Vol. 101, No. 1 - 01/30/2013

softball hopes to strike back. page 16

GUN

vol. 101 issue 1

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january 30, 2013

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ONTROL PAGE 6

a st. mary’s university publication since 1924

BASEBALL

Champs return to field Defending regional champs are ranked first in preseason conference poll.

Sara E. Flores STAFF WRITER

Residence Life works to obliterate insects as Treadaway Hall residents dismay.

shower,” Guevara said. “Then I talked to a hall director who told me to stay out of my room and try to take as few things as possible with me.”

Alex Eakins According to Guevara, at first the hall director she NEWS EDITOR spoke to was reluctant to temporarily relocate her to another room until, after further protests, the hall Treadaway Hall residents panicked upon news of director moved Guevara. She could not recall the name an infestation of bedbugs that had burrowed their way of the director she spoke to, only that the director was into the walls of the fourth floor of the residence hall not the Treadaway Hall director. requiring emergency pest control treatments. “(She) told me just to stay in my room, but I told Increasingly more common in residence halls in (her) I didn’t want to,” Guevara said. all universities, a single instance of bedbugs presented Residence Life subsequently resumed its treatment itself in Treadaway in late November, procedures. according to Director of Residence Life The primary tactic for obliterating (She) told me just James Villarreal. However, treatment of bedbugs used to be a chemical the room did not prove effective enough to stay in my room, treatment, but the University moved and a couple other rooms came to harbor but I told (her) I didn’t to a heat treatment after the first tactic bedbugs. proved ineffective. The company in want to,” On Jan. 13, junior accounting major charge of the treatments, ABC Pest Sandy Guevara moved her belongings Control, first applies a heat treatment Sandy Guevara into her room only to find bedbugs Junior, Accounting to heat the student’s room up to 140 visibly crawling about her mattress and degrees Fahrenheit for three or four soundboard. hours, killing any trace of bedbugs, “As I walked into my dorm, I noticed some strange according to Associate Director of Residence Life Ann bugs on my wall and my bed. They were coming from Karam. After heat treatments, the pest control company the wall and crawling on my bed,” Guevara said. uses a chemical treatment to cap the process.

According to Guevara, she was the first student to Normally, this treatment would have been sufficiently alert the residence life office of the persistent bedbug effective, except bedbugs unexpectedly burrowed into problems despite initial treatments before and during the crevices of soundboards in Treadaway Hall, winter break.

“I first told the RA (residence assistant) on duty, and she came to my dorm and nicely asked me to take a hot see BEDBUGS page 2

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STUDENT FIREFIGHTER w PAGE 10

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KEVIN KOTZUR w PAGE 14

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The baseball team will be counting on experience and a strong pitching line up entering this semester’s regular season.

After a regional championship and a fifth place finish in the College World Series last season, the team seems to be in agreement that, if they can buy into the same concept of winning, it will be an exceptionally successful season.

“Our expectations are always to get back to the World Series,” Head Baseball Coach Charlie Migl said. “Last year we were there and it was great; we won a game and lost a couple. Our goal is to get back there and hopefully win a national championship.”

With their first conference game right around the corner, the team is beginning to review its goals for the season.

“(Our goals) are to be the best defensive team. We’d love to lead the nation in fielding percentage, have the best pitching staff ERA and lead the nation in that,” Assistant Coach Chris Ermis said. “Last year we did both. We weren’t number one but we were top five. From an offensive stand point, we want to score a run every inning.”

Short stop Derek Williams, a junior exercise and sport major transfer from Rice University, hopes St. Mary’s can bring him confidence and restore the love he once had for the game. Williams finished his sophomore season at Rice with a batting average of .151 and a fielding percentage of .943.

“I plan on having a good time winning with the guys and seeing our work and commitment pay off while we try to earn another bid to the World Series,” Williams said.

Pitching and catching are the battery of baseball and the coaching staff could not see BASEBALL page 16

Senior Scott Slusher (left) and freshman Al Gonzalez particpate in batting practice. Photo by Sara E. Flores

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News in Brief Connect the dots

Master invaluable networking skills with a program presented by Michelle Nash, Talent Development Director for The Shannon Group in Washington, D.C. The program takes place Feb. 6 at 4 p.m.

Join the generous hosts

Sleeping Bag Weekeend will be hosted at the University once again, starting Feb. 10 at 1 p.m.

Show some hospitality to high school seniors who have applied to the University by letting them stay the night in your room and showing them the ropes.

Shuckin’ oysters and shining pearls

Participate with fellow alumni in the Alumni Association Oysters and Pearls Scholarship Gala to raise money and have fun. Music, dancing, casino tables, food and beverages will be available. The event will take place in the Bill Greehey Arena on Feb. 16 at 6 p.m.

Police Blotter 1.18.13

Stop sign stolen from Rattler/Marianist drive crossroads. Physical Plant contacted for replacement and repair.

1.18.13

Two computer monitors stolen from Blume Library. University Police Department investigation is pending.

1.26.13

Visitor in Greehey Arena took a miss-placed step attempting to avoid garbage on stairs; visitor fell, struck face on stairs, knocked out teeth and cut lip. EMS contacted; refused transport, but treated.

1.26.13

Resident Assistant reported intoxicated minor; student found passed out in Lourdes Hall shower. Citation issued; referred to Judicial Affairs.

Can’t get enough of these? For a full list of the blotter, visit the News section at:

www.stmurattlernews.com

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.

Contact Us The Rattler St. Mary’s University One Camino Santa Maria Box 83 San Antonio, TX 78228 Office: (210) 436-3401 Visit Us: University Center Room 258 Email: rattlernews@gmail.com Website: www.stmurattlernews.com

Continuing the Heritage volunteers clean up at District Five David Medina Project. Photo by Lauren Lundy

from cover

BEDBUGS which shielded them from the treatments. This caused previously treated rooms to continue carrying bedbugs, which aggravated the problem.

Consequently, Residence Life had to remove the soundboards before treating the rooms, prolonging treatment. In all, three rooms were heated to eliminate pests and the adjacent rooms were treated with chemicals preventively.

Resident panic over the bedbug surge occurred due to the stress of relocating, sightings of bedbugs and the inability to access personal belongings, which need to be treated as well.

“It really sucked that I couldn’t stay in my dorm as soon as I had gotten back and the fact that, after days of treating my room, I had to go back and clean up all the mess they left,” Guevara said.

Besides a messy room, another consequence a number of residents experienced was the damage of personal property. One resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, cried out after discovering the mangled remains of prized vinyl records, which had been melted by the heat, while Guevara indicated that her printer had been damaged.

Villarreal was not aware that property had been damaged, but indicated that

Residence Life would be willing to consider compensating students who came forward with reports of damages.

Despite Villarreal’s openness to students, one turned to local news station News 4 WOAI, rather than Residence Life, to share her concerns.

According to Villarreal, some of the information presented by the student in the local news was inaccurate or misrepresentative of the problem.

“If (the student) would have just come forward and said, ‘Look, I’m really frustrated; I’m going go to the press with this,’ we would have said: ‘What are you frustrated about? What are we not doing that you would like to see here,’” Villarreal said. “I guarantee you my job isn’t to come here everyday and say, ‘How am I going to frustrate students today?’ It’s the contrary.”

Villarreal said Residence Life is always open to student opinions and concerns.

