas government. We have not benefited from their policies. We have really stepped back in education, healthcare, all the other pluses that we as Americans should be looking for,” protester Irene Herrera said. In addition to noting the lack of progress under Republican leadership, Herrera argued that Texas has regressed in areas such as education and healthcare. “The current state shows us that, instead of moving forward, we’re going backward in multiple sectors that significantly affect children in our communities. Under the Trump administration, education and healthcare have been cut. There is also federal cutting of nonprofits and organizations that are funded through the state, which can be a direct result of the Trump administration,” Herrera said. Under Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill, Texas hospitals are losing $27 million in
funding daily. The OBBB set a loan cap for college students and eliminated direct plus loans for graduate students. Protestor Janie Cedillo emphasized her view of Trump being a dividing force. “What he is doing is dividing and inflicting hate and fear, and it’s been his MO; it’s unfortunate that people really don’t know or see who he really is,” Cedillo said. Cedillo said that Trump has divided the people of the U.S., making them fear each other instead of coming together as one nation. “The Trump administration told us that criminals are immigrants, and people believe him and are blinded by him to see that many people sitting in government have committed crimes that they have not been held accountable for,” Cedillo stated. “Especially regarding ICE, there used to be open borders for the United States, where people could come back and forth; however, due to the notion of hatred pushed by the Trump administration, ICE has been terrorizing communities.” San Antonio ranks among the top five cities in the U.S. for ICE arrests. Since 2025, ICE has arrested more than 1,500 people, with 900 criminal convictions. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has asked for help identifying people involved in incidents during Trump’s rally. The sheriff’s office is investigating all reported events, and said the BCSO would take action if evidence shows a crime has been committed by individuals involved. Trump has no other scheduled campaign stops in Texas before the Nov. 3 midterm general election.
Flock cameras remain installed on university property By Miguel Gutierrez Contributor The 17 Flock Safety cameras at University Oaks and the one at the intersection of Bauerle Road and East Campus Drive remain installed, even as Flock cameras have drawn criticism across the country from individuals who argue that they violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches. Flock camera’s capabilities extend beyond recording passing vehicles like conventional security cameras do. Using artificial intelligence, they create searchable databases containing vehicle information, such as make, model and year. The cameras include images of people who are not suspected of criminal activity. Law enforcement agencies may employ AI-powered searches to track where a
vehicle has traveled, when it was recorded and how frequently it appeared, potentially without a warrant. In August, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered a pause on state funding for Flock cameras amid privacy concerns and reports of misuse. Several police officers have been accused of stalking others using these cameras. A police officer in Lufkin pleaded guilty to using Flock cameras to track 11 people over more than a year, raising concerns about the improper use of public surveillance technology. At least six police departments stated in August that officers were being placed on leave, investigated or criminally charged due to the abuse of these cameras. “This is something that is easily containable, easily controllable, and we’re ensuring that whether it be through criminal crackdowns,
whether it be through cancellation of contracts, whatever the case may be, Flock cameras are being reduced dramatically,” Abbott, during an Aug. 26 appearance on The Glenn Beck Program radio show, said. Despite these statements, recent reporting suggests that public scrutiny of the state’s budget allocation proposal for Flock cameras, not privacy abuse concerns, sparked the decision to halt Flock camera funding. Notably, the announcement arrived just before the Texas Tribune published its investigation into at least $30 million in state-supported Flock camera spending. According to the analysis, lawmakers added $1 to Texans’ car insurance policies to fund the program, a claim which lawmakers dispute. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have urged the state to address the privacy
risks posed by license plate readers. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa has repeatedly called on Abbott to stop the installment of Flock cameras, recognizing the potential benefits of their targeted use while decrying their blanket implementation. “Maybe they make sense in certain parts, like maybe instead of a border wall in Big Bend,” Hinojosa stated about the system. “But they don’t make sense in blanketing, carpeting the state of Texas to create a mass surveillance state.”
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NEWS
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Right to Rebel holds protest against ICE at Sombrilla By Hazel Barksdale Contributor
Protestors gathered at the Sombrilla on Oct. 8 to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s arrest of a protester and UT San Antonio’s alleged collusion with ICE. The left-leaning revolutionary youth group Right to Rebel organized the protest. Protestors chanted slogans such as “No justice, no peace. Get ICE off our streets,” “Fuera la migra,” “Campus PD works with ICE to keep the people down” and “Dare to struggle, dare to win. Make police afraid again.” The protest lasted two hours and included a march through campus. One protestor’s banner read, “Justice for Wilbur Garces Perez! Combat and resist ICE terror,” referring to the shooting and arrest of the Venezuelan national in North Austin on Sept. 20. Another banner condemned the arrest and subsequent prosecution of Ian Ross, the man arrested while protesting outside the planned East Side ICE detention center on July 31. Ross now faces federal charges for assaulting, resisting or impeding an agent. Participating students spoke to The Paisano about the protest. “I’m calling on students to stand up for their neighbors, for immigrants. ICE goes after the most unprotected, the most exploited workers of our class, and it’s our job to protect our workers, our immigrants and our students on campus, because UTSAPD and UTSA
admin runs cover for ICE. And they won’t do it themselves,” one student who wished to remain anonymous said. The UT San Antonio Police Department has provided perimeter control for ICE during at least one enforcement operation. Since Trump assumed office in January 2025, ICE officers are no longer prohibited from conducting raids in “sensitive areas” such as schools, churches, hospitals and college campuses. UT San Antonio student Carlos, who only provided his first name, cited campus ICE raids as his reason for protesting. “We’ve seen in the past year that ICE has actually come on campus to arrest construction workers, which I still find valuable to our campus. They do so much. And then they also started coming for our food workers. I don’t know about you, but I love the food here. I think that’s f-cked up. “What’s especially heinous is they actually did kidnap a Turkish professor that one of my friends personally knew and had a class in. So, they are taking us, they’re taking professors, they’re also taking students too. That’s what we’re out here protesting,” Carlos stated. ICE arrested several construction workers on Main Campus in May 2025. According to UT San Antonio administration, no students or faculty were arrested at that time. The Paisano could not verify the alleged arrests of either campus food workers or faculty members. However, ICE has arrested at least one UT San
Castro runs to retain his US congressional seat By Audrey Villar Editor-in-Chief Incumbent Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro, representing Texas’ 20th Congressional District, defends his seat in the upcoming Nov. 3 election. Edgardo Baez, Ph.D., is the challenging Republican candidate. Castro, a former practicing lawyer, is currently serving his seventh term as a representative. His platform for reelection includes education reform, healthcare affordability and redirecting federal funding in San Antonio. He has criticized the Dilley Immigration Processing Center and supports immigration reform, opposing Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the use of detention centers. The Center for Effective Lawmaking named Castro the most effective Democrat in the 118th Congress in 2025, having introduced 30 bills. The Providing Appropriate Recognition and Treatment Needed to Enhance Relations with ASEAN Act was the only one to pass, but much of the language in the bills he sponsored were incorporated into other actualized laws. Castro publicly opposes President Donald Trump and faced backlash in August after posting 44 names of his constituents that donated to the president, saying, “Their contributions are fueling a campaign of hate that labels Hispanic immigrants as ‘invaders.’”
Republican candidate Baez is a former nurse, soldier and attorney. Baez’s campaign stands on combating poverty, healthcare reform, preserving Second Amendment rights and border control, among other issues. He supports the Prosperity Through Opportunity Act, which aims to expand economic opportunity, reform education for workplace readiness and support small businesses. In an interview with News 4 San Antonio, Baez explained why he is running for the 20th District. “We need change. [Castro has] been [in Congress] for too long, and something needs to happen. The people in the West Side of town are feeling the pressure. The houses, the poverty, the crime, all of that needs to change.” Baez has also opposed the closing of the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, saying, “Closing detention capacity without real border security doesn’t solve the problem. It invites more chaos.” Castro defeated John Atwood and Kendra Wilkerson in the Democratic primary, garnering 82.2% of the votes. Baez ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Baez has raised $48,535 and spent $27,073 on his campaign since May 19, 2025. Castro has raised $512,776 and spent $499,054 since Jan. 1, 2025, outraising Baez by over 10 times and spending over 18 times as much as his opponent. Cooper Bryant/The Paisano
Antonio student: Jaime Cabriales Carlos. Student protestor Ana, who did not give their last name, implored other students to stay informed about federal immigration activity, when referencing the San Antonio East Side’s warehouse being turned into an ICE detention center. “At least listen and learn, educate yourself if you’re not gonna act on it, because even if you think it’s not affecting you directly, it is. It’s affecting the people around you [in] this community. Because you’re part of UTSA, you are now part of the people that are being affected, even if you don’t think you are,” Ana said. “Even if you’re not that active, you always can be. It’s never too late. And help us shut down the detention center on the East Side.”
