Vol. 107 No.3 - 10/24/2018

rattler A S T. M A R Y ’ S P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C E 1 9 1 9 Vol 107 | Issue 3 | Oct.24, 2018 | San Antonio, Texas

Sandra Cisneros

OPINION

su vida y historias MIRIAM ROBLES & VICTORIA SALDANA EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & NEWS EDITOR

Sandra Cisneros, a renowned poet and novelist, visited St. Mary’s to talk about her work and her experiences as a writer of color. Cisneros has won numerous awards, but among her most recent accolades are the Ford Foundation’s Art of Change Fellowship and The National Medal of the Arts awarded

by President Obama.

Cisneros’ most wellknown and acclaimed book is “The House on Mango Street” published in 1985 and it is read at all levels of academia, as it highlights the struggles of minorities in race and gender—a common theme in Cisneros’ writing.

While this acts as a solid foundation to teach young students about these topics, it also exhibits what Cisneros herself is passionate about.

She is not only a writer, but also a social justice advocate. In light of this passion, Cisneros has founded two non-profits, the Macondo Foundation and the Alfred Cisneros Del Moral Foundation, both of which serve to engage and support writers.

“It is amazing to have someone as respected and celebrated as Ms. Cisneros on campus visiting with our students,” said Dr. Refugio Romo, associate professor of English and communication studies.

“Most importantly, it is truly beautiful to

have such a celebrated Mexican-American writer serve as a role model not only for the almost 70% Latino undergraduate student body, but for all our students who aspire to serve the underserved community, something really close to Ms. Cisneros’ heart.”

Cisneros, who had previously visited St. Mary’s, expressed her joy to be back on campus, speaking to a packed classroom. “I was that girl in the class who never spoke. … I was the last person a teacher would expect to be speaking to so many people and have [them] listen.”

The Chicago native, who found herself inspired by the work of writers of color like James Baldwin, read excerpts from an upcoming collection of short stories and poems. Having spent a significant amount of time in San Antonio as a writer-in-residence at Our Lady of the Lake University, Cisneros felt greatly tied to the South Texan Latino community, and touched upon the way that women of color were perceived in Texas.

“I think it’s important to consider how [the media] present[s] women of color in Texas.” Regarding her position as a cornerstone of Mexican-American literature, Cisneros says that the best way to go about that is to avoid trying to write for people, but instead to allow their stories to present themselves. “I realized I don’t have to write for people.”

Cisneros’ advice for writers is to let all work be an act of service and love, not an act of ego. “As soon as you’re thinking about [ego] it will block the art from coming,” said Cisneros. The awardwinning writer also says to write without concern for the reader, and instead to WWwrite for oneself. “We all have individual ways of saying things. … You have to write about things that only you know about.”

Cisneros will be a featured guest at the Texas Book Festival on Sunday, Oct.

Community event fosters literary discourse with local columnist JAMIRA RICHARDSON COPY EDITOR

Indicative of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences’ mission to engage members of the St. Mary’s community in a hands-on, interactive literary experience and foster meaningful conversations with local published authors, the department of English literature and language hosted the annual Community Reading Experience on Oct. 23. This year’s Community Reading Experience featured St. Mary’s alumnus and former San Antonio Express-News

columnist Cary Clack (B.A. ’85).

Paying homage to the San Antonio native’s lucrative journalistic career, the event highlighted Clack’s “Clowns and Rats Scare Me”—a book comprised of 84 columns encapsulating thirteen years’ worth of Clack’s rumination on social ills.

From its satirized depictions of police brutality and the comical reincarnation of racist historical figures to the poignant collection of columns analyzing the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, “Clowns and Rats Scare Me” sheds light on contentious social issues through hyperbolic humor—while remaining firmly rooted in the unique culture of

PG.6

Kavanaugh’s appointment is fair

LIFESTYLE

PG.11

Style guide: How to dress for formal events ENTERTAINMENT

PG.12

Last-minute Halloween costume ideas

SPORTS

San Antonio.

CONTINUED ON PG. 2

PG.14

Conference honors student athletes

2 NEWS

EDITOR: VICTORIA SALDANA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

SNAP | FEATURED PHOTO

THE RATTLER

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS MEETINGS

TUESDAY, OCT. 30 UNIVERSITY CENTER Newsroom 6 p.m.

Moses Arredondo, sophmore mechanical engineer major; Lianka De La Parra sophmore psychology major; Odalys Rodriguez sophmore forensic science and biology major; Maria Garcia freshman excercise and sports science major attended Rattlerpalooza a main event hosted by UPC.| Photo by Natalia Zuniga.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE!

FROM “COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE”

www.stmurattlernews.com

“I’m surprised that ‘Clowns and Rats’ was selected for this Community Reading Experience but I’m honored, more so because St. Mary’s University is one of the most important places in my life,” said Clack.

STANDARDS The Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s University. The publication follows the Canons of Responsible Journalism, the Associated Press Stylebook and the Student Publication Policy. The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the College Media Association and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

POLICY ON NEWSPAPER THEFT Due to high production costs, members of the St. Mary’s University community are permitted one copy per issue. Where available, additional copies may be purchased (for 50 cents each) by contacting The Rattler newsroom. Newspaper theft is a crime. Those who violate the single copy rule may be subject to civil and criminal prosecution and/or subject to university discipline.

EDITORIAL STATEMENT The content published in the Rattler is the responsibility of each respective writer. The views expressed in the staff editorial reflect the views of the majority of the editorial staff.

MISSIONS Grounded partially in the Marianist values of family and community, we maintain an open forum for discussion. We strive to produce quality content that informs, not inflames; encourages, not discourages.

We must be sensitive, not sensationalistic; reasonable, not ridiculous; balanced, not bitter.

Cary Clack author of ‘Clowns and Rats Scare Me’ chosen for this Community Experiance. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

Despite spending his formative years as a self-proclaimed “scribbling kid,” Clack attributes his “journalism bug” to opportunities he gained during his junior year at St. Mary’s. Apart from an op-ed piece published in the San Antonio Express-News in Jan. 1983— one advocating for the implementation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday—Clack’s initial venture into journalism occurred in 1984 when he began writing columns for the San Antonio Snap, an African-American newspaper originating from the east side of San Antonio.

In the summer of 1984, Clack traveled

to Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in an internship program at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change. Through the program, designed to promote nonviolence as a way to facilitate social change while allowing participants to work in an area of expertise, Clack gained the opportunity to write commentaries delivered on CNN by Coretta Scott King. “[That was] when the journalism bug bit me,” wrote Clack in the introduction of his book. “But because I was a political science major at St. Mary’s University with no experience except for my Snap columns and a couple of pieces in the school newspaper, there were no prospective employers to scratch my itch when I began sending out resumes and clips.”

Although these opportunities cultivated his desire to become a columnist, Clack spent many years substitute teaching in the San Antonio Independent School District and working as a community organizer before reaching a pivotal point in his journalistic career in 1994. After meeting renowned civil rights lawyer and San Antonio Express-News columnist Maury Maverick Jr., Clack became a biweekly columnist for the San Antonio Express-News, and later the first AfricanAmerican to serve on the editorial board in 1998.

In light of the contentious social issues saturating his columns in “Clowns and Rats Scare Me,” the Community Reading Experience allowed Clack to underscore the importance of utilizing reading and writing as tools to cope with the social issues plaguing the modern world—primarily for the young people of color who compose the majority of St. Mary’s student body.

“Throughout history, every social issue which needed to be addressed was done so through knowledge and communication,”

he said. “The more informed we are, the better equipped we are to find solutions to the problems that ail us. And many times, we didn’t know there was a problem or the extent of the problem until someone wrote about it.”

In preparation for the Community Reading Experience, numerous professors within the department of English literature and language implemented “Clowns and Rats Scare Me” into their syllabi, using Clack’s columns to demonstrate skillful mastery of the written language. “[Give] yourself permission to acknowledge that you’re a writer even if you’ve not published anything. Be persistent. Be aware. Be observant.

Develop your five senses because all five will inform your writing,” said Clack when asked about the most important piece of advice he would offer to aspiring writers. “Write ... [e]very day, even if it’s just for a few minutes ... [and] [d] on’t censor yourself. Write what you feel and think, [and] write what you feel you [want to] express.”

On Oct. 8, 2011, Clack wrote his final column for the San Antonio Express-News, stepping away from journalism to take on a new role as the communications director and senior adviser for Joaquin Castro’s congressional campaign. Although he currently works for Merced Housing Texas, a non-profit housing provider which rehabilitates owner-occupied homes for low-income families, Clack’s voice lives on in the pages of “Clowns and Rats Scare Me”—as indicated by its selection for the Community Reading Experience.

“Knowing that, many years later, the columns can still have impact on a young person, especially a young [person] of color means so much to me,” said Clack.

“In these troubled times, youth, women and people of color possess the power to change things for the better.”

NEWS 3

OCT. 24, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS .COM

POLICE BLOTTER OCT. 2018 OCT. 3 Physical contact (simple assault) and sexual assault and forcible fondling in Founders Hall.

Case is active.

OCT. 3 Criminal trespassing in Marian Hall.

Case is closed.

OCT. 9 Criminal mischief of $750 < $2,500 in lot B. Case is active.

OCT. 8 Harassment in lot W. Case is active.

OCT. 10 Criminal mischief of $750 < $2,500 in parking lot V. Case is closed— arrest.

OCT. 11 Burglary of coin collector machine in the AT&T building.

Case is active.

OCT. 14 Weapons prohibited in Perigueux Hall.

Case is closed.

OCT. 15 Theft in Treadaway Hall.

Case is active.

OCT. 17 Theft in Lourdes Hall.

Case is active.