Another resident of Treadaway Hall, who also wishes to remain anonymous, submitted an email to The Rattler Jan. 16, concerning fears for her health.

“Recently, I have been very concerned for my health and well being,” she wrote.

“I was informed last semester that the University has experienced several outbreaks of bedbugs during the past few years. Several students have had to dispose of personal property, and not

Bedbug scurries along Sandy Guevara’s Treadaway soundboard.

Photo by Alex Eakins

been compensated by the University. I have noticed that the bedbugs always reappear in rooms that have been previously ‘treated’ by the school.”

Villarreal reiterated claims that the number of students who actually encountered bedbugs remained at four during this calendar year. He also affirmed that bedbugs do not spread diseases to mitigate concerns about health.

Finally, Villarreal emphasized that Residence Life does not want to run away from these issues. When issues such as this one happen, Residence Life wants to address them, he said.

“We followed our procedure; it didn’t work this time because there was another variable that we didn’t encounter and we didn’t anticipate,” Villarreal said.

Bailey Ferguson contributed to this report.

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A couple million, a couple donators Bill Greehey and Harvey Najim each donate $1 million to the University.

Katherine Benavides STAFF WRITER

Alumnus Bill Greehey and trustee Harvey Najim presented individual gifts of $1 million to the University in December, which will benefit specific programs of the Bill Greehey School of Business.

Greehey provided the University with a $1 million gift for the newly revamped MBA program, which began at the start of last fall. The unique learning structure of the program, according to Bill Greehey School of Business Dean Tanuja Singh, will “retool the MBA program to provide a core curriculum within the context of ethical, values-driven leadership.”

“Businesses are recognizing the need for leaders who have not only the intellectual capital to deal with the strategic and tactical challenges of managing an enterprise, but also a grounding in sound ethics and values and what it means to run a socially responsible and sustainable business in today’s complex global marketplace,” Singh said.

More specifically, the University will allocate Greehey’s gift toward scholarship opportunities, curricular innovation and faculty development.

Respectively, philanthropist Harvey Najim presented Singh and University President Thomas M. Mengler with a gift to help launch the school’s Center for Business Innovation and Social Responsibility. “(The idea of the center) ultimately derives from the strategic focus of the Bill Greehey School of Business,

which emphasizes experiential learning and social responsibility,” Singh explained. “The major strength of the center will be a focus on business innovation, using cross-functional collaboration to develop social responsible business solutions.”

Najim, an executive chairman of Sirius Computer Solutions and member of the University’s Board of Trustees, met up with Singh about three years ago to help develop a gift to be made to the business school.

According to Najim, the idea was to incorporate entrepreneurship and philosophy, two aspects he is passionate about. Students of all majors can use the center to work with real businesses in need of consulting assistance.

The center will be located in the business school and, through this center, Najim feels students will be better equipped to understand business innovation and how to solve business problems.

“I also strongly believe that social responsibility is very critical to a person’s success in business,” Najim said.

Senior corporate finance major Sean Lanagan appreciates the support the University and MBA program is receiving from such high-profile individuals.

According to Lanagan, financial support to pursue graduate studies is not common and the donations really embody the St. Mary’s community spirit.

“With Bill Greehey donating to St. Mary’s, this says that St. Mary’s is a valuable investment,” Lanagan said.

“This ability to spend money where he sees potential helps us reach headlines. If he sees so much potential, it makes me think: ‘Why shouldn’t I?’”

B U R N I N G Q U E S T I O N What is “The Park at St. Mary’s”?

“

The Park at St. Mary’s is the name for the facilities

that include the new outdoor sports facilities, as well as the Bill Greehey Arena inside the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center. The name was recommended by the Advancement Division and approved by the University’s Executive Council. The name is meant to recognize that the area is a collection of spaces that are meant to be used and enjoyed by students, student athletes and the community.”

Gina Farrell DIRECTOR OF MEDIA RELATIONS

Volunteers pump tax refund money back into community Katherine Benavides STAFF WRITER

The annual University drive which helped local residents recover millions in tax refunds over the past few years has resumed operations for the new tax year.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program produced $1,705,361 in federal income tax refunds to St. Mary’s neighbors last spring, nearly tripling the amount returned in spring 2007, according to Thomas F. Madison, professor and chair of accounting.

The refunds came as University volunteers helped residents file some 948 federal income tax returns, more than double the number filed six years ago. Two thirds of residents filing live within about a half-mile or so of the campus, Madison said.

The importance of the VITA program lies, especially during a recession, in returning money to people who can use it for their needs, stimulating the local economy, Madison said.

One program survey, Madison explained, showed that most of the clients used tax refunds to “pay existing family bills, like medical, rent, utilities, car payments or house payments. Many were paying educational expenses for children, saving the money to pay expected bills or using it to pay for training and/or additional education for themselves.”

One major purpose of the program “is to ensure that low income working families receive the income tax refunds and credits to which they are entitled to, primarily the Earned Income Tax Credit,” Madison said.

The effects can be substantial and heart-warming, according to senior accounting major and volunteer Ryan Salts, who has helped in the program for three years and is instructing other volunteers this year.

“This is a big deal because the average household income for a family of four in this neighborhood is around $25,000,” Salts said. “You see firsthand who you are dealing with and then you realize that these people are no different from your

grandparents or cousins or other family you might have.”

VITA volunteers assist families who have an annual income of $55,000 or less, by preparing and filing tax returns Saturdays during tax season.

“The newest practice that our VITA site put in play last year was the ability to show you how many returns you completed and how much money that you put back into the community,” Salts said. “This looks amazing on your resume. I completed 15 hours last year and was able to put back more than $30,000 into the community.”

Madison said the program is happy to have volunteers, who need not have a background in accounting or the law.

Last year, the VITA program had a total of 139 volunteers from a variety of fields. According to Madison, volunteers receive, at minimum, basic certification developed by the Internal Revenue Service, which takes 8 hours to complete.

The VITA site at the Center for Legal and Social Justice will operate until April 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Resident overcapacity declines, need to triple up remains

Stela Khury

COPY EDITOR

Residence halls have become less crowded this semester as student trends help lower rates of overcapacity, yet tripled rooms will continue to be a reality to which administration sees no end in sight.

Compared to fall 2011, the number of overcapacity residence halls at St. Mary’s dropped from 85 percent to 53 percent.

Director of Residence Life James Villarreal provided a multifaceted explanation.

“What changed is that we had 50 less rooms in Treadaway due to the renovations to St. Louis Hall, so we had to put some faculty and staff there,” Villarreal said.

“Naturally, those rooms had to be sort of shifted to other parts of campus, where we saw the additional tripling last year in the Outback.”

Villarreal attributed the current drop in overcapacity to a smaller incoming freshmen class this academic year, and also pinpointed

the role of the Access St. Mary’s program in the burdensome changes to residence halls occupancy during the past three years.

The program offered scholarships with conditions regarding on-campus room and board, which lead to a hike of 150 students wanting to live on campus three years ago.

As funding was lowered for the program, the number dwindled to 100 students the second year and now the scholarship is not available anymore.

“Coincidentally, that was all around the same time they were opening Founders so we were able to take care of some of those Access St. Mary’s students,” Villarreal said.

Gabriela Diaz, a sophomore corporate finance major, said she has had uncomfortable experiences with tripled rooms. Diaz spent her freshman year in a tripled room of Founders Hall and this year she was moved to yet another tripled room in Anthony Frederick, one of the residence halls with the highest overcapacity rates of over 20 percent.