Right to Rebel will hold a training on how to prevent ICE kidnappings on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. The location is not publicly available, but students can find out by directly messaging Right to Rebel’s Instagram account, @righttorebelsatx.
Cooper Bryant/ The Paisano
ICE acquires $51 million in leases for legal processes By Hallie Lott News Editor Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased two office space leases for $51 million on the Southeast Side of San Antonio. The leased space will be used for immigration processes, including hearings and other legal proceedings. The federal government signed the leases for 15 years: one charging $42.5 million in rent and the other charging $8.8 million. WatersEdge, the name of the two office spaces, are located at 7515 and 7611 Inner Circle Drive at Brooks City Base. Brooks is a former Air Force Base that now hosts a community of schools, businesses, shops and medical institutions. “While I frown upon the uses at Brooks, it’s important to clarify that Brooks has not been involved in negotiating or facilitating these leases,” Brooks Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Leo Gomez wrote to Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones. This was stated in an email provided to the Express-News. Preston Hollow Community Capital paid for the construction of the buildings. According to Gomez, Preston Hollow decides the leases in the WatersEdge buildings. ICE’s purchase follows its January 2026 acquisition of an Eastside warehouse for $66 million that ICE is now renovating to use as a processing center, which will hold between 1,000 and 1,500 people daily. After ICE failed to respond by Sept. 30 to Jones’ inquiry into the detention, Jones stated that City Attorney Andy Segovia is looking into potential grounds to file a lawsuit against the federal government.
“The council has already indicated our support for legal action as quickly as possible,” Jones stated. “We think there [are] sufficient grounds, if you will.” On Oct. 8, the city council voted 9-2 to direct CPS and San Antonio Water System to examine the ICE facility’s impact on their services. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, who represents District 2, where the facility is located, stated that signing a contract before indicating if ICE completed the appropriate environmental review validates the legal action. “What we’ve seen succeed in other cities is the federal government taking an action that demonstrates that, whether it’s construction or operation of a facility, that it is going to happen. And so for us, to me, the contract with GardaWorld signifies an action.” ICE awarded the contract to GardaWorld to renovate the warehouse on Aug. 27. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not indicate if the agency had completed an environmental evaluation of the detention center. “Let’s be honest about this. This isn’t about the environment. It’s about trying to stop President Trump from making America safe again,” the spokesperson stated to the Express-News. “The left didn’t care about the mountains of litter that illegal aliens dumped on ranches and riverbeds during (former President Joe) Biden’s border crisis. They’re feigning concern now because they want those same illegal aliens to stay forever — and vote here as well.” The East Side detention center is currently scheduled to open in November 2027.
Henry Holmes/The Paisano
Higher levels of Toxins found in children with autism’s teeth Read article at paisano-online.com By Walid Iqbal Staff Writer
State of the City: Week of 10/13 By Eric Balderas Copyediting Coordinator 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 the closure of a popular music venue to a free community infant mortality awareness walk.
One of the WatersEdge buildings which ICE is leasing space in.
Cowboys Dancehall closes after 20 years of operation
University Hospital requests help identifying patient
Baby Buggy Walk highlights infant mortality
The San Antonio country music venue Cowboys Dancehall has ceased operation after 20 years of service. In an Oct. 10 Facebook post, Cowboys stated that the ongoing highway construction near its location, projected to finish in 2028, made it difficult to continue its operation. Additionally, Cowboys thanked its staff, performers and customers for their years of support. The dancehall has stated that it does not have any plans to reopen and cannot guarantee that it will return at a different location.
An unidentified man remains unconscious after he walked in front of an oncoming car Saturday, Oct. 3, near Culebra Road. The man was taken to University Hospital after the incident, where he remained in the intensive care unit for six days. Hospital officials stated the man had no identification when he arrived. The man, who had no belongings on his person, is estimated to be in his 40s, 160 pounds and five feet tall. It is encouraged if anyone recognizes or has any information about his identity to call University Hospital at 210-743-3100.
Families assembled at the Ramon V. Quintero Community Center for Metro Health’s thirteenth annual Baby Buggy Walk on Oct. 10. The free community event aimed to raise awareness of pregnancy loss, infant mortality and infant health issues. Families walked together along 3100 Hiawatha St. to connect with various public health resources to facilitate healthy pregnancies to ensure that more babies reach their first birthday. Free immunizations and gift bag giveaways were offered to families and their children.
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OPINION
Apartments exploit students
Editorial
T
uition, textbook costs, moving fees and rent already plague UT San Antonio students. The last thing they need is additional expenses stacked on their plate. Much to students’ dismay, student apartments’ moneyhungry methods grow more rapacious by the year. They cut costs at tenants’ expense, only to turn around and take every penny from their residents. Over $1,000 in monthly payments is apparently not enough to satisfy these complexes’ insatiable appetite for profit; in fact, guests are charged by the hour to simply park their cars while visiting friends.
Off-campus student living complexes have varying policies concerning visitor parking. The Oasis, formerly known as The Luxx, provides residents with a singular guest code valid for one guest at a time, requiring visitors to register their vehicles through register2park. Violators are towed and have to pay hundreds of dollars to retrieve their vehicles. While the policy has not been enforced for much of this semester following the tornado in July that ripped off much of Building A’s roof. However, residents recently received new codes, and tow trucks will be back on the prowl. The Oasis can dally in repairing Building A —
which still lacks a roof and contains the now-inaccessible gym and pool — but God forbid a resident has an unregistered guest. Other apartments demand even more from their guests. Madera, Hill Country Place and Lark San Antonio, formerly known as Sterling Heights, all charge visitors for a spot to leave their vehicle. Hill Country Place used to have one of the most relaxed policies regarding visitor parking, requiring no registration so long as a guest was in a spot marked “VISITOR.” But, it changed its policy after residents resigned their leases for the 2026-27 school year, now requiring guests to
register their cars using ParkStash. Hill Country Place gave resigning residents no inkling that free visitor parking was about to meet its end. Hill Country Place is a little more gluttonous than its neighbor down the street, however. Residents could provide guests with 48 hours of free parking before charging fees of $2 per hour or $15 per day. Even while paying, apartment policy states that no guest may stay for over 48 hours at a time. Only a few months into the newlyeffected policy, Hill Country Place decided that it was not enough. The ever-greedier complex now provides residents with only one
measly hour of free guest parking per month before charging the guest. The policy has been in effect for nearly two weeks, and the apartment still neglects residents’ needs; Building 9’s hallway lights have been completely out for over a week, leaving residents to fumble for their keys at the bottom of their penniless purses in a dark hallway. These student-living apartments do not care about their residents. One would think that apartments geared toward low-income students would try to be more accommodating to the population they serve. Instead, they milk residents for every last dollar, prioritizing profit over propitiation.