Diamondback Cafe health inspection score on the rise VICTORIA SALDANA NEWS EDITOR

After seven consecutive years of receiving perfect scores, the Diamondback Cafe received a 92 on its semi-annual health score in November of last year, its lowest score since 2012 and a rating lower than restaurants in the area like Taqueria Datapoint and Luby’s Cafeteria.

Since then the Diamondback Cafe has undergone another health inspection this past September and received a 98, a considerably better score as they strive to raise it back to the previous 100 through continuous improvements.

The report states that the Diamondback Cafe received its 2017 score based on issues primarily concerning sanitation and having the proper officials on site to oversee preparation.

“The issues referenced in the 2017 inspection were all isolated incidents and were corrected immediately,” said Aramark, the service provider used by the Diamondback Cafe, in a statement.

This statement has been corroborated by the official health report, which cited incidents with dishes not being sanitized properly; grease build-up in the vents and hood filters; broken food storage containers and hair restraint issues.

The Diamondback Cafe was also reported to have an issue ensuring that a food protection manager with proper state certification is on site at all times. According to a brief statement

from Aramark, this issue has been fixed with a certified professional now on site at all times to oversee the correct food preparation guidelines.

With the addition of a sanitation heater and the implementation of certified food safety coordinators on site at all times, the Diamondback Cafe has made a considerable step toward improvement, as indicated by the most recent health score that took place just last month.

“Food safety is a top priority as evidenced by our strong record of recent health inspection results,” said Aramark in a statement. “In addition to working closely with the local health department, our commitment to food safety starts with a comprehensive approach to training our managers and associates that ... include[s]

briefing staff before every meal service; having certified food safety coordinators on-site [and] conducting regular and frequent audits and quality assurance assessments … [which] bring an increased level of rigor to this critical aspect of our business.”

Despite its drop in health scores within the past two years, the Diamondback Cafe has made considerable improvements to correct these incidents and strive to serve the St. Mary’s community the best it can.

Graphic by Natalia Zuniga

Matt Bower lecture questions the adequacy of perception VICTORIA SALDANA NEWS EDITOR

In an attempt to engage the St. Mary’s community in intellectual conversation, the philosophy department invited Matt Bower, a professor from Texas State University, to conduct a lecture about perception and the debate over its adequacy. Entitled “Is Perception Inadequate?”, the lecture was structured as a debate between Bower and Edmund Husserl, a philosopher in the late nineteenth to early twentieth century.

“

[S]ince we all experience perception, it’s valuable to think about how that might be functioning in our experience.

Eric Chelstrom associate professor of philosophy

Bower’s talk, although very specific in content, was applicable to all disciplines as exhibited what it means to break down and analyze a claim, even one made about a hundred years ago.

“Wherever people exchange controversial ideas, whether in seeking the best explanation for some phenomenon in the sciences or in trying to understand and thoughtfully engage with, say, political views [we] happen to disagree with … we have to be ready to hear out the claims that others make, to understand them in the best light and especially to understand the reasons behind them,” Bower said.

Is perception adequate? According to Bower, it is, whereas Husserl claims that perception is inadequate in all circumstances.

Throughout the presentation Bower used the example of a cube to describe what it is that humans see, or perceive, when they view objects. Husserl claimed perception to be more than what individuals see in front of them. To Husserl, perception includes all of the other things outside of view. For example, if a cube is placed in an individual’s line of sight, the entire cube is perceived even if only three sides of the cube are visible.

Bower does not agree with this claim. In formulating his argument, he defined what it means for perception to be considered either inadequate or adequate. “[Perception] is inadequate when you mainly have the content in mind but the thing the content refers to is not being given to you. You are not experiencing it,” he said.

“You’re having an adequate experience when you both have something in mind and have the very thing presented to you at the same time.”

He contended that perception can be a mix of both adequacy and inadequacy, a stark contrast to Husserl’s argument that perception is always inadequate—a strong claim which Bower attempted to disprove.

“Husserl makes a mistake when he is thinking about perception and gauging [the] inadequacy or adequacy of perceptual experience,” said Bower. “[W]hat Husserl should be doing is comparing the content … in mind with what is presently intuitive at a given moment. … [H]e takes for granted the content in

my mind as a special kind of content… that perfectly captures the essence of the thing that I perceived.”

According to Bower, the object— or content—individuals often create in their minds is much simpler than Husserl thought.

Bower’s presentation left room for many questions and the students in attendance were quick to ask for clarification on his argument, speculating further about how it could be applied in more complex situations.

“I really enjoy talks like this because they make me analyze arguments and think about things differently,” Joe Lopez, junior English communication major, said. “I really enjoyed this lecture because it makes me rethink what I thought perception was.”

Although the lecture was organized by the philosophy department, students of all disciplines were invited to attend and gain

Graphic by Natalia Zuniga

knowledge about philosophy and about a question that pertains to everyone.

“Philosophy deals with issues and questions that occur to many of us … so it’s good ... to get a sense of how one might address philosophical questions when they arise in one’s life,” said Dr. Eric Chelstrom, associate professor of philosophy. “The nature of perception is a question that is important to a number of fields, not just philosophy. ... [S]ince we all experience perception, it’s valuable to think about how that might be functioning in our experience.”

Chelstrom hopes to bring more philosophical speakers to campus to offer students a chance to broaden their horizons and become more knowledgeable about the discipline.

“We get to see a model of civil, rigorous, academic exchange,” he said. “It’s great to stimulate faculty, students and the community with cool things.”

“Learning does not only happen inside the classroom — it is shaped by the experiential opportunities available to students.”

— Guillermo Avelar (B.B.A. ’18) The Catholic and Marianist University

INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING WITH THE RATTLER? Contact rattlernewsadvertising@gmail.com for more information.

The Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s List for Spring 2018 Published: Fall 2018

UNDERGRADUATE LIST Greehey School of Business Tanuja Singh, D.B.A., Dean HIGHEST HONORS Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian Fernando Alberto Amans Sebastian Avila Allison J. Beatty Kaitlyn A. Bloch Cassandra C. Cantu Ethan Matthew Carlson Giovanni D. Castillo Timothy Anton Feist Alex G. Gavin Meghan E. Geraci Maria Regina Gonzalez Richard Kyle Green Diana I. Gutierrez Nathalie M. Handal Oswaldo Hernandez Bianca M. Hernandez Alexander P. Joseph Anabel Faith Korrodi Megan Elizabeth Krippel Shelina Markose

Cameron A. Martinez Rudy J.a. Martinez Lauren Alia Mlouhi Aime Navarrete Reyes Hannah Odom Ivis Maritza Palacios Hannah Rose Petersen Emily C. Pierson Ruben G. Ramon Diana K. Rocha Ramos Kimberly Ann Rodriguez William E. Rybicki Enrrique Santa Cruz Kimberly N. Simmons Quinton K. Smithwick Andrew J. Townsend Andrew Khoa Tran Alex Valdez Natalie K. Varnell Gerardo Villarreal Katelan D. Young

HIGH HONORS Juan Aguilar Guillermo J. Avelar Olivia Ryan Bachelet Alicia B. Castellanos Vanessa Noelle Chavez Kelly Christine Contreras Guadalupe Delgado Pierre Elbayeh Sarah Anne Foguth Troy Vidal Garcia Alexander Randall Gee Liam M. Gillooly Tarine M. Grace Jennifer L. Gutierrez Michael Hernandez Marisa Sanchez Ibarra Jamie Kaylin Kruseman Kyler Chase Lambert Ava Danielle Martinez

Sabrina Celeste Martinez Clarissa Garcia Martinez Anthony Thomas Millan Adan Alejandro Morales Maria B. Navarro Magda Mayela Olivas Carlos Lisandro Ordonez Angelica Renee Rabago Darion Danielle Ramirez Samantha J. Ramos Patricia M. Reynolds Estefany E. Robledo Josue E. Sanchez-Sanchez Samuel E. Santos Christopher S. Sistrunk Allison K. Surginer Cristopher F. Valdez Cordelia Villalpando

HONORS Jacob Steven Aguilar James D. Alexander Maria Jose Alvarez Jackeline M. Amador Gabriella Arteaga John Barr Luis Mauricio Bonilla Nathan Bonsignore Matthew S. Causino Monica L. Chavarria Qiyan Chen Mateo Andres Cuenca Bryan Estrada Maribel Nicole Garcia Escarlen Garcia Phillip A. Gonzales Karen A. Gonzalez Ezra Hurd Zainab Ali Huwaidi Lauryn N. Hyde Zacharie Johnson Randi K. Kelly Francis C. J. Lopez Brisa M. Marcelino Alexandria Martinez John Frederic Mijares Cody Caleb Miller

Savannah Monterrey Aylin Montes de Oca Eric M. Mudgett Mia Michelle Muniz Dalia Husam Omar Morgan Playle Austin A. Preiss Ahmed H. Rabaan Jose A. Rodriguez Luis A. Rodriguez Keith Roperes Fernanda I. Sandoval Ryan M. Smith Emily Grey Snedeker Teodoro Alexis Soto Ilina Spasova Matthew J. Swartz Miguel A. Terrazas Karla Elizabeth Tobias Irving Tochez Cordero Jett Torres Leah Tovar Mark J. Vaporean Erina E. Varela Megan N. Voltmann Paige Marie Weiss Steven M. Wynn

School of Humanities and Social Sciences Christopher Frost, Ph.D., Dean HIGHEST HONORS Steal L. Adcock Cameron Chase Adelman Alyssa M. Almaguer Eva Noelle Alpar