Wi-Fi access grows in halls Pablo Cruz

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The University finished implementing wireless Internet services for the living areas of residence halls after years of keeping residents relying on ethernet cables.

The Executive Council approved in late 2012 wireless Internet services for University residence halls, but installation concluded just before the start of the spring semester.

“The first thing we tried to identify was a time that would be less evasive to residents,” Director of Residence Life James Villarreal said. “We decided the winter break during December would be the best time for everyone.”

The Wi-Fi availability in dorm rooms was preceded by internal upgrades, which included new wiring. Additionally, new Cisco routers were installed to permit 146 wireless Internet access points across the residence halls.

Wireless Internet service has long been available to residents, but only in the lounges of the residence halls and not in the living areas. The new implementation of full coverage Wi-Fi sways away from archaic ethernet cables and allows students

to access wireless Internet in the comfort of their rooms.

Junior criminal justice major Michael Rocha is satisfied with the new Wi-Fi implementation.

“I think it’s really good,” Rocha said.

“We needed that upgrade in our dorms for easy and fast mobile internet accessibility.”

Although some students believe the WiFi is a step forward for St. Mary’s, others are disconcerted by about the amount of time it took for the University to advance with this technology.

“I think the installation of Wi-Fi is a great upgrade for St. Mary’s University,” senior computer information systems major Kathleen Benavides said. “But the fact that we are just getting Wi-Fi in the dorms now while other universities in the city have had it for some time concerns me.”

Villarreal understands that with new changes there will always be uncertainty.

“With 1300 residents on campus, it’s a truth that you can’t satisfy them all,” Villarreal said. “But we are working hard to develop new changes that will help residents have a great experience here at St. Mary’s University.”

“I definitely didn’t like moving from Founders to Anthony Frederick, for one because the room is a lot smaller, but most of all the room feels crowded,” Diaz explained. “These rooms are not meant for three people.”

Diaz said the lighting is also troublesome for her, because there is only one large light in the entire room and it doesn’t reach her desk, which is currently crammed in the corner of the room. Diaz maintains she has a good relationship with her roommates, but that her living situation is not ideal and she rues having to be under this arrangement two years in a row.

Villarreal says he has heard from students who were unhappy with being tripled in rooms when they did not originally want to, and the office’s policy is to be upfront.

“There is no set rule or law that says, ‘You can only have this many people in a room,’ so that’s where we come in and use our reason to see what is a reasonable way for someone to live,” Villarreal said. “We don’t

triple because we want to, but because we have to.”

The possibility of a new residence hall is an option Villarreal personally believes would be helpful for both St. Mary’s students and his office, but that the ultimate decision of beginning such a project within the parameters of Villarreal’s vision depends on the University’s ability to tackle the debt.

“Certainly there is an interest in a new residence hall,” Villarreal said. “But we have a big project going on right now, the sports complex, and monies are tied up to that.

Once that’s completed, maybe there might be a situation which we can look into that again.”

For now, residence life must resort to short term solutions to the prolonged problem.

“Realistically, what we have is a temporary solution to a long term issue,” Villarreal explained. “But still, I’m very proud of our facilities and would put up them up against anybody else’s.”

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STAFF EDITORIAL

Virtual ‘reality’ In light of recent controversy surrounding Notre Dame football star and Heisman Trophy finalist Manti Te’o, the issue of online relationships has come to light. Regardless of whether investigations prove Te’o was a part of the fake girlfriend hoax or if he was just a victim, staying safe while surfing the Web is a must in the social media generation.

The real issue with online dating lies in the vulnerability inherent to the anonymity of the Internet. Platforms such as chat rooms, blogs and Facebook allow for reasonable anonymity. There is no way to be certain that how people present themselves online reflects who they are in reality.

The consequences of social media users’ carelessness is shown on the new MTV show “Catfish,” which centers on a host who travels the country introducing individuals invested in an online relationship. The majority of episodes result in participants shocked to find the person they thought they had fallen in love with was not who they claimed to be. Foraging online relationships can even end in real danger, such as stalking and identity theft.

While using online platforms can be all in good fun, revealing intimate secrets to strangers online is a high-risk behavior. So, stay safe and avoid being Catfished.

Editorial Staff Editor-in-Chief Nick Canedo

News Editor Alex Eakins

Managing Editor Amanda Cano

Commentary Editor Briana Perez

Layout/Design Editor Carla Rodriguez

Features Editor Liliana Espinoza

Copy Editor Stela Khury

Entertainment Editor Rachel Grahmann

Web Editor Juan Casas

Sports Editor Christina Faseler

Photo Editor Felix Arroyo

Advertising Manager Rachel Hernandez

Assistant Photo Editor Adriana Avila

Faculty Adviser Brother Dennis Bautista, S.M., Ph.D.

Standards The Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s University. The publication follows the Canons of Responsible Journalism, the Assosiated Press Stylebook and the Student Publication Policy.

The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the Columbia Scholastic Press Assoiation, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

Letters 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.

Cartoon by Jasmaine Aquino

Gun control triggers emotional debate The safety of all Americans trumps the individual right of gun ownership.

The right to bear arms guarantees our liberties as American citizens.

When it comes to stricter gun control, there is no argument: when guns are less available to the people, the chances someone will commit an impulsive murder decreases.

Tamara Garcia The issue at hand is not whether individuals have the right to bear arms as American citizens, but concern over the value of every human life. The United States averages 30,000 gun deaths a year, which, compared to Japan’s .07 per 100,000 a year and the United Kingdom’s average 150 deaths a year, should cause generalized revulsion—yet that is not entirely the case.

Gun control laws are only brought to the table after further damage is done. Tragic events such as the Connecticut school shooting seem to be necessary to initiate conversation. The victims and their families must first suffer before lawmakers begin discussing what kind of temporary remedy is needed to control the bleeding. Action should precede tragedy, not the other way around.

While people should be free to choose how they live, stricter gun control laws can help maintain freedom while making sure an assault weapon does not end up in the hands of a disturbed and possibly violent person. The safety of the masses should trump the right of individuals to bear arms.

According to a global Small Arms Survey reported by CNN, there are 88 guns currently in the U.S. for every 100 citizens. It is not likely that all these guns are in the hands of an individual who is properly trained to handle an assault weapon in a dangerous situation.

Gun activists use self-defense, individual rights and freedom as reasons against gun control, but the fact remains: stricter gun control laws mean less chance a gun may end up in the wrong hands. If these discussions had taken place earlier, who knows how many lives could have been saved.

America has no more time to waste.

The right to bear arms is far more than an archaic right to form militias devised by the nation’s founding fathers. Through this one freedom, it is known that the others granted in the Bill of Rights will be Christina Faseler guaranteed. If the right to own and posses firearms is suspended, every American’s claim to security may as well be forgotten.

The ability of the people to carry firearms with a license gives those in possession a sense of security in the face of any life-threatening situation. The knowledge that just about anyone in a crowd may be carrying gives those who would threaten the lives of others something to fear.

When reflecting on the recent tragedies America has faced as the result of improper gun use, there is one obvious commonality: gun restriction. Virtually every life lost in acts of mass murder has been lost in environments where the possession of firearms is prohibited. The tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, for instance, was within the confines of a public school, an area where state law prohibits the possession and discharge of firearms within a 1,000-foot radius. Other common environments for mass shootings also prohibit carrying firearms, such as movie theaters and college campuses. Trained and armed police officers are almost always outnumbered in these situations.