Keyboard warriors better pipe down; pick up ballots, clown Commentary By Sophia Cyamara Aguirre Assistant Opinion Editor
On a dark and stormy night, the evil founding fathers added the terrifying concept of popular sovereignty to the super-duper scary Constitution. 250 years later, political efficacy cults, such as Powered by People, “bribe” college students with corrupted candy, stickers and chips to participate in the horrifying notion of registering to vote. The vile idea of taking part in an election holds the innocent, pure elected officials accountable for accidentally sending billions of dollars to foreign countries that bomb children. Perhaps the most horrifying consequence of this so-called democracy is that legal adults might actually have to take responsibility for their lack of political participation. Every election cycle, many of the same adults who complain about the state of the country cannot be bothered to cast a ballot. In the 2024 election, only 56.6% of eligible Texas voters participated; the national average was 64.1%. Keyboard warriors that emerge from the depths of Instagram comment sections and TikTok reposts suddenly turn into political
analysts. Everyone has an opinion about the economy, foreign policy and the competency of officials aging like milk. But those fingers itchy for arguments disappear as fast as Trump’s campaign promises on election day. Being physically incapable of filling out a ballot but perfectly fine to surrender influence to someone else, is the true horror story. Political efficacy, the most famous term in high school government and politics, is sadly the most forgotten. When people believe that their votes do not matter, they may decide that voting is pointless. Refusing to participate only makes American voices smaller. One vote cannot guarantee a win. Voting does not make anyone immune to disappointment, but it does give people — not a singular person — power. In Texas, there was a twomillion-vote difference between former Vice President Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump during the 2024 presidential election. Demanding that one voice carries the same
weight in a process that someone did not engage in is ignorant to those who made their opinions clear. These same adults who ignore their responsibilities in exchange for snacks are the same ones who turn around and complain
By Walid Iqbal Staff Writer
The San Antonio Police Department received a budget increase of $44.5 million for fiscal year 2027. This means the city is allocating $676.5 million of the general fund — or 40% of the total budget for public services — towards the SAPD. This increase is insulting to those who face food insecurity, homelessness and other urgent issues that impact San Antonians. The city spent double its police overtime budget in 2024, spending about $34 million, according to Act 4 SA. SAPD never denied or disputed this number; in fact, one officer reported that they made over $345,000 that year from overtime. The city barely audits the police’s spending. The last time an audit was held was in 2020, which only reviewed tracking and processing. The city completed a full audit in 2006, and they are planning
to complete another audit after 21 years. Crime in the city fell more than 13% in 2025. However, many issues that are correlated with crime — such as homelessness — are left severely neglected and underfunded. San Antonio’s low-barrier shelter reported that 90% of exits resulted in someone moving on to a permanent living situation; however, the city “brilliantly” decided to stop funding the program for 2027. The city is dropping the program because the general fund is in a $158 million deficit. The city would rather fund the police than fund a homeless shelter that helps citizens in need. San Antonio should cut a little off of SAPD’s budget to renew a relatively small $4.8 million lease. Instead, the city is burning $9 million to expand emergency shelter capacity and improve a day center. Just the budget increase of SAPD is more than the entire
Vincent Agquiz/ The Paisano
terrifying concept that is registering to vote. Democracy is not a spectator sport, and complaining is not a substitute for participation.
Vincent Agquiz/ The Paisano
SA hates spending on its citizens, not cops Commentary
about the state of the country well past November. This paper might as well have been evil — the downward cast eyes and deaf ears hid from the
Injection hits rejection Commentary
By Sincere Spivey Contributor nearly $33 million Human Services budget. The overtime budget for SAPD is more than half of the entire funding of Human Services. There is overwhelming proof that mental health specialists being sent to nonviolent 911 calls lowers the amount of less serious crimes, as seen in Denver. Denver’s Support Team Assisted Response program sends specialists to nonviolent calls and was a major success. There was a 34% drop in low-level crimes in areas that were served by the STAR program in 2020. SA CORE uses a similar model, with the exception that there is a police officer on every team, which handles just 14% of mental health calls to 911. Instead of actually solving the root cause of crime, the city decides to inflate the cops. While Texas law prevents San Antonio from cutting its police budget, it still should not sacrifice other solutions to make it grow even larger. The city of San Antonio has spent excessively more on the police rather than spending on systemic issues. Instead of giving in to the police, the city should look at alternative solutions like addressing homelessness and mental health.
By some twisted miracle, Christa Pike survived not one but two lethal injections. She is not the first botched execution. Former inmates have survived being mistakenly administered an injection without the drug; Pike, on the other hand, was given real doses. On Sept. 30, Pike was injected with pentobarbital, which was formally halted by the Biden administration. The method was incompetently resumed by the Trump administration, despite being warned of the drug’s faults. Pike’s botched execution not only breached the Eighth Amendment’s protection against “cruel and unusual punishment,” but also landed Pike on life support. To have made such a substantial mistake — especially when considering the death penalty is in itself inhumane — the botched execution is a huge blunder by the U.S. government. After receiving the injection, Pike voiced unusual concern, stating, “My arm feels like it’s about to bust. One spot is really throbbing.” For the next hour, the witnesses in attendance reportedly heard Pike breathing and snoring. After being unconscious for over five days, Pike awoke to a pneumonia diagnosis, as well as the inability to swallow or use her arms.
This damage is not only an immense disregard for human rights but also another humiliating blow for the Trump administration, which clearly does not abide by the Constitution. Capital punishment exceeds the average cost of a life sentence without parole and, in turn, becomes an immense waste of U.S. citizens’ tax dollars. Additionally, Pike has been on death row for three decades, an absurd amount of time to have a looming death note on someone’s head. After years of childhood rape, abuse, abandonment and neglect; Pike developed a warped sense of societal normaties. None of these facts were addressed during her trial. It should not take three decades of holding to settle an individual’s fate. This is simply toying with someone’s life. Pike was declared brain-dead on Oct. 5, but astonishingly regained consciousness and began speaking the next day. After the state’s fumble, her lawyer, Randy Spivey, argued that this was a foreseen happening considering Pike’s preexisting medical issues. Attorneys are still fighting to preserve Pike’s Constitutional rights after her botched execution. There have been no guarantees that Pike will not be put to death again, but as of Oct. 10, she has been discharged and moved back to prison. Pike’s mistreatment is only further evidence of how inhumane the death penalty is.
Tre Torres/The Paisano
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OPINION
Latinos will trump Republican redistricting THE PAISANO Commentary
By Johnpaul Buwule Marketing Manager
Texas’ 2025 map redrew its electoral districts with Latino voters in mind. When President Donald Trump garnered 55% of the Latino vote, Texas Republicans quickly began an out-ofthe-norm, mid-decade gerrymandering scheme to gain five additional congressional seats. Latino voters are critical players in their plan. Though the party has brutalized immigrants from Latin American countries, packing them into cages like dogs, the party now relies on Republican-voting Hispanics to attain seats in Congress. In a midterm that could upend the final half of Trump’s term, the map could backfire and position Democrats to stand up against Trump ahead of the 2028 election. District 35 is one of the map’s five redrawn majority Democratic districts. Stretching from San Antonio’s South Side to Guadalupe, Karnes and Wilson counties, the once-blue district that touched Travis County is now a Republican battleground severed from Travis. While the map’s task is not a significant struggle for the state, with a grade “F” in political
competition, Texas now comparatively has a more arduous task to flip those districts red than it did before. The cynical redistricting ploy harms Democrats’ chances in the midterms, but Republicans will have to fight an uphill battle to attract Latino voters. The 35th district’s race between Republican Carlos De La Cruz and Democrat Johnny Garcia has put Democrats’ chances of winning the district in peril, with no real idea of which party will take hold. Draining the swamp and minimizing predictability is the Republican strategy, which creates a battleground in five key districts to fortify the red stronghold over Texas. Redistricting has further entrenched Republicans’ chances of flipping these seats, at the expense of minimizing the voices of Texans who do not vote red. Since Trump’s presidency, Hispanic businesses have taken a hit under his administration’s aggressive deportation policy. In fact, one in five Hispanic business owners have had an employee deported, and seven in ten have said Trump’s tariffs have negatively affected their business. Trump-
Last week’s comments @marco_thewise giving out condoms doesnt mean condoning rape culture… it’s just making sure ppl are safe and not spreading stuff… if anything, inaccessible BC is more part of rape culture ---
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We must ban frats ---
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era policies ushered in disruptions that have upended the lives of many, leaving Republicans’ target demographic unsure of whether these Trump-affiliated candidates will defend their best interests. Although Trump gained a whopping 55% of the Texan Latino vote in 2024, he has shot the Republican Party in the foot with his crippling immigration policies. Americans have watched — with great antipathy — Immigration and Customs Enforcement victimize and racially profile Americans’ loved ones while festering in an economy corroding in Trump’s war. Together, these factors are pushing Latinos away from Republicans, and Republican candidates are becoming increasingly wary and cognizant of the harm affiliation with Trump can cause. The red plan to overturn five Congressional seats in Texas may not be as seamless as Texas Republicans hope. The map darkens Texas’ red hue, and Democrats will have to fight like never before to secure seats. With Trump failing his voters and Latinos turning their backs on the Republican Party, it is becoming abundantly clear that this map has a chance to fail, allowing Texas’ 35th district to remain blue.