Cristina A. Anguiano Gabriela Aquino Aguilar Scott C. Arellano Yecenia Arteaga

Omar Zachariah Baki Amanda Bustos Elisha Carrillo Susana Lizet Cisneros Amanda H. Conlin Danielle Cramberg Caitlin M. Cranston Michael Andrew Cruz Ezequiel De La Fuente Mia D. Diaz Maria Dolores Esquivel Barbara Falcon-Mendoza Melanie Ann Farris Miranda A. Flores Sara Yael Funes Valeria D. Garcia Alejandra Garcia Castro Elisa Juanita Garza Rebecca L. Gerstner Gonzalo Guerra MacKenzie Anne Harless Mikaela R. Hartmann Christina A. Haynes Iris Markias Henderson Yamel Claryssa Herrera Alison M. Jarzombek Andrew Jazbani Nicole Brooke Johnson Antoinette S. Johnson Holly C. Knowles Hannah R. Kristynik Cherice Ilana Leach Kelly Elizabeth Leary Maximiliano S. Lerma Brandi Nicole Loving Alexandria Joy Maciel Janice Ribaya Madayag Ana M. Mahomar Adrianna K. Marquez Jessica Marquez-Munoz Maralicia Martinez Lesley Michelle Martinez Jude Medina Guadalupe Medrano Estevan Mendiola Hannah Michel Andrew R. Miller Brianna T. Minjarez

Mary N. Moipei Marta S. Moipei Magdalene N. Moipei Christian Molina Ximena Mondragon Alison Morales-Aguilar Rebecca K. Muller Karina Isabel Nanez Corey Andrew Nobilo Madeline Alyssa Ochoa Any Ojeda Alamilla Renee N. Padilla Yesenia A. Palomo Maria Guadalupe Partida Madison E. Perales Paul Henry Pruski Faith A. Ramirez Mylaina L. Remling Jamira G. Richardson Bailey Noel Rider Cynthia Rodriguez Jocelyn J. Rodriguez Vanessa J. Rodriguez Abigail Rose Sachnik Samantha B. Salazar Kimberly A. Salazar Kristal Danielle Salinas Stacie B. Sanchez Ana Paula Saravia Giselle I. Schoenmakers Franchizca Scipio-Brown Gabriela Verenis Serrato Mishell Toledo Angel Torres Kendall Bell Traa Glory F.E. Turnbull Teresa M. Valdez Victoria M. Valle Mark A. Vargas Victoria E. Vela Sadie Marie Villarreal Eric Joseph Wages Ian Marshall Warner Maya Elyse Weaver Matthew Caleb Wyatt Robert M. Zeitzmann Alexis I. Zepeda

HIGH HONORS Miranda K. Alamilla

Abdulrahman Almaghlooth

Andrew Arizola Frances Marie Bendele Oscar E. Betancourt Maria Fernanda Bodei Ivan L. Briones Maria Cecilia Callejas Amanda N. Cantu Maria Isabel Carrillo Nayeli Patricia Cervantes Natalie Kathleen Childs Juana J. Contreras Abigail Csengery Analina P. Devora Dominique Dominguez Angelica Espinoza Sabrina I. Evans Natalia Flores Sierra Nichole Fuentes Daisy Garcia Emily A. Garcia Gabriella Gonzalez Ana Paula Gonzalez Kassandra R. Guillen Benjamin Case Harper Jeri A. Hernandez Katarina A. Hernandez Sydnee S. Hodge Hayden G. Hollinger

Jeffery Lane Humphries Daisy Jordan Natalie Mendoza Juarez Katherine R. Knodell Amanda S. Lake Carla M. Leal-Willett Emily J. Lenhart Kimberly A. Martinez Samantha M. Martinez Tia Breanne Mason Paige Nicole Meyer Richard Moreno Liam James Morrison Alana Pohovich Jonathan R. Ramirez Donica C. Ramsey Christopher T. Repka Sofia Maria G. Resendiz Janice Rodriguez Karley I. Rosales Mehmet Furkan Samuk Thomas Galaviz Suarez Joshua Matthew Tinajero Alexandra B. Vazquez Brianna Nicole Vela Angel Gabriel Velarde Mary Margaret E. Walls Cameron James Wilson Lianna Ybarra Matthew R. Zuniga

HONORS Karime M. Abboud Adriana Cristina Alfonso Ilse Gabriela Amaya Yvette A. Anaya Claudia J. Arredondo Layane Atarji Amanda K. Avelar Krista Leann Baca Marie N. Baumgartner Dominique Marie Bernal Zoe A. Brigman Clarissa L. Bustamante Abigale Louise Carney Alejandro Carrillo Serena Nicole Casanova

Vanessa Marie Castanon Catherine C. Centeno Daniel J. Clark Antonio T. Coffee Robert Colorado Joseph Edward Contreras Alexandria N. Corder Matthew Ford Coronado Regina De la Parra Christopher De La Rosa Frida L. De Paolo Caroline Louise Duhon Diamond D. Estrada Rosemary Ferreira Nikkei Elliot Flores

Celeste Flores Zaraly Frasquillo Mariah C. Garcia Danielle A. Garza Meghan E. Godinez Christian A. Gomez Marissa Lisette Gonzalez Katelyn B. Gonzalez Daniela Gonzalez Victoria Gonzalez Laredo Eric Jordan Grant Joseph A. Hernandez Jason Cody Hoosier Yuhui Huang Gregory Ryan Huerta Zonia Teresa Huerta Amerika L. Jayme Emily Elizabeth Jimenez Staci Nicole Johns Lindsey M. Kaufman Megan Elizabeth Kelly Alexandra Layman Paulina Lejarza Lluvia M. Loeza Erin M. Longford Jacqueline Lucero Daniel Malacara Angelique H. Maldonado Kenedy Jade Martinez Amara Maritza Martinez Erick Paul Martinez Arieana Alexia Martinez Cassandra Leigh Mccann Caitlin J. McCarrell Michelle Michimani Luis A. Morales Ashleigh Ann Morales Gabriela Murillo Miranda Hoyt Narvaez Timothy Brian Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dekirk Rodrigo Ortiz Emily Victoria Paez Abigail Kurtis Page Elisa Renae Palacios

Ronaldo Patino Flores Shawnee L. Pelletier Breanna Nicole Perry Brittany Alexis Peters Colin John Platz Laura Sofia Ponce Arysia J. Porter Makenzie J. Rainone Robert Oscar Rees Daniel Angel Reyes Gisela Reyes Etiem Geovana Rivera Anthony Louis Robledo Sabrina Rodriguez Christopher Rodriguez Oceane L. Maeva Roux Thalia Blanca Ruiz Robert S. Ruiz Jessika Bibiana Saldana Sophia Salinas Huaren Salinas Victoria L. Sanchez Samantha Geree Schulte Tara Nicole Sellers Hanadi Sonouper Sofia Lore Soto Jacob David Stevenson Jose A. Tapia Tyra Timm Megan J. Tinajero Kayla G. Trevino Aimee A. Trevino Desteni S. Trevino Savannah Jo Valenzuela Tashina R. VanderWoude Xavier Alexander Vargas Suvesh Michael Vasal Eliana L. Velasquez Kaitlin Brianne Walla Leah A. Whitaker Robert J. Whitworth Thiffany Lilian Yeupell Samantha Zamorano

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology Winston Erevelles, Ph.D., Dean HIGHEST HONORS Adam Al-Rafati Karina Alagoa Andrea Maresa Aldaz Febe A. Almanza Komron Aminian Giselle E. Angermaier Jose M. Antelo Savannah J. Avila Jocelyn Baca Adilene Janeth Barrios John I. Beckman Benjamin J. Boyle Stephen M. Braden Richard Hoang Bui Belia G. Camarena Mario C. Cancel Alexander K. Cantrell Brianna Luisa Carrillo Steven Alfred Castillo Yaireth Castro Sebastian Jose Castro Cerise Lily Cisneros Alyssa Martha Cortez Adrianna Christi Cruz Roxana I. Cruz Santory Anuar Jesus Daccarett Eduardo Davalos Alicia L. Decker Hoang Hai Dinh Vy Doan Giovanni Etienne Doria Roberto Enriquez Vargas Amanda Figueroa Jose Luis Figueroa Nathalie M. Figueroa Brandon Xavier Franco Valeria Garcia Gutierrez Tori Nichole Gardner Valeria Garza Reagan Wilson Gately

Claudio Gomez Rebeca M. Gurrola Victoria Gutierrez Carmela N. Hartness Alexander D. Horwath Vinh Kiem Huynh Michaela Leigh Jeanis Evelin Saji Joseph Matthew D. Knodell Michael Tiger Lu Jake Anthony Mares Ariadne I. Martinez Alexandra L. Mclennan Aleacia Maude Messiah Jose Angel Molina Raynelle Lynette Nash Thao Nguyen Jack K. Nunnington Wendy C. Ornelas Samantha Perez Jacob Israel Pesina Basil Qasem Iqra Qazi Taylor Renee Ramirez Aimee L. Ramirez Katherine M. Ramos Shannon Marie Riechers Magen C. Robinson Jaremy Rodriguez Hope M. Russell Kaitlyn T. Salisbury Breanna Lynn Sellers Andrea T. Smith Xavier Nathaniel Tijerina Gabriel Esai Torres Khoa D. Tran Samman Tyata Angelina Reina Varela Thomas Sam Varghese Natalie E. Villarreal

HIGH HONORS Zainab Adel Alali Preston Carl Allen Alyssa C. Alvarez Shirish Amatya Victoria N. Andrade David G. Arambula

Cristian Buelna Mya J. Culiver Jada Marie Dauphine Julian G. De La Rosa Laura Dicun Catherine Maria Etter

Jade Gisele Evenstad David Feagins Bryan E. Galeas Cassandra J. Garcia Angela M. Garcia Deandra C. Gonzalez Brianna Alexis Guillen John August Hannan Jesus A. Hernandez Harun Ahmad Khan Benjamin Olesco Kibler Oscar Martinez Lavenderjit K. Mehat Nilusha Firoz Navodiya