The nationwide restrictions on firearms will only lead to advantages for those who wish to murder without consequence. Many lives would have been saved if a teacher had been able to retrieve a firearm from the confines of a desk drawer during the Newtown shooting.

Contrary to recent political rhetoric, increasing the ability of individuals to carry firearms may be the solution to the national gun crisis.

The right to bear arms is necessary to ensure life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. As Americans, we need to stand firm, just as we have for the last 200 years.

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Technology oversuse inhibits experience Spike in steroid use strips sports of integrity The social media phenomena—which includes Facebook, Instagram and Twitter—has changed Jocelyn Garcia how people perceive others as well as themselves with the freedom to capture and publish any moment, memory or opinion in real-time.

Thanks to social networking and its close-knit relationship to smart phones, it only takes a few seconds to whip out a cell phone camera and post content straight to the Web. People are readily equipped to construct memory books online, in which users are free to, for example, post special moments with family, friends and even food. However, in the midst of trying to provide an audience with uninterrupted content, it is easy to lose one’s self.

Although expressing oneself by turning thoughts into words is an advantageous step toward a healthy selfimage, many people spend too many hours on these websites and applications trying to record their daily lives in minute-by-minute detail.

Many find themselves hiding behind a latest generation smart phone camera,

Graphic by Juan Casas

trying hard to capture the moment instead of actually living it. Ever since Instagram and Twitter came on the scene, with quick posting of online images and 140 words blog posts, some people prioritize displaying their lives over living. It is a slippery slope toward simply becoming a passive observer of life.

Social media offers a new platform with which to share and enjoy life, but it has also given leeway for people to choose the vanity of cyberspace over allowing the embracement of real-life experiences.

These social networks have provided a way for people to hide from the hard realities of the world and busy themselves by rebuilding their image to enhance reality. People spend an excessive amount of time trying to compose a witty one-liner on Twitter, quoting lyrics on Facebook and photographing every banal meal for Instagram without noticing they might be hiding behind the touch screen of the smart phone. Social networking can be a fun and healthy activity in moderation, but there comes a time when we need to put down the phone, stand up and live.

Fake violence in distinct realm of reality The old adage that sex sells should be amended— Travis Bowles violence sells more.

From violent sports such as ultimate fighting, to movies that glorify destructive weaponry capable of a high bodycount, America is addicted to violence as entertainment.

Even on the heels of the tragic shooting in Newtown, Pa., the bloody western “Django Unchained” became Quentin Tarantino’s highest grossing movie to date, and

this is not the first occurence for America. Within a few months of Sept. 11, both “Black Hawk Down” and “Training Day” made over $108 million and $76 million respectively. Shortly after the Columbine massacre, audiences flocked to theaters to consume bloody spectacles in “Double Jeopardy” and “The General’s Daughter,” which netted over $100 million each. Along with raking in obscene profits, these films won prestigious industry awards.

Considering the short timespan between these movies’ release dates and

their respective preceding catastrophes, one would think America’s bloodlust would have been satisfied, but the need for violence does not end with the silver screen. Over four million viewers tuned in for the second season finale of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which reportedly averages 14 graphic deaths per episode.

Meanwhile, AMC’s popular “The Walking Dead” offers around 16 deaths per show.

After these horrific shootings, weeks are spent analyzing what led perpetrators to commit such atrocious acts. For years,

some have placed blame on television, movies and video games. The United States is indeed a country of roughly 310 million constantly surrounded by violent entertainment. However, if what audiences watch was the simple answer to the criminality of disturbed individuals, perhaps there should proportionally be more violent incidents.

The average viewer may be addicted to violence as entertainment, but reality seems to bring about a form of sobriety in which fantasy and reality occupy separate realms.

The competitive nature of sports attracts viewers and players alike who enjoy expressing the desire to fight fairly and win, which is why performance enhancing Raymond Torres drugs are so unforgivable.

The ideals of sportsmanship have been stripped away repeatedly by dishonesty in each of the four major sports, but not without payback. The Baseball Hall of Fame refrained from electing this year any living players to add to its ranks for the first time in over a decade. Living baseball players eligible for the award whose careers were tainted by the use of performance enhancing drugs, such as Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Mark McGwire, were regarded with suspicion by voters. Out of these players, none received more than 38 percent of the vote, comparatively to the 75 percent needed to be accepted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Mark McGwire, for instance, only received 12 percent of the vote.

The world of cycling was shaken in 2012 when Lance Armstrong was stripped of his titles due to use of performance enhancing drugs. Armstrong went on to confess on an interview with Oprah Winfrey to the use of anabolic steroids and growth hormones at the time of his seven Tour de France wins despite not only having denied past allegations, but having gone so far as to sue individuals who accused him of taking steroids.

Armstrong appears to be trying to do damage control now, but it might be too little too late.

The founder of the Livestrong foundation was not only a hero for fans of cycling, but also to cancer patients and survivors. Armstrong admitted to using steroids because he has already been stripped of his titles and banned from cycling— frankly, there is nothing left to lose.

The use of steroids by athletes damages not only the integrity of sports but the memories of thousands of fans who look up to successful athletes.

Hopefully Armstrong’s fall from grace will serve as a reminder to other sportsmen that even the heroes held in highest regard can jeopardize their careers with the use of performance enhancing drugs.

Does steroid use ruin an athlete’s reputation?

Voice your opinion and visit the Commentary section at:

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KEEPING UP WITH

NEW Y RESOLU

FIT STU &CA David Mares, Valentine Muñoz Sanchez, and John Sandoval.

Photos

by Carla Rodriguez

“I like to work out whenever I have a chance, like during the weekdays.

One day I’ll do a leg workout, and the next day I’ll go upper-body because my legs will probably be sore.”

“I think I’ve always been a B+ student.

A lot of my friends are really competitive, they get all A’s but they don’t have a social life. For me, I’m perfectly content with getting a high B and having a healthy life aside from studying, balancing family, faith and other responsibilities.”

“I would recommend the first semester taking it easy.

Really getting your grades up because once you have a low GPA, it’s hard to get it up.

So once you do that, second semester put it in full gear and go find an organization that you are passionate about.”

“What keeps me motivated is pretty much not to get fat.

You start feeling sluggish after eating fast food and such, so then I figure I need to get back in shape again.”

“For me, if I’m going to be in the library for four hours at a time, my routine is to eat right away. I’m going to get a good solid meal, get my coffee or my energy drink or whatever it is to kind of psych myself up.”

“As a beginner, find a friend that has the same goals. Once you find a person to work out with, start eating healthy with little things. Just start off slow and work form there.”

“I write a todo list every single day and a lot of it is the action of crossing stuff off my list; you feel more productive.

I try to get some fresh ai every now an then so I don feel so cooped up inside. I’l bring a new CD or book want to rea get the ti pass

“Whether it’s community service, the accounting club or finance club, go get involved and learn to become a leader, learn to communicate with others.”

YEAR’S UTIONS

When the clock strikes midnight, people are overcome with the idea of hope to start over and make positive changes in their lives. As the clock continues to tick, some resolutions begin to fade. With a little bit of inspiration and motivation, these students don’t take any second for granted.