Article: Frats dehumanize women, incentivize rape culture By Emma Cavanaugh
@bgonzales5951 survivors often do not identify an assault as rape right away, particularly when drugs or alcohol are involved or when the person is a friend or romantic partner. she was already plastered when she went in, and offering her even more drugs was not the move either way. she may have consented to sex with two of the boys but either way if ur already vulnerable and someone offers u more drugs, thats taking advantage of someone. ---
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Indigenous people battle for recognition Commentary By Edmond Cartagena Staff Writer
For over a century, the U.S. has commemorated Christopher Columbus every second Monday of October on Columbus Day. This holiday was first celebrated to cover up the mass lynching of 11 Italian Americans in 1891. However, the day became increasingly popular as past presidents such as Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon cemented the holiday into American tradition. In 2026, Indigenous Peoples’ Day should be celebrated rather than Columbus Day, although it should not be observed on the day meant to recognize a violent colonizer. The U.S. needs to stop glorifying an abusive culture that has historically oppressed minorities. The celebration of such diverse groups should not take place on the day that commemorates someone who never deserved recognition. Columbus raped, stole from and murdered Indigenous people. Having colonized people share a day of remembrance with their colonizer is nonsensical. Today, there are more than 560 recognized Indigenous tribes that still exist in America, and all are forced to share a day with someone who incited torture and sickness upon their ancestors. The harsh reality is that a majority of the U.S. still celebrates Columbus today, as
Regan Williams/ The Paisano
evidenced by the official White House website. Indigenous people deserve to be celebrated beyond their contact with Columbus. As the original claimants of North American land, their cultures and customs shaped the modern way of life in the U.S. This impact is evident through governmental structures and language practices — which is why several states are named after terms from various indigenous tribes. Although this influence touches every part of the U.S., colonizer culture still deeply haunts America. Indigenous people should be more widely celebrated during their national heritage month in November instead. It would be better to give diverse indigenous groups attention during a time that does not overwrite their genocide. They can be recognized on many holidays which do not diminish tragedy.
For example, Oct. 4 is a day of remembrance called Sisters in Spirit Day. This reflective day is meant to call attention to missing or murdered Indigenous women, girls and two-spirits. Remembering days like these advocate against violence faced by Indigenous women, encouraging American society to further understand the hardships of their cultures. During November, there are many more holidays which can celebrate Indigenous cultures. The day after Thanksgiving is Native American Heritage Day, a much better opportunity to recognize Indigenous people. Other days that recognize Indigenous people include Rock Your Mocs Day and Red Shawl Day, each of which raises awareness for these cultures and their place in American society. Columbus Day should be erased from history, and Indigenous Peoples Day should be celebrated in a way which more so celebrates native tribes. These diverse communities do not deserve to be defined by the colonizers who ravaged their population with disease and murder. Indigenous tribes lived on American soil for tens of thousands of years before Columbus came; therefore, they should not have to fight for recognition against a careless colonizer.
Editorial Board
Audrey Villar | Editor-in-Chief Editor@paisano-online.com
Regan Williams | Managing Editor Manager@paisano-online.com Hallie Lott | News Editor News@paisano-online.com Henry Holmes | Opinion Editor Opinion@paisano-online.com Amanda Fuentes | Arts & Life Editor Arts@paisano-online.com Brad Millwater | Sports Editor Sports@paisano-online.com Cameron Carter | Web Editor Web@paisano-online.com Blue Mize | Photo Editor Photo@paisano-online.com Sarah Quintanilla | Graphic Editor Graphic@paisano-online.com Noor-E-Saher Ahmed | Multimedia Editor Multimedia@paisano-online.com Valentina Quintanilla | Magazine Editor Magazine@paisano-online.com Karis Vickers | Social Media Editor Socialmedia@paisano-online.com Jaclyn Banda | Business Manager Business@paisano-online.com Jennifer Rochester | Distribution Manager Distribution@paisano-online.com Emma Cavanaugh | Ads Manager Ads@paisano-online.com Johnpaul Buwule | Marketing Manager Marketing@paisano-online.com Eric Balderas | Copyediting Coordinator Copyediting@paisano-online.com
Assistant Editors Sophia Cyamara Aguirre | Assistant Opinion Editor Joby Albritton | Assistant Business Manager
Staff Edmond Cartagena | Staff Writer Walid Iqbal | Staff Writer Daniel Luna | Staff Writer Cooper Bryant | Staff Photographer Aidan Moreno | Staff Photographer Alejandra Garcia | Graphic Artist Tre Torres | Graphic Artist Vincent Agquiz | Graphic Artist Hazel Barksdale | Contributor Mateo Esqueda | Contributor Cira Garza | Contributor Miguel Gutierrez | Contributor Thea Muskievicz | Contributor Elia Naz | Contributor Skyler Rahimi | Contributor Brooke Rodriguez | Contributor Victor Romero | Contributor Trevor Scallion | Contributor Sofia Sharp | Contributor Sincere Spivey | Contributor
Advisory Board Diane Abdo | Advisor Stefanie Arias | Advisor Corey Franco | Advisor John Helton | Advisor Mason Hickok | Advisor Jack Himelblau | Advisor Steven Kellman | Advisor Sandy Norman | Advisor Chloe Williams | Advisor Jasmine Williams | Advisor
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ARTS & LIFE Victoria Leal unearths memories
By Skyler Rahimi
N
Contributor
ostalgia, heritage, femininity and enigmatic sentiments weave together junior fine arts major Victoria Leal’s artistic devices. Leal’s experiences and dispositions are revealed through her various distinctive creations. Leal shared the main inspirations behind her art and her calling to perpetuate the San Antonio lifestyle with The Paisano. “My culture [is rooted in] where I came from in San Antonio. Just being around the city and observing and being around communities that we have here has really influenced me to have people remember [the culture and to] have other people around the world see it too. [Even though] San Antonio has a small, little culture, we can show it off to the world,” Leal depicted. Leal’s motivation to explore distinct mediums — murals, sculpting and painting — lies in her commitment to her craft and complex themes of girlhood and reminiscence. She exhibits the same motifs in divergent ways. “I feel like I can’t tie myself down to one [medium],” Leal shared. “I just love any kind of form of art, and I feel like I’m able to translate that into my work, too. And most of my work has a theme overall, so even though it’s using a different medium, they all kind of blend together.” To Leal, her most defining pieces are self portraits. “It’s called ‘Green Lady,’ and it’s just a portrait of me all in green. I took photos of myself wearing clown makeup, because I feel I’m the most confident when I have that kind of makeup on, I feel that is the soul of me and the core of it all,” Leal expressed. “I did the background with all these angry dogs that are all
pink. They’re pink poodles. They symbolized how I felt at the time: so aggravated. And the way dogs feel loyal and protective towards their owners, I felt a little hostile towards anything new. I could feel myself changing and transforming, but I can’t help it.” Recently, Leal has been working on murals for various spots around the city. She shared where her sense of artistic achievement stems from. “My greatest accomplishment would just be the privilege of being able to create and make a living out of it,” Leal noted. “That’s really my goal in life, is just to make a living out of art and having other people see it too.” Leal offered insight into where her art comes from and meaningful support she has received. “Most of my work is based off experiences in my life,” Leal relayed. “I wouldn’t be at this point right now if it wasn’t for other artists helping me along the way and them teaching me tips and tricks on how to be a better artist, those kinds of experiences got me to where I am now. And I’m forever grateful for that.” Leal’s art reveals her experiences by illustrating positive memories. Leal’s creations often detail meaningful items or recollections from her life. “I love nostalgia,” Leal declared. “I always do stuff that feels the most nostalgic to me, which is a lot of the stuff that my grandma has given to me. Symbolisms like a fence — iron fences that have parts on them. My grandma always had those in her house, so I always try to use those kinds of designs and symbolism in my work.” Leal uses colors to represent
herself and the people in her life. She explores themes of femininity through shades and hues. “It’s more of an intuitive thing where I feel like I need to paint pink,” Leal noted. “Pink is not my favorite color, but I have it everywhere, just because it’s something that I feel I need to do as an artist and create that color. A lot of the women in my life, they wear a lot of pink, and it’s a very hot fuchsia pink. I kind of tie it down to lighter colors because I’m more of a shy and keep
to myself person. I feel that color resembles me the most.” Leal has found ways to symbolize herself, her culture and memories through various mediums: printmaking, sculpting, murals and more. All of her different works carry the same meanings and ideas that come back to her. Those interested can view her art on her Instagram, @victorialealarte.