Janson Nguyen Huy Q. Nguyen Francisco Olivas Alain Patrick Peralt Kristen N. Salazar Rachel J. Singleton Joe Anthony R. Suarez Haven G. Tillmon Lisa Tomenendal Eduardo Torres Adam Kyle Valadez Antonio Daniel Vasquez Rony N. Yassin Marcelo A. Zamora

HONORS Mia Angelica Aguilar Kiernan M. Akers Ahmed Alqahtani Esmeralda Apodaca Nina M. Arteaga Alex S. Artola Juan Jose Avalos Rodrigo Aviles Mohammed Basarwan Isabelle B. Bergman Emma Elizabeth Bodisch Maryam Borhamah Ruayda Bouls Timothy M. Carrum Angelo Casalez Alondra V. Cepeda Lydia Contreras David C. Culbreth Brendon Matthew Dent Hailey J. Dienglewicz Roberto Fernandez Amairany Franco Geyner Andres Gaona Danielle R. Garza Cynthia Garza-Herrera Jake Andrew Gleinser Tanya Helbig Roy Hernandez Sara E. Hernandez Nathan David Hudson Sydney E. Jara-Barrio Josue Horacio Jaramillo Jasmine L. Jaramillo Victoria Anne Leh Kenneth H. McAshan Brandon L. McClellan Thomas A. Medrano Carolina Medrano

Antonia M. Merta Alejandra M. Romero Diana Moreno-Gutierrez Claudia Moreno-Romero Mariana L. Mosqueda Adrian Antonio Naoun Vy Le Phuong Nguyen Gabriella C. Olsen Chika Amy Onwuzurike Paula L. Perez Ashley Christine Perez Jeremy Ramirez Dakota Walker Rodgers Jolynn Rodriguez Elizabeth Rodriguez Salvador Rodriguez Gerard Tine Roebuck Elijah M. Romero Annabelle Sackey Simon W. Sanchez Gabriela P. Santos Josemaria S. Soriano Jose Manuel Tanori Sainz Hoa Huu Viet To Josephine Y. Tran Sarana L. Tse Thomas Scott Tudor Jesus Valencia Jennifer Nicole Valle Daniel Valverde Karina Vargas Jose Luis Vera-Cruz Evelin Villegas Brittany L. Vorheis James Weatherhead Nicole E. Webb Ashley Yates-Contreras Maham A. Zafar

GRADUATE LIST Greehey School of Business Carlos Gabriel Carranza Reginald B. Ewesuedo Jesse James Fernandez Gary Peter Guillory Krystle Dawn Herzog Carolina Mansour Patrick Talley Marsh

Enrique Mejia Lauren Michael Zeynep Peterson Quintin Andrew Pile Stanislava Terzieva-Craig Ashleigh Anne Wempe

School of Humanities and Social Sciences Martin Aguirre Deemah Shobber Louis John Antu Aletta Averill Katie Cassandra Barber Darron Bazin Jeremy Franklin Boutwell Ciaira Briseno Fabian Castro Camille Clausse-Pujo Carrie Martin Clewett Jonathan Clifford Amber L. Fragoso Elysia Faye Gadberry Regina Yolanda Garcia Melanie Elyse Gomez Liliana Valadez Gomez Georgina Gosen Natasha R. Haight Willie James Harris Monica Espinoza Lopez Alexandra Lopez

Itzel Martinez Mallory E. Medellin Paola Misteli Eleni Samaras Moncrief Alexander F. Montero Yu Gyoung Park Molly Bowen Payne Ashley Giselle Pineda Briana Marie Puente Raquel Recio Ian K. Riley Angelica Robledo Patricia S. Martinez Ryle Dalton Scribner Laura Annette Sepeda Kathryn Shaw-Meadow Christine Sheppard LaRae Annette Sleeter Mariah Shea Tamborella Nicanor Valdez Trivett Copley Wingo Nina Renee Wolf

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology Abdulrahman Abualshamat Badr M. Basager

Simon Wei Qi Scott Curtis Raymond

6 OPINION

EDITOR: LOUIE DIAZ | @STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

Indigenous Peoples’ Day encourages awareness in the U.S. Samantha

Ruvalcaba STAFF WRITER

The celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day dates back to 1991 when Berkeley, California, became the first city in the U.S. to adopt it, with the purpose of recognizing the importance of American Indians and acknowledging the suffering the Native American community faced upon the arrival of Columbus.

“I don’t believe we should celebrate Columbus Day because he didn’t discover America,” said Dr. Milo Colton, associate professor of criminal justice and Cherokee

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE SHOULD CELEBRATE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ DAY? LET US KNOW.

Write a letter to the editor!

Submit: rattlernews@gmail.com

descendant. “He initiated a genocide against the native people here and 500 years later, we’re still suffering from it.”

Colton grew up in a household that embraced Native heritage. However, that has not been the case for everyone. Throughout the years Dr. Colton has also witnessed the injustices and prejudices faced by the Native American community, all of which stem from the arrival of Christopher Columbus in North America.

“Back in the 1980s you didn’t see powwows in this part of the state,” Dr. Colton said. “Our Indian people practiced their ceremonies in secret and it was because they feared the wrath of the federal government.”

Just last year, San Antonio mayor Ron Nirenberg designated Oct. 12 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Although San Antonio is barely transitioning into this newly designated holiday, many other cities around the United States, like Austin, are celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day instead of Columbus Day. “It means a great deal to the Indian people that a person as powerful as the mayor is willing to say ... it’s time to celebrate the native people,” Colton said.

Aric Garza, junior business management major, is the president of the Native American Student Association (NASA).

Garza chose to join NASA as a fulfillment of his fraternity’s cultural awareness pillar.

After joining, he realized how important this organization is to the campus and to the greater San Antonio community.

Graphic by Victoria Valle

“Awareness is the biggest thing, making sure everyone’s aware of why we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day and making sure that they know that organizations like NASA exist,” said Garza.

It is important to note that one does not have to come from American Indian heritage to join or participate in NASA— or any celebration honoring indigenous peoples for that matter. For centuries the American Indian community has suffered violence, discrimination and injustice.

More and more cities across the nation are beginning to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, but there is still a long way to go.

“As long as you support what we do, and you want to better the campus, we welcome anyone,” Garza said.

NASA will be hosting a powwow on Nov. 10 at Pecan Grove, where there will be drums, dancing, vendors, crafts and food.

This event is an opportunity to experience Native American culture—a culture that American leaders once tried to exterminate.

Senate makes the right decision to allow Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court Robert

Moncada CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After what seemed like a grueling hearing before the U.S. Senate amidst disturbing rape and sexual assault allegations, the Senate confirmed Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court with a majority vote of 50-48 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Although the Democrats accomplished what they set out to achieve when the FBI launched an investigation regarding the allegations, the bureau found no evidence pointing to Kavanaugh’s guilt. Therefore, Kavanaugh is a presumed innocent man.

One question that continues to boggle the minds of those in favor of Kavanaugh is why Dr. Christine Blasey Ford waited 36 years to come forward and claim Kavanaugh to be her assaulter. An even better question is why Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein withheld the knowledge of Dr. Ford’s allegations until days before it was time to vote on the confirmation. It almost seems as if the Democrats were doing everything they could to stall this confirmation until the midterm elections in November.

It is very difficult to deem Kavanaugh guilty in a he-said, she-said investigation, especially since a non-criminal FBI investigation actually holds less power to compel testimony than the Senate Judiciary committee.

There was no need for an FBI investigation to take place, as Kavanaugh had previously gone through six intensive federal background checks already, a required measure when serving on a federal court. During each of these background checks, the FBI reviewed his history and

interviewed members of his family and his neighbors. In those six background checks, there was never a mention of a single allegation against Kavanaugh.

Many laughed at and ridiculed Kavanaugh for his behavior during his testimony before the Senate. However, imagine how he felt when he was expecting a confirmation to serve on the highest court in America, when out of nowhere a woman whom he has not seen since high school claims she was sexually assaulted by him.

Kavanaugh’s whole life was turned upside down. If he had not been confirmed to the Supreme Court, he would have most likely been banned from teaching college courses at Yale Law School and from coaching his daughter’s basketball team.

“I think that’s part of the problem that people don’t quite understand,” said Dr. Arturo Vega, professor of political science.

“In these hearings, it’s an interview for a job.

It’s the role of the Senate to confirm or not to confirm. Faced with that sort of accusation, you have to do something about it. You can’t just hide it under the rug.”

There are multiple things wrong with the entire ordeal. There were multiple instances when Ford’s testimony before the Senate did not add up to what she had previously stated under oath. A prime example of this discrepancy is the testimony of her witnesses. All four of Ford’s claimed witnesses denied knowledge of the party where Kavanaugh allegedly committed the acts. In contrast, Kavanaugh provided pretty credible evidence that Ford could not account for, such as his movements during certain time frames.

It is ridiculous that the Democratic senators created this whole ordeal and placed Kavanaugh in a situation where he

Graphic ompiled by Louie Diaz

had to prove his innocence.

The United States judicial system was created to presume the innocence of an alleged perpetrator until proven guilty.

Judge Kavanaugh did not have to prove his innocence, but the senators persisted. The presumption of innocence is the foundation of American liberties and protects citizens from wrongful persecutions such as this.

However, Justice Kavanaugh was not on trial. The Senate was merely performing their duties during the hearing. This was not an event to lock the judge away. Instead, this was simply a job interview, a very intense one.

“I agree with the confirmation,” said Noah Bolhuis, freshman international and global studies major. “I believe all the accusations were just fabricated or mistaken. ... I just think Kavanaugh had such a good reputation. There’s no way it could be him.”

From both a liberal and a conservative

point of view, something obviously happened to Ford. Whether the assaulter was Kavanaugh or not is highly debatable, but the evidence Ford provided and the FBI investigation that followed would say otherwise.

“Elections have consequences,” said Vega.