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“One thing that I’ve heard a lot since coming into college is that it’s not about what you know, it’s about who you know.”

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“The overall program itself, SEO, they’re not just an internship and partner program. What they do also is they provide training. So starting in a couple of weeks I’ll have to start doing training online which is required if I want to continue with the internship, then they’ll send me up to New York for a week to do onsite training.”

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“I’m starting with my shortterm goals and building my way up.”

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“It’s just as basic as walking up to someone and saying ‘hi’ and introducing yourself.

I think networking played a major role in getting my internship.”

“I’m really big on hanging out with my family. I became an uncle not too long ago, so seeing my niece for an hour and getting away for a little bit, it really puts things in perspective. Then I’ll feel like, ‘all right, I’m ready to go back and do what I have to do.’

As soon as I get my balance from family and exercising then (studying) is not too bad.”

“My internship is still pending. It’s called SEO, Sponsors for Educational Opportunities. They’re an organization who accepts people of color (AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, Native American) and partner them with global companies, a lot of which are within the Fortune 500.

SEO has a big alumni network and several students from St. Mary’s have gone through this program and have been placed in different locations and companies.”

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“Some days it’s hard, everyone wants to go out and things like that.

When I feel the pressure amount, I try to go to the gym and just run or lift weights. It really keeps me balanced.”

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“You go on the platform in the gym, you have the weight, you squat it and stand up bringing it up to your shoulder, hold it there and then bring it back down and that’s one rep.”

“I think the mistake most people make is expecting the next day to see results, but expect progress to come slow and not the next day. After you stick with it two weeks to a month, you’ll see changes, and once you see those changes you’ll see it’s working and will want to do it again.”

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The Power Clean

Rodriguez Layout and design by Carla Rodriguez.

Compiled by Carla Rodriguez.

10«features

www.stmurattlernews.com

Average college student by day, firefighting hero by night David Aguayo STAFF WRITER

Nate Roberts appears to be just like any other full-time student: he goes to class, eats at the cafe and studies for tests. Only one detail differentiates the freshman engineering major from other University students – Roberts is also a firefighter.

Roberts started his volunteer work with the Brackenridge Volunteer Fire Department when he was only 16 years old, but it eventually turned into a job once he turned 18, the minimum age to be employed by the fire department.

“I always enjoyed being a volunteer firefighter and I guess I was also good enough at it that the chief of the station was willing to pay me to keep working,” Roberts said.

Even though he is still relatively new at the job, Roberts sees a lot

of action and has become plenty skilled as a firefighter. Currently, Roberts works primarily with rescues.

“I rappel to save people who are stuck in dangerous places. I do water rescues. I do medical work at accident scenes and, of course, I see the occasional fire. I mean, I really do feel good knowing that I help people in a variety of ways,” Roberts explained. “Hell, I (once) had to treat a guy who had gotten a bunch of cactus needles on his butt. I mean, it might sound weird but it’s the kind of story that makes a job worth doing, you know?”

Roberts currently resides on campus, but he still manages to keep up with his job.

“Since I have to be at school most of the time, I only sometimes stay at the station, but I can get called in on my cell or (walkietalkie) whenever I’m needed,” Roberts said.

Roberts is most commonly

called in during the evening, often resulting in several sleepless nights, which is particularly troublesome for him because Roberts is also in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.

“Three out of five weekdays, I have to be up at around 4 a.m. for ROTC,” Roberts said. “If I was working the night before, which happens a lot, I usually just won’t sleep.”

Despite the inconveniences, Roberts enjoys working as a firefighter and only finds it difficult having to convince skeptics of his job position.

“There’s been a few people who don’t believe me when I first tell them,” Roberts said. “I used to be able to keep all of my gear in my dorm, but now that I can’t, it is a bit harder to convince people until they actually are around to hear me get called in.”

Roberts still believes he has plenty in common with the

Freshman Nate Roberts finishes homework before being called in to his job as a firefighter. Photo by Liliana Espinoza

average St. Mary’s undergraduate student.

“I really don’t ever think of myself as being too different from other people. Apart from my job, I’m still just a freshman in college.

I hang out with my friends around campus. I procrastinate, watch TV—usually Comedy Central— and I nap,” Roberts said. “I nap a lot actually.”

University debate team strives to regain renown among students Matthew Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITER

St. Mary’s University’s debate team, coached since 2010 by Joe Haeggquist, adjunct professor in forensic participation, allows students the opportunity to become better speakers and challenges them into thinking critically.

According to Haeggquist, the competition format is one-on-one debating where one debater takes the side of the affirmative while the other debater takes the side of the negative and is in charge of refuting the affirmative’s case. For each round, the two debaters are given five possible resolutions. The topic selection takes place when each participant, starting with the debater from the negative side, strikes down one of the resolutions, until there is only one left. This resolution is then selected as the topic for the round, and both debaters are given thirty minutes to prepare a case.

The team consists of approximately ten students who compete in regional tournaments held in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas hosted by the International Public Debate Association primarily during the

spring semester. The team meets every week high school and perceives debate teams as to practice and familiarize themselves with an all-inclusive effort. the framework of the debate competitions.

“Anybody is welcome to join (the St. “We do lots of different things in practice, Mary’s debate team),” Toro said. “We are all especially the first few weeks. A lot of what educated students here so I think we all have I spend time doing is an equal chance in helping the students becoming successful If you’re interested in debaters.” not only learn how your public to debate, but also increasing Miles Lilly, a how to formulate speaking skills and increasing senior double major r e s p o n s e s ,” your argumentative skills, in philosophy and Haeggquist said. political science, is then I think the debate “(I help them) new to the debate understand the would be a good avenue to team on campus. opposite side of go, especially if you want Lilly believes the the argument (so to go to law school. I think ability to formulate that they can) argumentative skills are very strong arguments formulate ideas and think quickly to important .” (and) put together respond is necessary Miles Lilly in any field. strong arguments.

Senior, Philosophy and Political Science I’m trying to help “Whether you go them to get a certain into academia or to skillset, so that once be a policy analyst, I put them into the being able to analyze framework of the debate, it’s kind of second and construct persuasive arguments are nature.” important skills to have,” Lilly said.“ If you’re Natalie Toro, a freshman political science interested in increasing your public speaking and international relations double major, skills and increasing your argumentative has participated in debate all four years of skills, then I think the debate would be a

“

good avenue to go, especially if you want to go to law school. I think argumentative skills are very important.”

The St. Mary’s debate team has a history of relative success. The team’s budget ranged between $18,000 and $22,000 from fall 1998 through spring 2001. Students used to be able to attend international competitions as well.

“The budget has gone down because the team is no longer traveling long distances. Under Alan Cirlin (the Speech Communications Director) years ago, (the team) traveled to other countries,” Richard Pressman, professor of English and communication studies, said. “But under the present circumstances there is no need for that. As to a full-time coach, it’s simply not a full-time job; it’s treated as the equivalent of a half-time. We would like to increase, if not surpass, its profile to what it was when Cirlin was the coach. Coaching is a grueling job in part because it requires a lot of travel. Cirlin was no longer able to make that commitment. If the program continues to build under the present coach, then the budget will most likely be expanded.”

features»11

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Photo poll

Biology brainiacs reject hypothesis

x

Question: How do you get back into the habit of studying after the winter break?

I use “ Once I’m

an agenda. done writing my class and work-study schedule, I dedicate any free time to homework. I at least try to focus for 20 minutes on any homework assignment without any interruptions.”