Victoria Leal/Courtesy
ACL brings Texas more heat Reality Market brings thrifting culture to Block By Sofia Sharp Contributor
Courtesy/Ashley Osborn
Austin City Limits returned for its 25th anniversary this past weekend, showing off a stacked list of performers, including Lorde, Bleachers, Turnstile, Annie DiRusso and many more stars. Prior to Friday, C3 presents — the Austin-based entertainment company that
conducts the festival — encountered multiple problems due to unprecedented weather that had not been seen since the festivals’ early years of operation. Mounds of mud and debris from the storm consumed the Zilker Park grounds, forcing the festival to pivot by adding turf and mulch to the grounds. T h a n k f u l l y, the second weekend did not suffer the same fate. Instead, attendees enjoyed sunny skies and dry heat. Saturday’s lineup was nostalgic, indie and informal, creating an eventful day. Saturday afternoon began
with Annie DiRusso on the American Express stage, bringing her “Super Pedestrian” tour to a triumphant end. The sun barely peeked through the clouds, and fans enjoyed the pleasant weather while stacked against the barricade’s side, waiting for her to take the stage. DiRusso’s music encapsulated catchy choruses and guitar riffs that sounded similar to songs from early 2000’s comingof-age films. Halfway through her set, DiRusso introduced “Good Ass Movie” by explaining the plot to the movie “School of Rock,” prompting the crowd to erupt in laughter when they finally understood her reference. At the end of her set, DiRusso brought out a drumset with “Fck ICE” plastered in pink duct tape, prompting thunderous applause from the audience. Dirusso did not disappoint, leaving the crowd with higher expectations for the artists to follow. Anyone who was not on social media or was not subscribed to Netflix in 2018 may have missed the craze surrounding Finn Wolfhard and his popular TV shows and movies. Wolfhard also has been intertwined in the music industry, having released numerous songs independently and with his band, Calpurnia. Compared to weekend one, Wolfhard managed to draw an even bigger crowd for this weekend. His set was filled with melodic guitar solos and alternative upbeat tunes. Towards the middle of his set, the temperature began to rise, prompting Wolfhard to exclaim, “I’m from Canada so it doesn’t ever get this hot.” He brought out special guest Tommy Stinson to perform “The Kids Are Alright” by The Who. Wolfhard ended his set by giving the audience a couple of minutes of guitar strumming, showcasing his music abilities and leaving the crowd in a triumphant mood. Lorde, a headliner and one of the most anticipated acts, came on stage shortly after Bleachers and performed songs from all of her albums, paying closest attention to “Virgin.” “An album is a document of a process of change,” Lorde exclaimed. While singing “Liability,” a song performed with a hologram of Lorde’s younger self projected onto her chest, the artist showed visible emotion, prompting the crowd to cheer her on. She then ended her set by singing “Ribs” and running along the barricade, touching fans’ hands and thanking them for coming. Lorde left the crowd feeling very liberated and closed out Saturday of Austin City Limits Music Festival with a bang.
By Cira Garza Contributor
Reality Market, a one-of-a-kind outdoor clothing market, ran from noon to 7 p.m. on Saturday at The Block in collaboration with independent clothing designer LVSR who enticed shoppers with an air of edgy and experimental fashion. With more than 30 vendors, the market was quite a success for shoppers. The event was branded as a place where “Creators come to connect.” Online secondhand shopping app Depop made an appearance, offering free swag to anyone who played a game, and free Depop-labeled shipping packages for business-minded attendees. Vendors primarily sold secondhand or handmade clothing and accessories. One artist, WunMor.Win, told The Paisano they were looking forward to showing off their artwork. “Sharing art with people who probably haven’t seen it; that’s what I like about showing up in public. Usually I just do [art] at home, but this is something fun I don’t get to do on my own,” WunMor.Win commented. WunMor.Win sold magnetic skateboard figurines and miniature hand-painted backpack keychains, some featuring original characters that varied from cute to creepy. Some vendors sold handmade crocheted accessories. Artist and designer Luv Always Aliźe, who sold tights, beanies, belts and skirts, was among the crochet vendors. “What I like about this event is there’s a lot of community; it’s not limited to one niche,” Aliźe explained. “There’s so many people here, and everyone’s good at so many things. And I think that’s something we need to see a lot more of in San Antonio.” Thrifting and secondhand
clothing have an ever-growing community around them, especially within Generation-Z. Through times of economic uncertainty and a climate crisis, thrifting has become a celebrated hobby, allowing designers to expand where they source their materials and how they express their aesthetics. Although most market attendees were UT San Antonio students, others showed up to shop and enjoy the vibe, either supporting friends who were selling at the event, selling goods or just checking out something new. DJ E.K. provided live music, playing rap, R&B and hip-hop tracks. Attendees ate from food trucks stationed at The Block, including Rockstar Hibachi Japanese Grill, Bussin Buns Nashville Hot Chicken, Hot n’ Crispy, J.B Mon Thai & Asian Cuisine and Mucho Matcha, serving up coffee and tea drinks. Vendors offered various styles of clothes, including streetwear, grunge, emo, whimsy, Y2K aesthetics and designer brands. UT San Antonio student Kamryn Daily highlighted the convenience of the event being held close to campus. “I’m usually thrifting at downtown events, so I’m glad they brought it up here,” Daily shared. Daily emphasized the surprise factor thrifting brings. “I love thrifting because I like finding unique stuff. I feel like now, in stores, everything is the same, but when you thrift, it’s usually the vintage stuff,” Daily said. “I find [it] to be more interesting, and I love fashion.” Events like the Reality Market help make fashion accessible and friendly. Vendors showcased their designs, collections, businesses and artwork, attracting shoppers beyond the UT San Antonio bubble through style, creativity and ambition.
Courtesy/Ahmed Thomas
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ARTS & LIFE
Knotting kindness for CHRISTUS Children’s The bursting buzz of friendship, subtle serenity of Cigarettes After Sex and calm clinks of crochet hooks fill the air. Students surround yarns that rainbow in shades of reds, blues and greens, across a table. For some students, they are returning to complete a long-standing project; others are picking up a hook for the first time. Everyone, however, is participating in a Knots for Kindness meeting in the H-E-B Student Union. Founded in October 2024, Knots for Kindness is a student organization oriented around providing a space for and teaching students to crochet. Attendees create crochet plushies based on a monthly theme. Completed crafts are then donated Henry Holmes/The Paisano
to the Christus Children’s Hospital. The organization also coordinates upwards of five volunteer opportunities each month for members. Knots for Kindness began the Thursday meeting by opening the floor for members to share uplifting news about themselves. While most stayed quiet, two attendees revealed recent job opportunities, prompting others to chime in soon after. Following a tongue-twisting game of telephone, the remaining time was dedicated to crocheting. The organization provided a cornucopia of yarn spools, hooks and stitch markers for students to use as well as stuffing to fill completed plushies. Some attendees concentrated on independent crochet, while others casually conversed between stitches. Junior biology major Sydney Air and sophomore chemical engineering major Angel Vasquez discussed the growth centric structure of the organization. “I really started to learn during the workshops where they sit down with you and teach you right there, individually, with simple projects,” Vasquez expressed. “That’s really nice to have someone being there and correcting me and helping me through [crochet].” “Going to the first workshop was the very first time I ever crocheted, and we made headbands,” Air recalled. Vasquez and Air met for the first time during the Thursday meeting, and both agreed that the organization’s environment frequently aids relaxation. “The first couple of times I was doing it, I said, ‘It’s very repetitive.’ I feel like it’s very relaxed, very peaceful,” Air reflected. “I very much enjoyed the process.”