“Anybody that [sic] didn’t think the president wouldn’t [sic] appoint a conservative to the court is mistaken. That was the consequence of this. Now we have to live through this consequence. Either way it could be a very positive thing or it could be a very negative thing.”

VIEWS OF THE WRITER DO NOT REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE RATTLER.

OPINION 7

OCT. 24, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Phasing out plastic straws is an effective but minimal way to reduce waste Miriam

Robles EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Earlier this month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a panel operating under the United Nations, released a report claiming that “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” must be made on a large scale in order to stave off negative, world-altering effects. While this report has simply cemented the severity of an issue that is widely known—although whether it is widely accepted is up for debate—it has put extra pressure on global leaders to reduce waste as well as fossil fuel use.

It may be difficult for average people to wrap their brains around what can be done in regard to these oncoming threats. However, a rather insignificant and popularized ecofriendly change has presented itself in the forgoing of plastic straws in favor of reusable straws, or no straws at all. Earlier this year, Starbucks committed itself to ending straw use in its stores. In a similar manner, the state of California banned straw use in restaurants just last month.

Plastic straws are negative for the environment, no doubt; not only does plastic take a harmfully long amount of time to decompose, but the plastic from which straws are made is sourced from oil that wrecks the environment when sourced, so it makes

sense to cut them out of the public forum.

With Starbucks leading the way with the straw-less lid, other vendors have specialized in producing reusable straws made of stainless steel or even biodegradable material, going as far as appearing on “Shark Tank” in an effort to promote this new innovation. And the practice has been picking up speed; it is now trendy to drink out of Starbucks’ new cups and reusable straws are the new “LIVESTRONG” bracelets, a “socially-conscious” accessory.

“I think cutting out straws is environmentally impactful, for sure.

Logically, it’s a waste of money and the more straws created ... means more plastic in landfills,” said Karina Nanez, sophomore communications major and secretary of Eco Club.

This is great.

People ought to be concerned about their env ironment a l footprint and they should be cutting out unnecessary waste from their

lifestyles. This, however, raises questions regarding the place of sustainability in the public forum. Is it really a commitment to environmental change? Or is it more of a way for individuals (and corporations for that matter) to publicly make a commitment to a noble cause without doing much at all?

After all, barring some sort of physical disability, cutting out straws isn’t an incredible sacrifice by any means and yet it seems to be the mark of every newly-minted sustainability specialist. If committing to environmental sustainability is really that simple, why is it so difficult to commit to sustainable legislation?

The phasing out of plastic straws from common consumption is a good thing; there is no doubt about that. However, individuals need to understand that the commitment to environmental change is not a trendy accessory that can be brought out whenever it is convenient or whenever it makes them feel good, nor is it a political statement that can be contended as a moral gray area.

At this point, it is a matter of survival. Being truly committed to substantial change means making changes to harmful lifestyles even when—especially when—it is hard.

VIEW MORE ONLINE AT

www.stmurattlernews.com

Graphics by Natalia Zuniga

Skunk problem on campus demands St. Mary’s to conduct relocation efforts EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Miriam Robles Managing Editor Samantha Salazar Copy Editor Jamira Richardson Advertising Manager Daria Flowers Layout & Design/Photo Editor Natalia Zuniga Web Editor Victoria Valle Social Media Manager Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian News Editor Victoria Saldana Lifestyle Editor Julissa Cantu Opinion Editor Louie Diaz Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Arredondo Sports Editor Tawny Davis Faculty Adviser Camille Langston, Ph.D.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Rattler welcomes letters to the editor.

Letters should not exceed 500 words and must include writer’s name, classification, major and telephone number. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar, spelling and content. For more information, call the newsroom at (210) 436-3401 or email rattlernews@gmail.com.

Gerardo

Nino-Pozos

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

St. Mary’s is teeming with wildlife, from the frogs croaking at midnight and the birds perched in every tree to the squirrels scavenging for their next nut and the cats prowling the campus like any other student.

For the most part, students and animals coexist, but there is an animal whose presence has begun to turn the heads of numerous students around campus: skunks.

Highlighted in the darkness by their distinct bushy tails and white-striped backs, these furry animals have been seen near the path between the tennis courts and the law library. Skunks are typically no more aggressive than other docile species already found on campus, but they are infamous for spraying potential predators with a yellow, oily liquid, releasing a vile odor that is difficult to remove. This raises a vital question as to which species should be

allowed to reside on campus and what those repercussions could mean for students.

Because skunks are nocturnal creatures, nighttime is the ideal opportunity for a close-up encounter between skunks and students to arise. Generally, skunks keep to themselves when searching for food, but they are known to spray when startled.

Skunk spray can cause gagging, nausea and sometimes temporary blindness. However, skunks will often flash a few warning signs before spraying, such as raising their tails or stamping their feet.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, skunks are among the highest carriers of rabies. Around 24.8 percent of skunks carry the virus. It’s uncertain whether the skunks on campus have rabies, yet they may pose possible threats to students and campus cats. Rabies is a potentially fatal disease if untreated, which is grounds for them to be relocated.

Being sprayed is an emotionally stressful and potentially costly incident, especially Graphic by Victoria Valle

if it were to occur on a school night.

Contrary to popular belief, tomato juice does not eliminate the rancid odor of skunk spray. Instead, it merely masks the odor of skunk spray, doing little to neutralize it. To neutralize the odor of skunk spray, students can either create a homemade mixture or buy a store remedy, neither of which they would likely carry around nor have adequate access to soak in.

“Realistically, I would rather just not have them on campus because it’s very concerning to my well-being and the well-being of other students since [the campus is] not some park,” said Ernie Sano, sophomore business management major. “We have to live here.”

Skunks are omnivores, meaning they eat both animals and vegetation. Insects are tasty treats for skunks, although they are known to consume rodents and reptiles as well.

Because of their omnivorous diet, skunks serve as natural “population controllers,” maintaining balance by consuming some of the other species that dwell at St. Mary’s to avoid overpopulation. Evidently, skunks aren’t pests, as many believe them to be, but they do fit in this circle.

“People tend to blow things out of proportion, so we may not have enough information,” said Crystalrose Quintero, junior chemistry major.

St. Mary’s is home to a plethora of animal species, which might potentially invite predators to seek residency here on campus.

If skunks are allowed to remain on campus, this sets a very slippery precedent because it blurs the boundary between which species are welcome at St. Mary’s and which are not.

Relocation would be an optimal fit for these animals as San Antonio contains many ideal habitats for them, but it should be done in the safest way possible. Lately, the presence of skunks on campus has not been a major issue, but that does not guarantee future issues won’t arise.

10 LIFESTYLE

Money Matters Convenience stores, restaurants and gas stations, especially the smaller chains, often refuse to take credit or debit cards unless they exceed a certain monetary value, similarly some stores may charge a flat rate for every credit card transaction. This is incredibly commonplace. However, this is also illegal.

As of 2017, the Better Business Bureau made an agreement with American Express, VISA and Master Card, that stated that businesses could not discriminate against credit card users. Businesses that require a minimum fee for individuals using a credit card violate such an agreement.

This agreement is relevant due to the amount of gas stations and other small businesses in San Antonio who perpetrate such violations, usually in lowincome and minority communities. This charge is usually attached because credit card companies charge businesses who attempt to cheat customers.

These businesses are allowed to have such a fee attached to debit card charges, and to have a discount available for debit card and cash use.

To report such crimes, students should tell the business owners about their violation. If the problem endures, students should report the crimes to the Better Business Bureau, where students will be asked to provide a location, the name of the business and a description of the crime.

Graphic by Natalia Zuniga

EDITOR: JULISSA CANTU | @STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

TREND WATCH: Layering through fall JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

With November rapidly approaching and St. Mary’s beginning to see less sun and more gray skies, living in Texas often leaves students suffering through unbearable weather conditions. While some look forward to warm drinks and fall fragrances, winter also comes with harsh winds and icy rain, though this should not impede students from being creative with their style.

Keeping in mind that Southerners are not used to colder temperatures, layering is an important part of getting dressed in anticipation of the colder weather.

In anticipation for the colder temperatures, students may want to consider wearing oversized pieces that almost drown out the silhouette. Wearing an oversized piece is similar to carrying a blanket around campus, except it will fit comfortably on one’s shoulders and is much more convenient than actually carrying a blanket. Oversized pieces also

relieve students from the burden of having to appear alluring at all times. There is also the added benefit of wearing a big cardigan or coat and inviting friends to cuddle up while drinking warm coffee or hot chocolate during study breaks.

Because winter is the time to bundle up, students should consider high necklines

models walking runway shows for various designers like Balenciaga and Valentino, which consistently blend different patterns and textures. Natalie Juarez, senior political science major, dubs the look and her own style “hobo chic.”

This particular trend has a tendency to follow the minimalist lifestyle of many millennials, meaning solid colors are a safe bet to pair for models on the runway, celebrities and students alike.

Students should approach patterns with caution since too many could make them resemble couches walking to class. For fall and winter, darker colors are always in style and it is best to wear thicker material such as wool, corduroy, tweed and knit in order to keep warm.

At the end of the day, students should prioritize Photos and graphic by Natalia Zuniga comfort and warmth, such as turtlenecks to keep their necks especially during a time of the year when hidden from the chilly air. Longer and they are more susceptible to illness and thicker pants and skirts are also useful stress. Students should focus on bundling and stylish since they allow students to up, staying warm and keeping healthy. experiment with body proportions. Low However, it is not impossible to stay hemlines have become prominent on stylish at the same time.

Students discover the difficulties of being too involved MIRIAM ROBLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

It is an everlasting struggle for students to find the perfect balance between activities that make them happy and those that make them look good on a resume. For students, college often feels like one extended effort to appear as the most marketable employees upon graduation, often through extracurricular activities such as Greek life, internships, summer jobs and study abroad programs. However, there is a point where all of these extracurricular activities become too much for a single student to handle and it can lead to negative consequences.