Contrary to popular belief, biology students tend to stick to their major instead of wandering to other departments.

Jasmine O’Neal Freshman, Psychology

David Aguayo STAFF WRITER

All majors are demanding in their own nagging ways, but there are students who try a determined major only to realize that field is simply not for them.

A majority of students believe biology is the major from which freshmen switch out of most.

Surprisingly, the number of students who switch their major from biology to another subject, or otherwise do not finish college as biology majors, is proportionally comparable to the number of students who do not finish on most other majors.

Data from the Registrar’s Office reveals out of the 364 students enrolled as biology majors in 2008, only 64 are listed as having graduated in 2012. The difference between how many students initially registered and how many graduated four years later is certainly

Freshman Daniela Muniz struggles to read through her enormous mountain of biology textbooks . Photo by Sara E. Flores

shocking, but what’s really shocking is noticing that this rate is similar across all majors.

For example, out of the 112 students enrolled as criminal justice majors in 2008, only 21 graduated four years later. Accounting majors follow the same tendency of 91 students enrolled in 2008 with only 12 accounting majors graduating in 2012. As for the biology majors, 300 students changed from or dropped the major, but the rates, compared to the three aforementioned majors, is similar and definitely not the highest: 16 percent for biology, 18 percent for criminal justice and 13 percent for accounting.

“Students change their major quite a bit, it’s just amplified (because) we are the largest major on campus,” Timothy Raabe, chair and professor of biological sciences, said.

Biology is known as a major with an impressive workload and the department makes students aware of this early on. The biology

department enforces rigorous coursework, which in reality is not something all students are cut out for, not necessarily because of ability, but as Raabe puts it, because “students don’t come in for the right reasons.”

“From orientation, students are warned that biology is going to require dedication and serious time management skills,” Raabe explained.

“Part of the reason that the major is so tough is because one of our major goals is to get students into medical school.”

While there are many reasons a biology student may switch majors or drop out altogether, similar reasons exist for switching from other majors.

Raabe recommends students, when considering a change from any major, should think deeply about why they are interested in a particular major at all and decide if the careers involved are really something they would commit themselves to.

It’s all about time “ management.

I usually make a block schedule and write down my class times, meetings or any other important reminders for the day.”

Vincent Vasquez Sophomore, Criminology

To me, it is important “ that you understand your

limitations schedule wise. I like to be firm with setting my priorities, but I also never forget to take naps.

They help me a lot. I usually take them for 30 minutes and I am ready to focus on my work.”

Stacey Mazuca Junior, Philosophy

I like to-do lists. Crossing “ things out really makes me

feel like I’m accomplishing something. I also try to invest ten minutes strictly in a task that I don’t want to do before I decide to procrastinate.”

Pauline Dang Senior, Biochemistry Freshman biology major Daniela Muniz stares at her tower of textbooks. Photo by Sara E. Flores

Photos by Liliana Espinoza

12«entertainment

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Students instantly obsessed with Netflix instant queues unlimited streaming capabilities at a walletfriendly monthly price.

“I really like that it is not very expensive and During holidays and weekends, students have been reportedly glued to television that I can share my account with my family members and friends,” Molina said. and computer screens Netflix may seem to be a gem, but using watching a variety of the site too much may have consequences shows, from the “The in the opinion of Dillan Sutton, a freshman Walking Dead” to “How English-communication arts major.

I Met Your Mother.” The “Netflix has given me easy company allegedly to access to many movies blame? Netflix. but it has also caused my For ages, broke students ent.com rtainm te n e e insomnia,” Sutton said. cu had sought the ability to watch Source: Roommates Kelly Carmona, a a variety of movies and television shows without having to pay the steep prices freshman engineering major, and Angela Rea, that come with owning them. Netflix has made a freshman accounting, both love Netflix, but this possible and has quickly become one of the they agree it can be absorbing and interfere with life’s priorities, especially school. most popular trends with young adults.

“Netflix can be pretty easy to get sucked Over the long holiday break, students seem to have acquired quite a few new obsessions into,” Bennett Cueva, a freshman marketing they cannot keep up with during the new major, added.

Netflix offers comfort after a long day and is semester because of a hectic college schedule.

Viviana Rodriguez, a junior psychology the key ingredient to a movie night after a busy week. However, logging in to Netflix to catch major, is one of those students.

“The reason I watch Netflix is because I up on “Once Upon a Time” may not be such a don’t have a TV in my room so I just grab my good idea the night before an exam.

Jocelyn Garcia

The Alamo City’s Best Burgers

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computer,” Rodriguez explained. “Netflix offers me easy access to some of my most favorite shows and movies.”

The portability of Netflix is key to sophomore psychology major Amalia Gonzalez, who enjoys the fact she can catch up on her television using her laptop when she’s on the go.

“I love Netflix because you can watch it anytime and anywhere,” Gonzalez said.

Sophomore biochemistry major Monserrat Molina thinks the advantage of Netflix is its

Porky’s Burger’s and More 2426 Culebra Rd. M 210.432.1903 Stop by and check it out: The Double Porker Armadillo’s 1423 McCullough Ave. M 210.226.7556 Stop by and check it out: Bacon Cheeseburger

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HOME FOR SALE

1. THE OFFICE 2. Vampire diaries 3. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER 4. AMERICAN HORROR STORY 5. breaking bad

Entertainment Essentials Fresh Tunes

New Flicks

Good Times

Josh Groban All That Echoes Feb. 5

Warm Bodies Feb. 1

Cupid’s Chase 5K Run Brackenridge Park Feb. 9

Silverstein This is How the Wind Shifts Feb. 5 Move-in ready 2 bed / 1 bath. Walk to St. Mary’s University!

Beautifully landscaped corner Lot. Updated tile & counter tops in kitchen. Must see! $64,900 Call Carol Dintelman 210.363.0912

Student Picks

Source: yellower.se

STAFF WRITER

Tim McGraw Two Lanes of Freedom Feb. 5

Bullet to the Head Feb. 1 Identity Thief Feb. 8 Side Effects Feb. 8

San Antonio Stock Show AT&T Center Feb. 7 - 17 Silverstein White Rabbit Feb. 10

entertainment»13

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Latest Del Toro horror film disappoints enthusiasts Kristina Garcia

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Being a horror movie buff has its perks, such as knowing precisely when a new film is being released or being able to watch undaunted while friends hide under their seats, but it also has its disadvantages. Most horror movie fanatics probably had high expectations for “Mama” after the creepy 2008 Spanish short-film by Barbara Muschietti, merely three minutes long, inspired director Andres Muschietti and executive producer Guillermo Del Toro to present the film.

The beginning of the movie engrosses the audience, perhaps in anticipation of whatever else would come after. With typical horror movie tropes such as sporadic loud thumps, eerie noises and shadows passing by doorways and windows, “Mama” starts with a thrill, but unfortunately that’s the best the film had to offer.

The mystery, which was originally enticing, lost its thrill as the movie progressed and culminated in disappointing banality.

However, the acting was superb. Jessica Chastain, nominated for an Academy Award for her role in “Zero Dark Thirty,” plays the protagonist, and the two little girls were clearly capable actresses. The movie’s setting was also a small success; the cold wilderness and creepy cabin definitely achieved the right level of gloom.