Trump, memes, campus beef
This Is Lorelei enlights Paper Tiger with alternative southern charm
Bird on the street week of 10/13
By Mateo Esqueda
By Henry Holmes Opinion Editor
By Regan Williams Managing Editor
President Donald Trump flew into Alamo City, stirring up controversy in the predominantly Hispanic area. Meanwhile, students evaluate UT San Antonio’s curriculum. In between all of the hullabaloo, students take a break and ponder their favorite memes. This week on Bird on the Street, The Paisano interviewed sophomore environmental studies major Ramona Whelan, freshman cybersecurity major Jaiden McMahon, freshman business major Jesús Rodríguez and freshman political science major Makayla Parkman.
How do you feel about Trump speaking in San Antonio?
Students are filled with similar opinions about Trump rallying in San Antonio alongside Ken Paxton and Carlos De La Cruz. “It was really upsetting to hear [that he was coming]. I was really surprised considering the demographic and who lives here,” Whelan explained. “It really shocked me.” “Boo,” McMahon exclaimed. “It just made me think, [Trump does not] like Hispanics,” Rodríguez commented. “I think there are more Hispanics in San Antonio than there is white people. I know that [Trump is] trying to grab as much as he can right now, but there were literally people outside booing you. Why did you come here bro?”
What would you rate your experience at UT San Antonio out of 10?
With midterms approaching, students are evaluating their experience at UT San Antonio. “Probably a seven, that’s just because a lot of my classes are kicking my butt,” Whelan admitted. “Eight,” McMahon said. “The Fizz app.” “Noting bad has happened to me yet,” Rodríguez said. “Nine out of 10.” “Six,” Parkman shared.
What major would you like to see UT San Antonio add?
The university has much to expand on, and students shared what major they think should be offered next. “I feel like we have a lot of majors,” Whelan said. “Culinary studies, I think that would be really cool.” “What majors do we not have?” McMahon pondered. “Gang, I’m a freshman, I don’t really look at that sh-t.” “I think that they should add a major for tourism if they don’t already have it, either that or they should add a major for sign language.” Rodríguez expressed. “I remember reading a paper [The Paisano] released a few weeks ago about how DEI is being threatened,” Parkman commented. “More majors in the COLFA college because humanities and the arts are very important, just as important as STEM and other business majors as well.”
What is your favorite meme?
With Generation-Z’s prominent social media use, students decide what meme takes the cake. “I really like the ones with the aliens holding each other’s heads.” Whelan exclaimed, “It’s always a go to.” “[The] Spider Man meme,” McMahon said. “Quen Blackwell, and she’s doing a handstand on the red carpet.” Rodríguez answered. “Oh wow, I actually don’t have one. I love all of them; they’re all funny. They all make me laugh,” Parkman shared. Have a question and want it answered by UT San Antonio students? Submit at bit.ly/4pdDfIP.
Contributor
This Is Lorelei brought along opener Colin Miller for an intimate night of alternative twang in downtown San Antonio. The Oct. 11 crowd at the Paper Tiger showed impressive diversity, ranging from teenagers in Geese shirts to disenchanted Gen X’ers with bigger Geese shirts. Opening act Colin Miller set the tone for the night before even setting boot on stage, blasting the audience with visuals of a live wildlife cam broadcasting a hungry gang of raccoons and the occasional fox getting his fix, too. “Give it up for the Critter-Cam y’all,” Miller affectionately barked as the band took the stage. Loud roars erupted promptly, masking the sparse attendance for the opening set. Miller’s outfit was emotionally driven by their pedal steel player, with Miller’s vocals serving as the sonic warm blanket on top of everything else. Intentionally lazy drumming created the feeling of getting a hug from an old slacker friend. Colin Miller’s set was twangy, emo and a perfect appetizer to a night of alt-country. Concertgoer Carlos Diaz defensively justified, “I’m digging [alt-country], as long as it’s not too twangy-country.” Audience member Sean Stone felt more secure in his appreciation of the genre boom,“I f-ck with [alt-country], it feels like a reclamation of sorts,” Stone commented. Miller, apart from his own act, is also a member of MJ Lenderman’s band, The Wind, and is clearly creatively influenced by his bandmate. His latest record drags in the same way Lenderman’s songs can, particularly in the way he sings live. This drag gave the night a sense of mobility by contrasting from the headlining act. If Colin Miller’s set was like an intimately warm, rustic hug that kind of smells like grass, then This is Lorelei’s set was like a full-sprint, knocked to the ground bear-hug from a best friend in an airport. Drummer Cameron Wisch did much to set this tone, immediately coming out with a looser left hand and more of a pop-punk informed style. Expressive as can be, Wisch smiled ear to ear as he pounded away on the kit much harder than the previous drummer. Also adding to the driving shift in energy was This Is Lorelei’s frontman Nate Amos’ guitar playing, which had a much bigger role in their set as opposed to Miller’s playing,
Knots for Kindness President and senior medical humanities major Ana Perez also discussed the organization’s impact. “I’ve just always been hands-on Alejandra Garcia/ and creative, and I started crocheting The Paisano for my family, but I never really had the idea of donating to hospitals,” Perez depicted. “I think that’s a really good way to give to the community and do something I like.” Perez also highlighted the organization’s positive community. “Every semester we always have a lot of beginners, and it’s always really cool to see them actually able to learn at the end of semester,” Perez beamed. “I get really happy about that, and also seeing everyone’s friendships come along from clubs; that’s why I really enjoy being part of it.” Knots for Kindness hosts multiple events each week, including socials, general meetings and crochet workshops. The organization welcomes all students, regardless of experience. Students looking to get involved can become members by regularly attending meetings, socials, fundraisers and volunteering, as well as donating supplies and finished crochet projects, although nonmembers are welcomed with open arms. Prospective members are also required to pay $15 in dues. Knots for Kindness, found on Instagram @knotsforkindness, is hosting a lotería fundraiser on Wednesday, Oct. 14, with their next general meeting hosted the following day, Thursday, Oct. 15.
switching from rootsy rhythm guitar to a jangly lead— notably during the guitar solo in “The Kid With The Crown.” Amos also shed some semi-ironic personality onto the visuals during their set, as the giant, beaming screen burned professional bowler Pete Weber’s highlights into the retinas of all audience members. After capping off the moody sing-along tune in “Sailing (Your Baby’s Down),” Amos turned around to the screen while tuning his guitar. “That’s the guy I don’t like,” Amos muttered, as the crowd booed the old man on the screen.“I think he’s Australian but that has nothing to do with it,” Amos declared. This Is Lorelei finished their set with “Dancing in the Club,” and it was clear the crowd had been waiting for this ultimate moment. Though the entire show had been an easy-tolisten-to sing-along, “Dancing in the Club” had even the venue staff swaying their feet. Fan Carlos Diaz was confident; “Dancing in the Club, that’s like my favorite song off Box for Buddy, Box for Star,” Diaz commented when asked about his favorite moment of the show. This seemed to be a shared consensus for most. The Sunday show marked an early stop in This Is Lorelei’s tour following the September release of their latest album, “The Singer Aidan Moreno/ in My Band,” and left a The Paisano homely feeling in the hearts of the audience.
Two-Faced: First Thursday at McNay By Thea Muskievicz Contributor
On the expansive, lively grounds of the McNay Art Museum, an open-air community celebration was held as part of the museum’s recurring “Second Thursday” event series. Made free to the public through the support of H-E-B and the John R & Greli N. Less Charitable Trust, the event allowed visitors to congregate on the lawn to enjoy live music, creative activities and a vibrant visual-art exhibition set against the museum’s historic Spanish Colonial Revival structure. The night was soundtracked by San Antonio natives HoneyBunny, who delivered an energetic, catchy performance with both original music and familiar covers ranging from Beastie Boys to Dead Kennedys, tailored on the fly to be familyfriendly. Guests sprawled on blankets and dotted the green with fold-up chairs, enjoying local food trucks, complimentary Central Market bananas and a dog-friendly environment on an autumn night that barely broke 80 degrees. As kids played ring-around-the-rosy to the band’s self-described “party punk” sound, colorful lighting washed over the lawn as the sun set on an evening of joviality. Across from the makeshift stage, interactive art stations encouraged guests of all ages to express their creativity and personality. Visitors were invited to make popsicle stick people, represent their inner joy with sunglass portraits and express their interests through self-portraits. Local community partners, including animal-rescue group SNIPSA, added to the vibrant festival feel. The event organizer commented on the night. “Our mission is to create community through the arts,” she said. “I think it’s important to just come represent and hang out,
get to know people.” Stepping inside the museum gallery and taking advantage of the free admission, guests were able to experience the evening’s featured exhibition: “Two-Faced: An Exhibition of Artists’ Portraits, in Two Parts.” The curation examines how 50 visual and performing artists have captured themselves and their contemporaries over a span of two centuries; the first half of the exhibition focuses on double portraits, distorted likenesses and works that reference other artists. Featuring works ranging from 1799 to present-day, including pieces from Andy Warhol and Henri Matisse, the exhibition captures a wide variety of styles and techniques from prints and sculptures to oil paintings. Museum curator Elizabeth Kathleen Mitchell, Ph.D. brought together striking contrasts; Diane Gamboa’s 1984 “Self-Portrait” captures bold colors, with a geometric composition and vigorous brushstrokes. On the opposite side of the stylistic spectrum stood Paul Gauguin’s 1893 “Portrait of the Artist With the Idol,” which features painterly greens, soft brushwork and a warm, pensive selfdepiction. Gauguin’s vibrant attire shows a more rebellious, yet understated, side of himself. The second half of the exhibition will premiere this December, showing artists at work, pet portraits and representative object studies. San Antonians have plenty of reasons to return to the lawn before the year is out. This event serves as a reminder the fine arts and homegrown rock music belong on the same stage. By connecting interactive outdoor activity with compelling visual art, Second Thursday at the McNay proves how art institutions can foster a dynamic culture and community connections.
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SPORTS
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Brooke Rodriguez/The Paisano
Freshman forward Henry Pinkerman (top left); Postgraduate forward Travis Sorce (top right); Senior forward Jaylen Mendez (bottom).
UTSA hockey defeats LSU to break five-game losing streak By Sarah Quintanilla Graphics Editor SAN ANTONIO — UTSA hockey split its home series against Louisiana State University Friday and Saturday at the Ice & Golf Center at Northwoods. The arduous battle resulted in a 2-1 win for LSU on Friday, yet UTSA came out on top the next day with a hard-fought and well-earned 4-1 win.
Game One
Five minutes into the first period, LSU scored the first goal of the night. Shortly after, UTSA snagged a 5-on-4 advantage. Despite LSU’s possession of the puck, postgraduate goalkeeper Darryll Smith froze every single attempted shot on goal, aiding UTSA’s efforts to end their four-game losing streak. The puck was hurled around from side to side for most of the second period, with no goals in sight, only missed passes. Two minutes before the period ended, freshman forward Nathan Danh was sent to the penalty
box for roughing, creating a 4-on-4 for the ‘Runners. In the very last minute, freshman forward Henry Pinkerman assisted senior forward Jaylen Mendez to score the gametying goal for UTSA. Once again, Danh was sent to the penalty box six minutes into the third period. Two 5-on-4 power plays favoring UTSA took place during the game, yet no chances were taken to score. As the third period came to an end with a 1-1 score, an extra five minutes were added to the clock in futile hopes to break the tie. Neither team scored in the extra period, and a shootout decided the final result. Out of the three shots given to each team, LSU scored one goal while UTSA failed to score. “It’s frustrating,” postgraduate forward Travis Sorce said. “We haven’t won a game in a month, we’re just trying to find a way to win. We had so many chances today.” “We expect our team to come out again tomorrow, playing harder,” head coach James Hiebert shared. “Make hits, good old-time hockey, and just come out tomorrow with a
victory is what we need.”
Game Two
Sophomore forward Evan Ratliff, assisted by Pinkerman, scored the first goal of the game in the fifth minute. Multiple checks turned into a 4-on-4 play due to roughing, and freshman defenseman Wesley Abron was sent to the penalty box for four minutes. After an intense puck-stealing chase and a penalty on Danh for misconduct and roughing, Mendez scored an insurance goal five minutes into the second period assisted by freshman forward Garrett Morris. Smith froze the puck more than three times; nothing got through UTSA’s goalkeeper. Seven minutes into the period, freshman defenseman Miguel Trevino fired a long-shot into the net, assisted by sophomore defenseman Justin Trevino. Sorce was forechecking LSU players on every opportunity, until helmets hit the ice and a fight broke out. Sorce was expelled from the game four minutes before the buzzer blared, with 3-1 on the scoreboard.
“It was my first goal, I’m pretty excited,” Miguel Trevino shared. “I hope we can continue this win streak and this momentum into next week and into the rest of the season.” Sticks were flying in the air in an exhilarating third period, with a tough pucksnatching sparring and countless body checks that turned into 5-on-4 power plays favoring UTSA. Danh scored in the last minute, finalizing the scoreline at 4-1. As the buzzer blared, triumphant cheering soon turned into a full-blown fistfight between multiple players fromof both teams, and referees held them until they calmed down. “It was good to finally get another win under our belt, after a couple of long stretches,” assistant coach Malcolm Pharr stated. “If you look at yesterday, if you look at the stats, we did really well, but the scoreboard didn’t show it, right? But I think today, really, what was different is the guys were really focused.” UTSA will play Texas A&M University on Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Spirit Ice Arena in College Station, Texas.
UTSA soccer finds new life with home upset over Blazers By Victor Romero Contributor SAN ANTONIO — UTSA soccer completed its upset against the University of Alabama at Birmingham at the Park West Athletics Complex on Sunday, taking home a crucial 2-1 victory in front of their home crowd. UTSA (6-3-4, 2-2-1 American) battled conference leader UAB (7-6-1, 4-2-0 American) in what proved to be a war of the halves. The Roadrunners imposed their will on the Blazers, taking a confident 2-0 lead in the first half, rarely giving the Blazers’ offense a chance to make runs of their own. A different story unfolded in the second half as the Blazers scored on a penalty kick, shortening the gap between the two teams to 2-1. The Roadrunners’ defense held strong against the oppressive Blazers’ offense until the final whistle blew. “I think the turning point for us has been this past week,” coach Derek Pittman said. “It’s no secret, we got our butts kicked by Rice. They came here on our home field, and we didn’t show up. And our kids pretty much put their foot down and said this isn’t gonna be who we are. We want to get back to doing the gritty, hard work that we’re known for, and that sets us apart.”
The Roadrunners took control of the first half as they mostly kept the ball on the UAB side of the pitch, threatening to score first. Despite making runs, misplaced passes made quick work of the Roadrunners’ siege on the Blazers’ fortress. The war for possession in the center of the pitch raged on until forward Sofia Peters fired a trebuchet in the 28th minute. Sofia Peters launched a shot from the center of the pitch and nailed a 50-yard goal to take the 1-0 lead. Not even three minutes later, sophomore forward Ava Jackson threaded the needle, connecting with sophomore forward Brooklyn Bailey to temporarily catapult the Roadrunners to a 2-0 lead. The goal was wiped off the board by an offsides call on Jackson. The Roadrunners worked hard to quickly rectify the called-off goal, with junior defender Isabel Peters finding sophomore midfielder Caroline Pelkofski, who scored off of her left foot. Pelkofski gave the Roadrunners a strong 2-0 advantage in the 42nd minute. The Roadrunners ended the half confidently with the help of senior goalkeeper Jasmine Kessler, who erased the Blazers’ shot attempts. Coming out of the first half, the Roadrunners leaned on their momentum to help carry themselves to victory, swatting
and kicking away the Blazers’ shots, until a sudden disruption of play. The game clock was rewound by a minute after a successful challenge by Blazers interim coach Mark Hiller, catching Bailey on a handball penalty. The Blazers made Bailey pay and capitalized on the penalty kick awarded to them. After scoring, the Blazers parked themselves on the Roadrunners’ half, rarely allowing the Roadrunners’ offense to flow. The Blazers suffocated the Roadrunners’ defense with shot after shot, but they were ultimately unable to convert effort into points as the final whistle blew with the Roadrunners victorious. “We had a tough loss last time we played at home, so I’m just really glad that we can get it
back this game,” Sofia Peters said. “I think our biggest thing that’s worked for us, but also [something we’ve] struggled with was communication and playing our game. Playing as one,” sophomore forward Sadie Paul commented. Sofia Peters and Pelkofski both registered crucial goals for the Roadrunners, with Paul and Sofia Peters dishing out assists for the respective scores. The Roadrunners registered only eight shots to the Blazers’ 14, but logged six saves to the Blazers’ two. The Roadrunners will continue the conference season on Thursday, hosting the University of Tulsa at Park West Athletics Complex at 7 p.m. Trevor Scallion/The Paisano
UTSA huddles before defeating UAB 2-1 on Sunday, Oct. 11.
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Loud enough for ya?
Senior quarterback Owen McCown scrambles in UTSA’s 31-24 victory over the University of South Florida on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Alamodome.
Game-winning drive steals thriller from South Florida By Brad Millwater
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Sports Editor AN ANTONIO — For the second time this season, UTSA football faced a deficit late in the fourth quarter, with a loss all but decided. For the second time, the Roadrunners prevailed. “The measure of a man or a woman,” coach Jeff Traylor stated, “is where you are at a time of crisis.” The crisis struck when the University of South Florida (4-2, 1-2 American) scored a touchdown to take a 24-23 lead. With just two minutes left in the game, senior quarterback Owen McCown and the Roadrunner offense understood the task at hand. “There wasn’t too much that was said,” McCown stated. “We knew what the scenario was. ‘Let’s go do it,’ and that’s what we did.” On third down with five yards to go early in the drive, McCown saw space in front of him and scrambled for 19 yards. Sophomore running back Will Henderson III sat sidecar with his veteran passer, inching the ‘Runners
into field goal range and closer to a win with every touch of the ball. Borderline hopeless just a few minutes before, the Alamodome crowd latched on to the burgeoning comeback with gritted teeth. When Henderson dashed around the right edge and dodged a tackler, the nervous exhales transformed into exultations. Henderson fought 26 yards down to the one-yard line, and junior running back A’Marion Peterson broke through the goal line on the next play to turn the Alamodome into a frenzy. The lastgasp 31-24 win over the South Florida Bulls moved the ‘Runners to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the American Conference. “I think we’ve been behind almost in every freakin’ game,” Traylor emphasized, “but we are calm in the moment and our kids listen. They believe every word we tell them and they go out there and execute.” Before the Bulls took the late-game lead in the fourth quarter, the Roadrunners had played a near-perfect second half. UTSA trailed 1710 at halftime, and turned in a performance
roughly equal to South Florida’s in the first 30 minutes. The ‘Runners burst out of the locker room with an 8-play, 75-yard drive, capped by a Peterson touchdown that tied the score at 17. The Roadrunner defense halted the Bulls in three plays on their first drive of the half, and the offense cruised again. Offensive coordinator Rick Bowie worked with McCown seamlessly, and the ‘Runners executed a 13-play drive that resulted in a lead-taking field goal. Leading 2017, UTSA’s defense once again got off the field in three plays. Once again, the offense took its time, patiently emphasizing Henderson in the running game and finishing another 13-play drive with a field goal. After a flawless second half, UTSA’s defense finally cracked. A South Florida pass floated up to the Roadrunner defense for a sure interception, but the play was negated by a defensive pass interference call. The Bulls took the break and marched down the field to score their only points of the second half and take the lead. The ‘Runners stole it right back. “You’re going to have to kill us,” Traylor
declared. “The champion has the ability to play one play longer than his opponent does. You’re going to have to choke us out. We’re not going to go away.” The Roadrunners found success all night in the ground game. UTSA rushed for 277 yards and averaged 6.4 yards per carry. Peterson led the ‘Runners with 92 yards and three touchdowns, and Henderson posted 86 yards. After six penalties in the first half, the ‘Runners had just one penalty in the second half. UTSA posted 271 yards in the second half, while South Florida mustered only 87 yards. McCown recorded 63 rushing yards, including his game-saving scramble on third down on the final drive. “[McCown] is just special,” Traylor claimed. “Some of it was designed, some of that was effort, and some of that was just guts. When you’ve got a great quarterback, you’ve always got a chance.” UTSA’s next game is against the United States Naval Academy on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the Alamodome.
McCown, Alamodome fans silence opposing coach By Daniel Luna Staff Writer The four-day lead-up to the game against the University of South Florida had UT San Antonio students buzzing with energy and anticipation. ESPN chose UTSA football for the network’s primetime slot on Thursday evening. The network also hosted its flagship program, SportsCenter, at the Alamodome for an “On Campus” appearance before the game. South Florida coach Brian Hartline added more heat to the matchup by poking the bear at a pregame press conference. “I’ve heard that it’s really loud there,” Hartline smugly commented. “I don’t know how it gets so loud if there’s not a lot of people there.” Hartline experienced firsthand the reason why UTSA has only lost six games since 2020 at the Alamodome. After the Roadrunners stole the lead with 15 seconds left in the game, the video of Hartline’s comments was displayed on the Alamodome jumbotrons to rub salt in South Florida’s wounds. UT San Antonio students rose to the occasion, as they showed out for the program by packing the student section to the brim. However, the rest of the ‘Dome still had many empty seats, with the attendance accumulating to a lousy 17,632. Despite the sparse showing from the San Antonio community, the Roadrunner fans present on Thursday did not disappoint. The crowd was raucous all night and added an extra edge to UTSA’s play on the field. But fans of the program are left to wonder what a crowd of 40,000, or even the maximum capacity of 64,000, could do to traveling opponents. By season’s end, with the impressive play ramping up, maybe UTSA can take down the curtains on the third level to show the force and power of a packed-out Alamodome crowd. Senior quarterback Owen McCown thrived off the atmosphere. McCown had his breakout
performance of the season, passing for 209 yards at a 71% completion rate, but it was not just his arm that won UTSA the game. McCown did major work with his legs against the Bulls’ defense. On the last drive of the game, the Roadrunners were on the ropes, desperate to convert on third down. After the ball was snapped, McCown stepped back and saw his first read covered. Putting the game in his hands, he tucked the ball and rushed not just for five yards to convert the first down, but for 19 yards to bring the ‘Runners to midfield. “I’ve always been confident in myself in these late-game scenarios,” McCown declared. “I just think it hasn’t gone our way these past couple years. Every time I step on the field this year, I feel super confident because I know the mindset these guys have with one another.” McCown transferred to UTSA before the 2023 season and started in the 2023 Frisco Bowl, where he led the ‘Runners to the first bowl win in program history. The next two years were not kind to McCown as he battled through nagging injuries and rough on-field play. The 2026 season has been the healthiest and most successful of McCown’s career. UTSA’s leader is now the second-most prolific quarterback in program history, behind only Frank Harris. McCown has pulled off clutch game-winning drives against Texas State University and now South Florida. The senior quarterback is garnering the respect and reaching levels of expectations that fans held for him when he transferred to the program in 2022. Fans around the country watched on national television as UTSA completed the remarkable comeback on Thursday. The Roadrunners capitalized on the primetime ESPN time slot, boosting their resume and credibility within the Group of Six. UTSA showed not only San Antonio but the college football world that the Roadrunners are back to winning ways.
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Senior defensive end Jeremiah Bailey wrangles South Florida quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr.
Senior defensive end Jeremiah Bailey wrangles Bulls quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. (top); junior wide receiver David Amador II (bottom).