While it might seem like a busy student is a productive student, oftentimes the two are not the same, though it’s easy to confuse them. After all, in order to be productive, a student must be busy, but this may not always mean the student should be consistently busy. Students often fall prey to the idea that they ought to be busy all day, every day, to get the most out of their college experience. This is a harmful idea for two reasons.

First of all, when students overload themselves with an inordinate amount of work, this often create an overwhelming amount of stress that can ultimately lead them to burn out before the semester is even over. Stress, of course, can negatively impact health and schoolwork.

Secondly, keeping an overly busy schedule can also lead to under performance in other commitments,

when a student is spread too thin, it’s easy for things to fall by the wayside in terms of commitment. This could negatively impact dedication to self-care and academic performance as students under-prioritize their own needs chooses commitments that impact others. On the other side of

Student overwhelmed with stress fights to finish the semester strong.| Photo by Natalia Zuniga

that spectrum, students could end up making decisions that negatively impact the people who are dependent on them.

With all this being said, how can students tell the difference between being productive and being busy? That might

be dependent on each individual, in part, because everyone has their own personal limits in terms of time commitment and some truly thrive under pressure.

However, there’s a solid rule of thumb.

If students feel like an activity is taking away from them in terms of time, and opportunity outweighs what a student is contributing to that organization, club or position, then it might be better to drop the extracurricular activity.

Balance is also key. America Jayme, junior political science major, knows all about balance: as president of UPC, a member of chapel choir, a member of the honors program and holding leadership positions in her sorority.

“Utilize a planner and make sure to schedule studying,” Jayme said. “Also, never miss out on sleep. Sleep is so important.”

Even though this might seem like a flaky thing to do, students will be better off in the long run. It’s important for students to keep reevaluating their values and goals to see if they are participating in an activity because they are truly getting an enriching and valuable experience or if it’s because they wanted to try the activity out of curiosity. After all, college is an ideal time to try things out with minimal commitment.

Being busy and being productive are two definitively different things and knowing the difference could very much change a student’s trajectory. Ultimately, it is better to commit fully to one extracurricular activity than having one foot in and one foot out of a number of different activities.

LIFESTYLE 11

OCT. 24, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Appreciating the joys of Halloween without appropriation JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Does your costume

YES

Halloween, one of the most commercialized holidays in Western culture, has proven year after year to be the grandest spectacle for people to appropriate cultures from across the world. While the act of cultural appropriation is offensive to many, educating ignorant individuals about the importance of culture is the most necessary aspect of understanding how cultural appropriation is harmful to people of color and other marginalized groups.

For the most part, appropriative costumes are heavily rooted in stereotypes of race and gender, often both. When individuals take it upon themselves to dress up as caricatures of specific groups of people, this perpetuates a system of oppression for the marginalized group being depicted. Halloween, albeit the only day in the year to be someone else without judgment, should not be used to uphold these stereotypes.

Some people believe that wearing a culturally appropriative costume is not a concern or they simply do not care.

This thought process, while profoundly insensitive, is rooted in ignorance of the systematic issues faced by people of color and other marginalized groups. However, this ignorance does not excuse the problematic act, but only enables these individuals to commit such unethical actions. Choosing to wear a culturally appropriative costume also denies the disenfranchisements of marginalized people.

Though it might be difficult for students to know which costumes are considered

Does your costume take an element or caricuture from someone’s culture that is not your own?

NO

I’m not sure?

NO!

Would the Marianist Brothers approve?

They’d love it!

I don’t know!

...no

Would you wear the costume around the people you are dressing up as?

I am going as an inanimate object so...

I would since someone from that group said it was cool!

Do you expect negative comments about your costume from a particular group of people?

You should probably pick a different costume

Maybe

Rock your costume and have a happy Halloween!

Graphic by Victoria Valle

culturally appropriative if they are not familiar with perspectives outside of their own, it is still important to be conscious of such actions when choosing a costume for Halloween.

Wearing a costume that hyperbolizes a race, ethnicity or culture is, generally speaking, a bad idea. For example, Heidi Klum outraged Hindu leaders when she wore a costume to depict the Hindu goddess Kali. Klum’s costume caused controversy because the Hindu leaders asserted that the goddess Kali is a figure to be worshipped, not paraded around for shock factor.

While many culturally appropriative costumes either depict actual people of color or characters portrayed by people of color, some of them are not evil at their core.

However, these costumes become unethical when the individuals wearing these costumes uses paint or makeup to darken their skin or use traditional, cultural customs to depict a race or ethnicity. For example, Julianne Hough painted her face a darker complexion and styled her hair in bantu knots when she dressed up as Crazy Eyes from the show “Orange is the New Black.” The list goes on, whether it be on the red carpet or at home. and this behavior should not be tolerated at either place.

Therefore, when picking a Halloween costume, students should keep in mind whether the costume has the possibility of perpetuating harmful stereotypes.

College students often use Halloween as an opportunity to dress up in funny or sexy costumes, but the fetishization of marginalized people should not be included in this holiday tradition.

Styling from white tie to garden formal for students’ fancy dressing needs

BLACK TIE FORMAL

BLACK TIE OPTIONAL White tie is considered the most formal dress code, often required for huge events such as big galas, donor dinners or weddings.

This dress code does not inherently require a white tie, though. However, it does entail a bowtie and tailcoat, in addition to stylish accessories such as cufflinks and pocket squares. Ball gowns with prim and proper

Another type of formal wear students might encounter is black tie optional, which adds a pinch of fun to an otherwise serious event. While this specific dress code will usually be indicated on an invitation, it will most likely be required for events such as networking parties with company executives in the workplace. A suit would suffice for such an affair, though guests have slightly more freedom than they would at a white tie or black tie event. Although a wider array of colors is available, darker hues are more acceptable. Fun and flirty cocktail dresses that are both sleek and chic would be perfect for such an event. However, the customary

students would wear at an outdoor formal.

Outdoor formals are garden or beach parties, perfect for photo ops and socializing. These events often call for long, flowy dresses with brighter patterns and colors. A simple suit would also be preferable. Guests may wear brighter colors as outdoor formals are often for sunnier occasions, but students should be mindful of the breeze, as well as the heat.

WHITE TIE FORMAL

At St. Mary’s, there are a few events for which formal wear is required. Because students are often restricted to a minimal budget, they should have an idea of the different types of formal wear in case these opportunities appear.

patterns, paired with minimalistic jewelry, would also be appropriate. However, such white tie events are rare, even in top offices such as the White House, so college students should not fret over where they can find a ball gown immediately.

Black tie events are much more common for college students involved in closeknit organizations such as sororities and fraternities. Floor-length gowns with a sleek silhouette and tuxedoes are necessary essentials for black tie events, though a nice three-piece suit would fit in as well.

Similar to white tie events, a black tie is not necessary and students who wish to stand out from the crowd can go with jewel tones for a regal atmosphere.

OUTDOOR FORMAL

JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Photos by Natalia Zuniga

length for these dresses is either at or below the knee.

The final type of formal wear, the perfect mixture of formal and casual, is what

For students who want easy access to formal wear options, the website Rent the Runway provides multiple sizes for chosen designer pieces.

College students should always be prepared for formal events of any kind, without going through the trouble of feeling under- or overdressed.

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: ELIZABETH ARREDONDO | @STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

Finding the perfect halloween costume: DIY last-minute costume EVA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

It is much easier than students think to come up with a last-minute costume that they can assemble with pieces already in their closets. Below are costume ideas students can create in minutes.

Students who own a yellow t-shirt, denim shorts and black tennis shoes can channel their inner Minion from “Despicable Me.”

All they need to add are black suspenders; Minion goggles that can be made with a black headband; black and silver markers; white foam cups and black gloves. Once students have assembled all of these items, they are officially ready to work for Gru. Students who own a flannel can be the cutest scarecrows on the cornfield with simple clothing items. All they need is a flannel shirt of any color, blue jeans, black or brown boots and a straw hat. After adding

some face paint and other details such as straw coming out of the shirt or clipping fake sunflowers to the fabric, they will be ready to go.

Students who own a long-sleeved shirt with red and white stripes and a beanie can be Waldo this Halloween. All they need is a red-and-white striped shirt with long sleeves, blue jeans, brown boots, a redand-white striped beanie and black, roundframed glasses to pull off this look.

Lastly, students can channel their inner superhero by dressing up as the hero in the midst of revealing his or her secret identity.

For example, students can dress up as Clark Kent transforming into Superman. All they need is a t-shirt with the Superman logo on it, a white dress shirt, a blazer, slacks and the famous Clark Kent glasses. By unbuttoning part of the shirt to reveal the Superman logo. students can dress like the Man of Steel.

Photo courtesy of pinterest.com

Popular Unpopular Opinion Warning: “Venom” (2018) is a good movie, the critics are just mean VICTORIA VALLE WEB EDITOR

In light of movies such as “Thor: Ragnarok” and “Deadpool 2,” director Ruben Fleischer’s “Venom” is a little darker take on a superhero film, in the vein of “The Dark Knight.” “Venom” is an action-packed superhero film filled with dark comedy and dazzling CGI. The most surprising thing about this film is how badly it was received

Graphic by Victoria Valle

by critics. Audience members, on the other hand, found a lot to love about the unlikely superhero duo. The plot follows Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy), a journalist trying to do the right thing, while he finds himself out of a job after he digs too deep into the founder of the Life Foundation, Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed).

Brock is the very definition of the reluctant anti-hero. His bad luck takes a turn for the worse when he is infected with a “parasite” from the Life Foundation labs. It turns out the Life Foundation is harboring alien lifeforms called “symbiotes”: amorphous, almost liquid-like beings who want to claim

earth as their home and its inhabitants as hosts. Over the course of the movie, one of the symbiotes bonds with Brock and the two become the supercharged anti-hero, Venom. Hardy also voices Venom, creating effortless and hilarious banter between the two throughout the film.

Through a combination of elements such as action, horror and suspense, “Venom” brought dark vibes, comparable to a horror film like “The Conjuring”. When the film’s pace of events plateaued, the sense of building action saved the audience from boredom. The villain was by no means imaginative but brought exactly what an

audience would expect from the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s villains. “Venom” is a good watch, a great introduction to the world of Eddie Brock and has great potential for a sequel.

Photo courtesy of SONY

Zoo Boo! San Antonio Zoo Thru Oct. 28

Boo Bash!

St. Mary’s University Oct. 30

Law School Boo Bash St. Mary’s Law School Oct. 26

Nightmare @ the Mcnay Museum Thru Oct. 28

Haunted River La Villita Oct. 26

13 Floors Haunted House Thru Nov. 3

HOWL-O-SCREAM Sea World Thru Oct. 28

Fright Fest Six Flags Fiesta Texas Thru Oct. 31

Dia de los Muertos La Villita Oct. 27-28

Rattler Excursion: Six Flags Fright Fest Oct. 26

O C T O B E R E V E N T S

ENTERTAINMENT 13

OCT. 24 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Editor’s choice for must-watch scary movies

Photos courtesy of rottentomatoes.com

RA T TLE R SCAR E-O-ME TE R

93% “Sinister” is a 2012 supernatural thriller from the producer of the “Paranormal Activity” films and the writer-director of “The Exorcism of Emily Rose.” Ethan Hawke plays a washed-up true crime novelist who discovers a box of mysterious, disturbing home movies that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose work dates back to the 1960s. He moved his family into the same house and this plunges his family into a nightmarish experience of supernatural horror.

RA T TLE R SCAR E-O-ME TE R

85% “The Strangers” is a 2008 American horror film written and directed

by Bryan Bertino. “The Strangers” begins with a 911 call and caption describing Kristen (Liv Tyler) and James (Scott Speedman), a young couple, leaving a wedding reception and retreating to a family vacation home in the woods around four in the morning. They receive a knock on the front door from a young woman who claims to be looking for a friend of hers, and soon thereafter, a trio of masked maniacs break into the home and terrorize the couple.

RA T TLE R SCARE-O-ME TE R

92%

“Evil Dead” director Sam Raimi takes the helm for this “spook-ablast” shocker. Charlotte (Alison Lohman) is a bank employee who is in line for a management position, but her boss says she needs to show she can make tough decisions. When an old gypsy woman comes in and asks for a mortgage extension, she refuses her. The gypsy woman attacks her in the car park, rips a button off Charlotte’s coat and curses it. In retaliation, Mrs. Ganush places the dreaded curse of the Lamia on her unfortunate target, transforming Christine’s life into a waking nightmare.

RA T TLE R SCARE-O-ME TE R

RA T TLE R SCARE-O-ME TE R

89%

“Hereditary” is a 2018 horror film written and directed by Ari Aster in his feature directorial debut. It stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro and Gabriel Byrne. When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter’s family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry.

The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited.

“Hereditary” is about the scars of family that can’t be escaped.

80%

The 2016 film presents Blair Witch, a raw look at what can happen when college students forgo common sense and enter the world of voodoo and witchcraft. The film opens with a title card explaining that in 1994, three students went into the Maryland backwoods to do a film project on the Blair Witch incidents. These kids were never seen again, and the film is from their recovered equipment, found in the woods a year later.

The movie documents their adventures leading up to their final minutes.

Alamo City Comic Con celebrates comic art culture in San Antonio for 3 days RENE PADILLA STAFF WRITER

In October, San Antonio hosts Alamo City Comic Con (ACCC), an annual event held to celebrate anything and everything pop culture. Hosted in the Alamodome, ACCC is a special convention for enthusiasts of nerd culture and a place to have fun with friends and family, interact with like-minded individuals and meet celebrity guests.

“People who like anime or comics are people who understand the value of fantasy and other perspectives,” said Hope Mauricio, junior political science major.

“We like to immerse ourselves into other worlds. I think the convention offers [us] a more personal feeling to that world.”

Mauricio describes conventions as a place where fans can meet and socialize with one another in a way they normally cannot.

Like other conventions, con-goers are free to cosplay as their favorite characters.

For some fans, cosplay is more than a way to have fun and meet new people; it can also be an art form. Serious cosplayers dedicate hours to creating their costumes and props, sometimes taking months to complete the project. During the ACCC,

Photo courtesy of alamocitycomiccon.com

cosplayers can even enter a costume contest and compete against other cosplayers to figure out whose costume is best.

One of the main attractions at ACCC each year are the special guests invited to meet and greet with fans. Some of the notable guests who will be attending this year include Arnold Schwarzenegger; William Shatner; Jeff Goldblum; Jim Cummings and Doctor Who’s John Barrowman.

Marvel fans may also recognize Michael Colter; Natalia Cordova; Henry Simmons; Michael Rooker and Sean Gunn.

Con-goers have a chance to meet the guests, take photos with them and get an autograph. However, the ACCC website warns that not all guests offer selfies, so a purchased photo op is the only way to ensure a photo. Autograph prices vary between celebrity guests. Bigger celebrities

may charge more for autographs; in the past, prices have ranged from $20 to $80, but ACCC does not know the exact price for each celebrity. Unlike other types of pop culture conventions, San Antonio Comic Con offers fans a chance to meet comic book artists. Star Wars concept artist Colin Cantwell and comic artists Ben Bishop, Chad Hardin and Jim Lee will be featured at this year’s ACCC. The artists, featured cosplayers, actors and voice actors may be featured as panelists. The 2018 panel schedule has yet to be released, but newcomers can expect an array of panels, some interactive while others are set up like an interview or presentation. These panels can be entertaining or informative – and sometimes both.

Throughout the convention, con-goers

can also compete in tabletop games such as Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic the Gathering and Pokemon.

No weapons of any kind are permitted on the premises. Con-goers must go through security before gaining entrance to the convention. The ACCC website recommends that newcomers wear comfortable clothing for walking and bring snacks and water. Parking is available at the Alamodome.

The Alamo City Comic Con will be held from Friday, Oct. 26, to Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Alamodome. Dedicated fans and newcomers can all expect to enter another joyfully nerdy world. Tickets and VIP passes can be purchased through the ACCC website. For more information, visit www.alamocitycomiccon.com/.

14 SPORTS

EDITOR:TAWNY DAVIS |@STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

Heartland conference honors Rattler men’s golfer with award AINARA MORA STAFF WRITER

Emilio Gonzalez, junior management major, was awarded the Heartland Conference’s Men’s Golfer of the Week twice in a row this ongoing season. This award meant different things for Gonzalez, not only for this season but also for his future.

“It’s a huge honor being named player of the week twice this season,” said Gonzalez.

“It feels great because ... my hard work pa[id] off.”

The Heartland Conference, the newest NCAA Division II conference, was founded in 1999 with St. Mary’s being one of the founding members. Currently, the Heartland Conference consists of only 10 universities.

While St. Mary’s is the only university from San Antonio, the Heartland Conference also includes four universities within the state of Texas.

One thing that distinguishes the Heartland

Conference from other divisions within the association of NCAA Division II conferences is the “balance” athletes have demonstrated through both athletic and academic achievement in order to receive an award.

According to the Heartland Conference, the universities included in the conference are nationally ranked in terms of sports and academics.

The conference believes in striving for equal participation and competitive excellence among its athletes. According to Gonzalez, being awarded a second time has had a tremendous effect on his ambition of competitive excellence for this ongoing season.

“This gives me confidence in my game and keeps me hungry to keep doing better throughout the rest of the season,” said Gonzalez.

The Heartland Conference believes in sportsmanship and ethical conduct while enhancing diversity in its athletic endeavors.

The impact of the Heartland Conference’s award on Gonzalez’s future endeavors has given him an encouraging and motivational boost for the rest of the season.

“It’s only the beginning of the season, but it’s already been a good way to start it off,” said Gonzalez. “I still have a lot of work to do but this gives me a boost to get to my goals at the end of the season in May.” Beginning this season, Gonzalez had already earned the career honors of GCAA First-Team All-American selection, PING All-Regional selection and Heartland Conference Player of the Year, as well as Semifinalist for the Division II Jack Nicklaus National Player of the Year.

Gonzalez was able to finish last season strong, tied for first place to lead the school’s first NCAA regional championship. It is thrilling to see what the rest of the season will hold for Gonzalez, not only in regards to athletic accomplishment but also in regards to academic accomplishment.

Photo by Natalia Zuniga

Men’s soccer game ends in overtime win against TAMUI TAWNY DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

The St. Mary’s men’s soccer team earned a win against the Texas A&M International Dustdevils in Laredo, Texas, on Oct. 4. The team, which is made up of 27 total players and is coached by first-year coach Johnny Clifford and assistant coach Gary Tucker, brought home a victory for St. Mary’s.

From the beginning, the Rattlers knew that they had a battle ahead of them. With the Dustdevils coming off a win against Eastern New Mexico University, they were looking to extend their winning streak. However, the Rattlers were coming off a loss against West Texas A&M, so they were looking for redemption. Over the course of the match, there were seven yellow cards and two red cards, an indicator of the heated nature of

Forward Pato Faz goes for header against opposing player.| Photo courtesy of rattlerathletics.com

the meeting between the two teams.

The scoring began with forward Patricio Botello Faz, senior exercise and sports science major, who scored his 10th goal of the season off an assist from his teammate, midfielder Ollie Wright, sophomore exercise and sports science major. After the Dustdevils tied up the score 1-1, Botello struck again in the 53rd minute, his second goal of the match scored with the help of an assist from Carlos Balsco, freshman exercise and sports science major. Toward the end of the game A&M International scored again to tie it up to 2-2, sending the game into overtime. In the 106th minute Aidan Henry, freshman biochemistry major, scored the golden goal to propel St. Mary’s to a 3-2 victory over the Dustdevils. “It was an amazing feeling to put the game away after everybody on the team had played their heart out for 105 minutes.

I was really in the right place at the right time to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Henry.

“It was a great win. It was my first time beating them in my 4 years here so it was [a] special moment for me,” said Faz. “It was a close 3-2 game but I’m proud of the team for never giving up and taking the win in overtime.”

Coach Johnathan Clifford is exceptionally proud of his team and what they have managed to accomplish, not only with this game but overall.

Photo courtesy of rattlerathletics.com

“This was a huge win for us. Laredo is a very difficult place to go and get anything, and to win in this fashion in such a tense encounter shows the will and ability in this team,” said Clifford. “[I’m] particularly happy for Aidan Henry to score his first ... winning goal.”

This makes the Rattlers’ overall scores 7-3-3 and 5-3-2 in the conference play.

Upcoming home and away matches for Rattler athletic teams

SPORTS 15

OCT. 24, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Lady Rattlers force the home win in true comeback fashion EVA GARCIA STAFF WRITER

The St. Mary’s women’s soccer team took the win against the Texas A&M International Dustdevils on Oct. 6 at the Dustdevil Soccer Field in Laredo, Texas. With the Dustdevils scoring the first goal, this only pushed the Rattlers to try harder, which led to the final score of 2-1 in the Rattlers’ favor. The team of 28 girls is coached by Coach Corwyn Ritch, who has entered his 18th year as the head coach, with the aid of graduate assistant women’s soccer coach Alyssa Taramona, a former Rattler who has spent the last two years working with the soccer team.

“The goal was more of a relief than [an] excitement. It was a very frustrating half with us not being able to put the ball in the back of the net,” said forward Alexia Maldonado, sophomore mechanical engineering major.

“I was able to make up for the shots I had missed and was also able to put our team on the board and put us at ease. It’s all about being at the right place at the right time.”

Maldonado has been playing soccer since she was five years old and has a particular routine when it comes to preparing for a match.

Lady Rattlers celebrate after win against TAMU International. | Photo courtesy of ratlerathletics.com

“I always listen to music before a game, and make sure to roll out my calf muscles to loosen up so I don’t get cramps,” she said.

“If there’s time before [the game] l usually go out and take shots with Morgan [Cave] before coach [Ritch] comes into the locker

room. I also like to watch a few soccer videos to get into the right mindset for the game.”

About winning the game, Maldonado says it was a step forward in the Rattlers’ season.

“We’re just taking it one game at a time,”

said Maldonado. “We’ve been working hard this season, and to come out with a win is rewarding, showing that our hard work is paying off.”

Victoria Villasenor, freshman biochemistry major, scored the winning goal for the Rattlers that night.

“When the game was tied, we got a penalty kick, which I went up to take and missed originally. ... [O]nce I missed it I knew I had to make up for it to help my team out,” said Villasenor. “Several minutes later I had the opportunity to take a shot from far out and I did, scoring the winning goal. It was the best feeling to be back to help my team win this game.”

Villasenor, who is the attacking center midfielder, has been playing soccer all her life and was part of the Classics Elite ECNL for the past six years. She added that she was trying to mentally prepare herself for this particular game, even though the team was physically prepared to play against the Dustdevils since they would be playing at the home field of Texas A&M International.

“We all worked together to get that one goal as a team and we all worked together to fight for the win in Laredo to get us back on track,” said Villasenor.

KK Payne awarded conference Offensive Player of the Week AINARA MORA STAFF WRITER

For the first time in her athletic career, Kirsten “KK” Payne, junior business management major, was awarded the Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Week for volleyball. During the week in which she received the award, Payne averaged 3.67 kills per set, pulled 21 digs and registered four blocks in the games against Texas A&M International and Eastern New Mexico.

Founded in 1999, the Heartland Conference is one of the newest NCAA Division II conferences, with St. Mary’s

one of the founding members. With a mission and philosophy similar to that of St. Mary’s, the Heartland Conference believes in equal participation among its student athletes, encouraging sportsmanship and ethical conduct by developing positive societal attitudes.

This is an improtant award not only for Payne but for the school as well as it shows that St. Mary’s athletes are dedicated to the sport that they play. It also shows that St. Mary’s is dedicated to its athletes.

According to Payne, earning the Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award has had an impact on her career, becoming a stepping stone for not

only herself but also for the rest of the team.

“It’s an honor and I could not have done it without any of my teammates,” said Payne.

“Going forward the goal is to continue to win and get more teammates recognized.”

The Heartland Conference has a philosophy that prepares student athletes to be good citizens, leaders and contributors in their communities. Receiving the Heartland Conference Offensive Player of the Week award has affected the rest of KK Payne’s volleyball season, fostering her drive for success.

“This award continues to push me to be better each and every day,” Payne said.

Photo courtesy of rattlerathletics.com

Fall Rattler sports teams win percentages as of Oct. 20, 2018

Graphic by Natalia Zuniga

16 FEATURES

EDITOR: SAMANTHA SALAZAR | @STMURATTLERNEWS | OCT. 24, 2018

A Rattler history: Remembering Sister Ann and her influence SAMANTHA SALAZAR MANAGING EDITOR

The St. Mary’s community lost a beloved member on Sept. 27 in Chatawa, Mississippi—Sister Ann Semel. Sr. Ann spent many years at St. Mary’s acting as both a professor and founding chair of the English communications department. During her time at St. Mary’s, she had a tremendous impact on not only the department but also the university. She was a trailblazer who paved the way for many to succeed after her. Her legacy at St. Mary’s cannot only be characterized by her tremendous scholarship, but also her hospitality, her care for others and her dedication to students.

Sr. Ann was born on Jan. 19, 1932, in New Orleans. She received her doctorate in English from the University of Notre Dame in New Orleans in 1966. The following year, Sr. Ann began her work at St. Mary’s as a professor in the English department and as a pioneer for the university. Upon her arrival at St. Mary’s, Sr. Ann was one of only three female professors and the only female working in the humanities.

Professor Diane Bertrand, writer-inresidence for the English department, first met Sr. Ann at a workshop for Catholic schoolteachers. Bertrand would later have her as a professor in graduate school and when Bertrand joined the St. Mary’s faculty in 1992, Sr. Ann was the chair of the department. Bertrand believes that Sr. Ann taught and implemented many important things in the department, especially when it came to paving the way for females.

“Sister Ann strengthened the backbone of her female students and female colleagues,” she said. “She showed us ways to become leaders, but also showed by example how to work together as a community of partners to reach goals.”

During her 43 years at St. Mary’s, Sr. Ann was a pioneer in terms of introducing and implementing new ideas and programs that would advance the department. These advancements include the introduction of an English-communication arts degree and convincing Macmillan Publisher to open the anthology of American literature to include minority literature. Sr. Ann was also the recipient of the Alice Wright Franzke Feminist award in 1993.

Mildred Rodriguez, administrative assistant for the department of English literature and language, was hired when Sr. Ann became chair of the department in 1988. Rodriguez specifically remembers Sr. Ann as a larger than life woman who cared immensely for the university and her students and had a contagious laugh.

Rodriguez also recalls Sr. Ann’s tremendous efforts in incorporating literature of all kinds into courses at St. Mary’s.

“As professor, one of her greatest accomplishments was the integration of multiethnic literature into all American literature courses; she initiated this idea in 1973,” she said. “It was through her efforts that our English degree program is as unique and challenging as it is today.”

Sr. Ann was dedicated to her scholarship,

but was also to her colleagues and students and known around the department for her backyard celebrations.

Dr. Richard Pressman, professor emeritus of English and communication studies, was hired by Sr. Ann. He describes her as a strong, decisive woman who was willing to take stands, and on one occasion even stood up for Pressman in a situation involving

“

[She was] [t]irelessly dedicated to literature, students and Jesus Christ.”

Dr. Camille Langston chair and associate professor of communication studies

the chair of the department at that time.

Pressman recalls her immense hospitality.

“She was wonderful at bringing people together,” he said. “I remember that shortly after I arrived here we had a party in Rosie Cutting’s backyard and after that every single party was in Sister Ann’s backyard.

And we always had her wonderful red beans and rice, [which] became a tradition.”

Dr. Mary Lynne Gasaway Hill, professor of English literature a n d

she was nervous about travelling to college far away from home and found comfort in talking back and forth with Sr. Ann. “Towards the spring of my senior year I got really nervous about going so far away … and so I wrote to Sister Ann and we wrote back and forth the rest of my senior year of high school,” she said. “Way before email.”

Aside from beginning the long-standing tradition of always having food in the department and her scholarship fund, Sr. Ann is remembered for many things. For Hill, she is remembered for her perseverance and optimism.

“I think the key to remembering her is not just to engage [in] our work joyfully, but to recognize the joy of working with colleagues and students through difficult situations and through trying situations,” she said.

Dr. Camille Langston, chair and associate professor of communication studies, knew Sr. Ann as a professor and an employer.

Langston characterizes Sr. Ann as tough and no-nonsense but caring, and believes she should be remembered for her immense dedication. “[She was] [t]irelessly dedicated to literature, students and Jesus Christ,” she said.

The legacy of Sr. Ann is hard to characterize because of its enormity. A memorial statement collectively written by the English department and read at her funeral mass asserts that Sr. Ann should be remembered for the many important roles she played in the department and impacting many of those who were part of the Rattler in some way or form.

“We remember her as a woman in the world, as a character in the stories of our lives and as a force to be reckoned with.”

l ang u age, first met Sr. Ann when Hill was in high school in Illinois and Sr. Ann paid a visit to encourage students to apply. Hill was accepted to St. Mary’s, but Graphic by Samantha Salazar and Natalia Zuniga