Unfortunately, an eerie setting and clever acting do not always make a horror movie scary. For fans who enjoy a somewhat interesting story and pretty good acting, waiting for it to come out on DVD might be a better bet. For horror lovers, skip “Mama” altogether or walk into the theater with lower expectations.

Source: rollingstone.com

What goes around comes around: JT’s back in black Nicole Gomez STAFF WRITER

Source: mamamovie.com

Justin Timberlake’s long awaited comeback onto the music scene has arrived six years since his last album with new single “Suit & Tie,” currently ranked at position 14 on the U.S. Billboard Chart.

In a recent YouTube video, Timberlake announced his belated return to music.

“I’m the one who sits and is obsessive about it before you even get to hear it,” Timberlake said. “I don’t want to put anything out that I feel is something I don’t love. You have to wait for it.”

Timberlake went on a break from his music in pursuit of a movie career. He has appeared in films such as “The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits,” with at least three upcoming releases for 2013 alone. Timberlake’s break from music might

be validated by a fairly successful transition into acting and recent marriage to long-term girlfriend Jessica Biel, but his undeniable fans had been eagerly anticipating new music from the old boy band heartthrob.

Timberlake’s last multi-platinum album “FutureSex/LoveSounds” produced hits such as “Love Stoned” and “Sexyback” with collaboration from music producer Timbaland, who was also responsible for working on Timberlake’s successful solo debut single “Cry Me A River” back in 2002.

Timberlake’s new hit song “Suit & Tie” featuring Jay-Z is a far cry from the singer’s ‘N Sync days. Timberlake has officially shed his old boy band image and continues to develop as a solo artist.

After six years of waiting, devoted fans are overjoyed. “The 20/20 Experience” will be released March 19.

Big Lou’s pizza snags gigantic slice of San Antonio’s heart Jenavie Aguilar

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Big Lou’s originally opened in 2000 out of frustration with the quality of service at other pizzerias and a determination to make good food. Upon finding small success, a custom oven was ordered

from Chicago and monstrous deliciousness was created: the 37inch pizza.

Not yet satisfied with the supersized pie, Big Lou’s went even further with the colossal 42-inch pizza. Anyone who has ever tried it knows how intense tackling even

once slice can be.

Their award-winning pizza is more than just one of the tastiest in San Antonio, it also holds the title of the largest pizza around. Customers should expect to use at least two plates to eat just one slice. Big Lou’s is great for special events or even a

cool place to grab a personal pizza, wings, calzone or salad for lunch.

The prices will not break bank and many will agree that the experience is definitely worth every penny.

Possibilities for pizza toppings are endless and can be split for others to enjoy, along with the check.

14«sports

55

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BIG

has his size.”

In his fourth season on the team, While Kotzur is an outstanding player, center Kevin Kotzur has written his he is far from conceited or over-confident. pages in the record books.

Matthew Rodriguez CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Forward and center Kevin Kotzur, a graduate student in communication studies, has achieved remarkable success as a member of the men’s basketball program.

Even more remarkable, however, is the level of teamwork and dedication that he has exemplified through every aspect of the game, on and off the court.

“He really has torn up all of our records,” Chad Peters, sports information coordinator, said.

Kotzur is the Rattlers’ all-time leading shot blocker, ranks fifth place all-time in career points and third place in career rebounds with 882, which is a record for the Heartland Conference.

Entering the season, Kotzur’s field goal percentage is 66 percent. If Kotzur can finish with this same percentage, he’ll claim one of the top 10 field goal percentages in NCAA division II history. Kotzur is averaging 18.5 points and 11.1 rebounds for the season.

“He’s on pace to become the Heartland Conference’s all-time leading scorer,” Peters said. “With those statistics, he has the chance to get to a thousand rebounds.”

If Kotzur can get a thousand career rebounds, he will be the only player in St. Mary’s history to have that mark. Kotzur has made a name for himself and honed his skills to develop a unique type of play.

“He’s so big, so powerful,” Peters said. “If there’s a loose ball, it’s his. If he doesn’t make the shot, he usually gets his own rebound and dumps the ball. At this level, nobody

He is also a great team player who plays for the love of the game.

“What’s kind of cool about the way he plays,” Peters explained, “is that everything comes from a distance. He’s a great team player. You can talk to any of the guys on the team and they would agree that his game isn’t about him getting points. He doesn’t really care about that stuff. I think that makes him a pretty easy teammate to like on the floor”.

Shooting guard Daryell Taylor, a senior exercise and sport science major, describes Kotzur as the “end piece for the whole offense.”

“He’s unselfish and he’s approachable,” Taylor said. “If he gets double-teamed, he’ll kick the ball out (to a teammate). He’s an all around good player and you can’t find that anywhere (else).”

“I play guard everyday,” Justin Alexander, a junior computer engineering major, said.

“While he’s playing defense on me, he talks me through it and makes sure that I know what I’m doing. Kevin always gets in the zone. He’s usually on the floor twenty to thirty minutes early. Everything works around Kevin. If you get the ball to him, it’s going in the hoop 90 percent of the time.”

Kotzur is always ready to practice for each game and motivate his teammates.

“Some days you have to get on their butts about working hard or being at the gym because we’re going to be here no matter what,” Kotzur said. “When we have to be here, we’ve got to get better.” Kotzur describes his practice and pregame strategy as “just thinking of what I need to do before each game, how to help the team win, how

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to be successful on offense and defense, and what we can do to make ourselves better as a team. We just have to stay positive knowing that we can win games and, when we get to the post-season, that we’ve got to win every game.”

Head Coach Jim Zeleznak has held his position for Kotzur’s entire college career and recognizes the vast improvements that Kotzur’s intense efforts have accomplished.

“He’s certainly worked well within our scheme of what we do. Kevin is a very unselfish guy and he runs our system the way that it’s supposed to be run,” Zeleznak explained.

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This season marks Kevin’s last as a Rattler, but he has the potential to go far.

“St. Mary’s has put a lot of players overseas,” Peters said, “and, dating back, a lot of players in the NBA. Robert Reid is one of them. A guy like Kotzur could work his way into the NBA, but it would be a process. Coming from a D-II level, a lot of times you kind of have to go through the developmental list first. I think professional basketball could very well be in his future if he so chose.”

Kevin Kotzur sets up to block a shot in recent play. Photo by Christina Faseler

sports»15

www.stmurattlernews.com WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Team remains undefeated in conference with 6-0 record

St. Mary’s team. Martens is well aware of this and stands ready with a plan for improvement.

STAFF WRITER “I think we need to do a little bit better job of The women’s basketball stands as the only undefeated rebounding,” Martens said. “Our execution both on the team in the Heartland Conference with a record of 6-0 and offense and defense (also) needs to get better.” overall record of 14-4, 9-1 at home. The team has received With these focuses in mind, the entire team is ready and votes over the last several weeks for a national rank and may willing to go the distance, working harder than ever before will reach a top 25 national rank soon. to improve consistently each game.

The list of the Rattler’s achievements “Our entire team has the same goal, goes on. Although the women’s basketball and it’s to win the national championship,” When we first started Boyd said. team makes it look easy, Head Coach Jason Martens insists that simply is not the case. out, our wins and losses Keeping that goal in mind everyday “Their work ethic is just tremendous,” were really close to each and giving everything that they have in Martens said. “They work very hard every other. As the season went practice takes perseverance, but with an day and they are very competitive.” encouraging and dedicated team behind Guards Felicia Jacobs and Liz Boyd, on, we became better them, the Rattlers have found the load is both senior exercise and sport science and better friends, like a not nearly as heavy. majors, are two players who exemplify this family. We always want “When we first started out,” Boyd said, work ethic in speaking about their team. “our wins and losses were really close to the best for each other.”

“The key to our success has been all five each other. As the season went on, we Liz Boyd individuals playing as one on the court,” Guard became better and better friends, like a Jacobs said. family.”

“Once you get half way through Jacobs views the act of getting to know conference, teams have so many films on each other as a fundamental key to success for the team. you,” Boyd said. “They know what each of us does; they “We know what everybody’s strengths are and what know who plays what position. It just comes down to everybody’s weaknesses are,” Jacobs said. “We know who executing on offense, even if they know the plays.” to look for on certain plays. We’re able to read each other With the Rattler’s success in conference play, it is no very easily.” surprise that the other teams are keeping an eye out for the

Tamara Garcia

“

Meet the new athletics director

R ATT L E R H O O P S S C H E D U L E Jan. 31 - Mar. 2 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DATE

OPPONENT

Jan. 31 Feb. 2 Feb. 7 Feb. 9 Feb. 14 Feb. 16 Feb. 23 Mar. 2

Texas-Permian Basin OK Panhandle State Arkansas-Fort Smith Newman St. Edwards’s McMurry Oklahoma Christian Texas A&M International

TIME 5:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

2 p.m.

MEN’S BASKETBALL DATE

OPPONENT

Jan. 31 Feb. 2 Feb. 7 Feb. 9 Feb. 14 Feb. 16 Feb. 21 Feb. 23 Mar. 2

Texas-Permian Basin OK Panhandle State Arkansas-Fort Smith Newman St. Edwards’s McMurry Dallas Baptist Oklahoma Christian Texas A&M International

Freshman guard Dezirae Elias has made significant contributions to the women’s team in her first season.

Photo by Antonio Morano Photography

TIME 7:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

4 p.m.

4 p.m.

*Home games in bold.

Home games played in Bill Greehey Area.

Compiled by Christina Faseler

What is your alma mater?

I have a Bachelors and Masters of Science from Texas A&M. How long did you work at University of Texas at San Antonio?

I’ve been at UTSA for the past twelve and a half years.

Have you worked at any other university besides UTSA? Prior to UTSA, I was the football administrator at the University of Notre Dame and the staff assistant for football operations at Texas A&M. Why did you choose to work at St. Mary’s University?

I’m very excited about the opportunity at St. Mary’s because of the rich tradition the University has overall and specifically in athletics. I am a San Antonio native, so having the chance to make an impact at a hometown school is very appealing. In addition, I am Catholic and I look forward to returning to a private, Catholic institution and I believe in President Mengler’s vision for St. Mary’s.

Do you have any specific ideas for the athletic department coming into St. Mary’s?

We are going to put a plan in place that will expand upon the success we’ve already had in athletics, but will guide us on the path to become the best Division II athletics program in the country.

Compiled by Sara E. Flores Photo by Antonio Morano Photography

Elizabeth Dalton Athletics Director

16«sports

www.stmurattlernews.com

THE HOT

Morgan Pullins

Sophomore Exercise and sport science Quick facts: Pullins recently tied the St. Mary’s record for the most rebounds recorded in a single game with 19.

What exactly happened in the game where you met the record for the most rebounds?

Nothing was falling for us in the first half. We were down. I’m a post, so when I make my shots it’s easy, kind of, for me to get a rebound. So it looked like I was just trying to rebound for my team and myself. I couldn’t believe I got 19 that game. It was crazy. I want to do more now, since I was just one away from just beating it.

Do you think the team will make it deep in the playoffs this year?

Oh yeah. There’s a big possibility. I feel like we’re going make it to the conference game and actually host the game here. If we win the number one spot, we can actually have it here at St. Mary’s this year. That’s what we’re trying to do so far. Then the next step is regionals after that. (We) just (need to) do it step by step, nothing big.

So far, (we) just (need to) keep the undefeated record so we can host it.

That’s our first goal right now: to host the conference game.

We’re trying to get more fans because not a lot of people attend the (women’s) games. A lot of people do attend the (men’s) more. So maybe if we win more we’ll get the support from the school, because they don’t know how much the support means to us. We play that much better when we have a big crowd cheering us on. We give them a good game. That’s why we want to keep winning.

Any weird habits you have?

Every game, every practice, I have to eat ice. I get a cup of ice. That’s my thing. My teammates get annoyed when we’re watching film and I’m like crunching on my ice. It calms me down I guess, my nerves.

Compiled by Valerie Dominguez

PLAY BALL

Sophomore infielder Amanda Villa prepares to ground a ball in a practice drill. The regular season begins Friday. Photo by Sara E. Flores

Softball team prepares for comeback in the 2013 season.

Sara E. Flores STAFF WRITER

The softball teams hopes to redeem their disappointing finish last season, falling to St. Edward’s in the conference tournament after finishing first in the Heartland Conference’s regular season play, when they begin their season Friday.

This season, the Rattlers have been selected as the favorite for the Heartland Conference’s number one spot in a recent pre-season poll and have their eyes set on a trip to the regional tournament.

“I think the biggest thing is us being on the same page and really having the confidence in one another that we can get the job done,” Head Softball Coach Donna Fields said. “There’s a lot to say about knowing that you can do it and I would say that’s the one thing that this group has just got to believe.

(They have to know) when they step on the field that they can come out a winner.”

The team will not only be counting on confidence and coherence this season; upperclassman leadership will be integral. The senior class is expected to guide the team to a winning season and eventually a conference title.

“The team is working so

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BASEBALL be more ecstatic to have most of the pitching staff back this season.

Returning this year is closing pitcher Jonathon Perez, a senior political science major. Perez ended with an ERA of 1.04, leading the team, and led the nation in

hard to prepare for the season,” catcher and third baseman Laura Benavidez, a sophomore elementary education major, said. “We are fighting through our workouts, and practicing hard as well. During practice, if we have confusions we stop and go over them to make sure the whole team knows what’s happening. It’s important to practice every situation just in case that situation arises so that we know exactly what to do. We all must be on the same page.”

Benavidez finished last season with a batting average of .200 and a fielding percentage of .800. Also returning this year is pitcher Maricela Bissaro, a junior exercise and sport science major.

saves, with 18.

“As a team, we have not only prepared physically, but mentally, knowing we want to be back in Cary, N.C., for the World Series,” Perez said.

Also returning this season is pitcher Carl O’Neal, a senior engineering management major. O’Neal finished last season second on the team in strikeouts and had an ERA of 2.18.

“My expectations for the season are extremely high,” Bissaro explained. “We have basically our entire team returning from last year and, as long as we work together as one team, I know there won’t be anyone to stop us.”

Bissaro lead the team in batting average last season with a .375 average and finished third in earned run averages with an ERA of 2.98.

“I really feel like we have a good nucleus coming back and a lot of experience,” Fields said.

“I’m confident that we’re going to be competitive, and be able to compete for a conference title.”

“Our expectations are very high this year, a lot higher than last year. Having gone to the regionals three years in a row is no longer a goal but simply a part of our path to nationals,” O’Neal said The baseball team will host their first conference series on Friday and Saturday against Newman University at Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium.