Vol. 103, No. 11 - 11/18/2015

r Vol 103

Nov 18, 2015

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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 2 4

New printing system produces effective results

ENTERTAINMENT

Modern day media encourages racial biases in casting

NICOLAS MCKAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

KAYLIN BALDERRAMA STAFF WRITER

Only two universities in Texas have 100 percent sprinkler system protection, and St. Mary’s is not one of those two schools. Building sizes are considered when installing systems. | Photo by Mat Martinez

University lacks sprinkler system protection in dorms MICHELLE MICHIMANI CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Although St. Mary’s is up to date with fire codes, only Founders Hall and Leies Hall have full fire sprinkler systems.

Fifty-three percent of dormitories did not have sprinklers between the years 2007-2011, according to the National Fire Protection Association. The University of Texas at Austin claimed to be one of only two universities in Texas with 100 percent sprinkler system protection in all dormitories.

“All buildings have fire detectors and notification systems that are monitored and maintained by UPD [University Police]

and Facilities,” Aaron Hanna, executive director for facilities administration, said.

In Bexar County the requirements to install a fire sprinkler system are based on a building’s classification, size and contents.

In 1982, the city of San Antonio passed an ordinance requiring any building being built that is over 75 feet tall to install a fire sprinkler system. The ordinance made no provisions for buildings that were already built and over the height limit.

While Bexar County fire codes must conform with the International Fire Code and the Uniform Fire Code, addressing older buildings’ sprinkler systems is a CONTINUED ON PG. 2

Student bookstore accounts close early, revenue opportunities drop ALEXIS ZEPEDA STAFF WRITER

Bookstore accounts closed sooner than expected for St. Mary’s students causing some confusion and decreased revenue for the bookstore’s October sale.

Although some students on campus close their accounts early or run out of money before the semester ends, other

Inside THIS ISSUE

students prefer to keep their accounts open until they close automatically. The open bookstore accounts were scheduled to close on Oct. 30, but, due to a mistake made by the business office, they accidentally closed on Oct. 20.

An email sent to students with open accounts informed them that any CONTINUED ON PG. 2 RED STARBUCKS CUPS The ongoing controversies of starbucks cups and religious views are researched by students. PG. 6

In 2015 there are minority actors and musicians that win Oscars, have number one hit songs and tour all over the world, but this does not mean that racism in media has ended, and comedic stereotypes just condition people to believe these forms of representation are okay.

The stereotypical roles of different races are exaggerated in television and movies. Children learn about different ethnicities and cultural groups through negative outlets, recognizing to associate themselves and other people using the skewed images big media presents. These representations are often inaccurate and can be offensive, sometimes even harmful.

These stereotypical portrayals affect how others are treated within a society.

A prime example is the casting choices for TV and movies. Most TV shows do CONTINUED ON PG. 2

SPORTS

Volleyball seniors play last home match ALLIE BEEDLE SPORTS EDITOR

Saturday, Nov. 14 was bitter sweet for four seniors as they took to the court for the last time.

One by one they were called onto the court arm in arm with parents and family members. Standing, arms full of flowers, each player was given a framed home jersey while taking in the applause from the Rattler community, their friends and family.

The seniors included entrepreneurial CONTINUED ON PG. 16 LORD OF THE RINGS CLASS Professor creates an English class incorporating “Lord of the Rings.”

PG. 10

THIS ISSUE

St. Mary’s implemented the new Pharos printing system this semester, changing the number of printing formats available as well as the payment method.

James Gomez, executive director of the Technical Support Center, spearheaded the conversion within each of the departments.

“Our goal is for students to have whatever resource it takes to make life easier for them,” Gomez said. “And that is one of our goals, in particular with the new printing system.”

Under the previous Easy Pay system, students paid through the business office or with a card that charged straight to their student account. Each student was allotted $100 for the academic year.

According to Gomez, this limited students who needed to print after certain office hours. Many cases also emerged in which students who were preparing to graduate were unable to do so because of holds on their accounts for as little as five cents. Gomez explained that, while everyone was able to move on, considerable time was lost trying to pay holds.

“We want students to leave St. Mary’s happy, and have excellent recalls of their time here,” Gomez said.

Many other updates and patches have been enacted as well. One such update increases the number of formats that can be printed. Previously, files such as Microsoft spreadsheets had to be converted into PDF files before they could be printed.

The feedback has been largely positive, according to polls taken by Gomez. Diane Duesterhoeft, reference and instruction librarian and professor, said she has heard fewer complaints since the switch was made.

Some students, however, are unable to create PayPal accounts, or do not trust its security. Misael Tamayo, freshman English communications major, currently cannot access the printers because of an inability to make a PayPal account. Pharos is still new, and is not without faults. The most common issue is when students’ papers come out blank. In these instances, students are reimbursed.

Gomez used an example of a learning curve to define student satisfaction. As more students become better acquainted with Pharos, he believed they will find the new system easier to access and use.

With this in mind, instructions have been posted on Gateway in the resources tab under print center.

Issue 11

2 NEWS

EDITOR: PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS @RATTLERPAIGE

SNAP | FEATURED PHOTO

THE RATTLER MEETINGS SPRING 2016

St. Mary’s students debate philosophical theories and moral issues during the annual Ethics Bowl in Alkek Saturday, Nov. 14. | Photo by Mat Martinez

TUES, JAN. 26 5:30 P.M. TUES, FEB. 9 5:30 P.M. TUES, FEB 23 5:30 P.M. TUES, MARCH 8 5:30 P.M.

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.

FROM “BOOKSTORE ACCOUNTS”

remaining bookstore credit would be applied to their student account balance.

If the account balance had already been cleared, the remaining credit would be mailed to the student after being reviewed by the business office.

“Improvements being made to the closing process are what caused the accounts to close early,” Dora Ybarra, business office director, said. “The email notice letter that populates into auto-process was being modified at the time, and a technical issue caused the closures sooner.”

Accounts are usually closed at the end of October, but, due to the updates made to the closing process, the business office is planning on closing accounts earlier in the future.

If the bookstore had not requested a longer wait time, the early closing would have started this semester.

The annual October sale took place Oct. 29-30. Regularly priced items were 25 percent off, and sale items were placed 30-50 percent off. The sale was supposed FROM “SPRINKLERS”

precaution only. The International Fire Code’s suggestion can be adopted by county and state fire codes, but San Antonio has yet to adopt this appendix.

“Since most of our residence halls are older, the sprinkler systems may not have been mandated at the time of construction,” Hanna said. “This may vary per buildings, but considering that Founders and Leies are the two newest residence halls, they both have sprinkler systems.”

Although fire sprinkler systems have been said to cost millions, the cost also depends on the size of the residence. On average the cost to install sprinkler systems in homes runs about $1.35 per sprinkled square foot, according to the National Fire Protection Association. San Antonio District Fire Chief Randy Jenkins believed in the power of sprinklers and their ability to save lives.

“People think they are costly and put up smoke detectors instead,” Jenkins said.

Although statistics show that sprinklers

Remaining balances on giftcards were not affected by the early closures. | Graphic by Brandon Leonard

to generate some extra profits for the bookstore, but, compared to last year, there was a decrease in sales.

“A lot of students were anticipating the October sale and were upset about the accounts closing on such short notice,” Arnold Davila, St. Mary’s bookstore director, said. Because of the early account closures many students were unable to purchase

anything during the October sale.

Although the October sale did not go as expected, the bookstore staff is planning on having a Christmas sale, beginning Dec. 1.

Bookstore accounts are scheduled to reopen on Dec. 7 for the spring semester, but Davila is pushing for accounts to be activated a week sooner to compensate for the early closures.

may save lives, some disagree on the benefit of installing them.

“In a home with sprinklers, the average property loss per fire is cut by about 70 percent compared to fires where sprinklers are not present,” the National Fire Protection Association reported.

Jenkins said having a full sprinkler system can bring down the costs of insurance by decreasing the potential for fire damage.

From 2009-2013, U.S. fire departments responded to an estimated annual average of 3,870 structure fires in dormitories, fraternities, sororities and barracks according to the National Fire

Protection Association.

Although some St. Mary’s residence halls lack a full fire sprinkler system, they are equipped with fire alarms, fire extinguishers, evacuation plans and smoke detectors.

The halls also conduct two fire drills a semester to ensure everyone knows how to evacuate safely.

Resident assistants also receive fire safety training with the San Antonio Fire Department. The training includes drills on how to get students out of a smoky building and instructions on how to use a fire extinguisher properly. St. Mary’s has also not reported a fire in the past three years.

Fire escape plans are posted on every residents’ door for cases of evacuation. | Photo by Mat Martinez

NEWS 3

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

POLICE BLOTTER OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

OCT. 20, 2015 Criminal mischief $50-$500 was reported in Lot W. Case active.

OCT. 20, 2015 Criminal mischief $50-$500 was reported in Lot H. Case active.

OCT. 20, 2015 Unattended vehicle damage was reported in Lot V. Case active.

OCT. 25, 2015 Criminal trespass warning was reported in Founders Hall. Case cleared by arrest.

OCT. 27, 2015 Theft of $50-$500 was reported in Lot T. Case active.

OCT. 28, 2015 Burglary of vehicle was reported in Lot D. Case closed.

OCT. 29, 2015 Burglary of vehicle was reported in Lot H. Case active.

OCT. 31, 2015 Burglary of vehicle was reported in Lot O. Case closed.

NOV. 2, 2015 Criminal tresspass warning reported in Lourdes Hall. Case closed.

NOV. 5, 2015 Burglary of vehicle was reported in the Center for Legal and Social Justice. Case active.

NOV. 9, 2015 Theft of $0-$50 was reported in Charles Francis. Case active.

Campus Wi-Fi undergoes system upgrades DANIEL W. PEREZ MANAGING EDITOR

St. Mary’s Wi-Fi, infamous for its unreliability, has undergone extensive upgrades that seem to have significantly improved students’ relationship with the Internet despite some ongoing complaints.

This semester, 59 reported cases of technical difficulty have been addressed and closed, compared to the 200 cases from the previous spring semester, according to James Gomez, executive director for the Technical Support Center.

“The improvement is welcome to students seeking to finish up the semester, for whom staying connected is a vital component of academic survival,” Blake Vera, senior international relations and political science major, said.

“For some, the experience has been like breaking up — hard to do, and it usually occurs at the wrong moment,” Vera said.

“Usually it happens when I’m in the middle of something, which isn’t good,” Vera said. “It happens with both my computer and my phone. Things will not load or stop loading when I’m trying to use it.”

Over the summer, some newly hired staff and personnel from the law school IT department were brought in to make improvements to the network infrastructure on campus.

The wireless in residential and academic areas had the highest unsatisfied student rating with 30 percent of respondents being dissatisfied, according to the Spring 2015 Student Information Resources Survey.

Curtis White, vice president of information services, led the project to improve the network’s structure, with the goal of making the process to connect and stay connected less fallible.

“We brought technicians on board and they spent the better part of the summer reworking our network infrastructure here,”

White said. “It’s everything from taking an access point that was tucked up in the roof and moving it down to the ceiling so it could have better attenuation so people can log onto it.”

The project was expensive, according to Joseph Longo, director of Infrastructure for Information Technology.

“One of the big issues [students] saw last semester was if you were in the Commons you were authenticated, working and it would ask you to re-authenticate,” Longo said. “Our radius authentication server was [at] end of life, overdue for changes, having real hardware issues and we identified that it was almost a 30k upgrade to the authentication process.”

The authentication server is part of the network that verifies whether a device has the authorization to log into the campus Wi-Fi. In the old system, the server would require multiple logins if a student were to move around within the same building but move across multiple access points — causing the problem with having to reenter login information or dropping signals.

Working toward a more reliable network has been a challenge, but an overall success.

“Right now we have nine verifiable Wi-Fi cases anywhere from someone not remembering their password all the way to possibly another type of issue,” Gomez said.

With all these changes, students are still experiencing issues with connecting their devices. Connecting in the Commons has been difficult at times for Raul Espinoza, junior electrical engineering major.

“Often when I’m sitting near the research librarian’s desk, the internet will give out completely — it’s like there is a dead zone, so I have to go to the other side of the Commons to connect to the Wi-Fi,” Espinoza said. “I haven’t noticed a difference with the Wi-Fi from last semester, it’s mostly the same since I’ve started going to school. It goes down way too many times.”

Improved Wi-Fi leads to less complaints and more positive feedback. | Graphic by Mat Martinez

By contrast, Claudia Cardona, senior English major, has seen changes while using the Wi-Fi on devices such as her phone.

“Every time when I use the Wi-Fi on my phone, it does work and there seems to be a stronger connection,” Cardona said.

The device being used may affect a person’s ability to connect successfully to the Wi-Fi. Gomez recommended that students constantly run updates on all of their devices. Ensuring devices are using the latest software decreases connection problems.

Students or faculty who are experiencing problems of any sort should contact the Technical Support Center. Be ready to describe where the problem occurred, what device was being used and what software version is installed.

Reinbolt Hall will also see wireless upgrades by the end of the year. Every access point will be replaced by December, according to Longo. The IT team is continuing to replace old components and expand the campus Wi-Fi network.

In the future, university officials hope to expand connectivity outside of the academic and residence buildings to the courtyards and walkways around campus. Access to Wi-Fi outside campus buildings is a goal, but may not be completed for some time, according to White and Longo.

New commons available in law library for students to study and socialize JASMIN RIVERA STAFF WRITER

On Tuesday, Oct. 27 St. Mary’s opened its doors to a second commons, with the new location opening in the Sarita Kennedy East Law Library.

The Law Library Commons contain some new features with two new things available so far.

“The newest things available are vending machines and whiteboards,” Mario Leyva, circulation assistant in the Sarita Kenedy East Law Library, said. “The commons is dedicated to law students and the surrounding community. For them to have a relaxed atmosphere to study, socialize, rest and eat.”

The Law Library Commons is open to all students. The operation hours are similar to the Cotrell Learning Commons’ hours, running 10-12 a.m. on Sunday, 7-12 a.m.

Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturday.

Many law school and undergraduate students believed the commons at the law school should be open 24 hours a day. Nikki Boyd, first year law student, gave a few reasons as to why the commons in the law school should be opened 24 hours.

“I think it is wonderful to have a 24 hour commons,” Boyd said. “Especially to use

books for research and homework. Even if you are pulling an all-nighter, the main problem is interrupting study time.”

Unlike the Cotrell Learning Commons, the Law Library Commons are not named in commemoration of anyone, leaving some wishing for that to change.

“I think that the commons should be named after a Marianist who went to the law school there, or someone who contributed to the law school,” Mishell Toledo, freshman English major, said.

“I think the law library should be named after someone who donated a lot of money to the law school,” Boyd said.

Other students do not know, thinking it should remain as is.

Some students such as Jonathan Herrera, sophomore mathematics and physics major, thought it would be beneficial to have a second commons at the law library because it could ease the volume in the original commons.

“Those that want quiet can go over there [the Law Library Commons]. Those who like working in groups, it would suit them over here [Cotrell Learning Commons],” Toledo said.

“The more places that you give people will help elevate the amount of people at the commons,” Boyd said.

“They [the commons] serve [as] a

The largest law library in San Antonio welcomes a new study area for students. | Photo by Mat Martinez

collaborative learning environment that encourages and supports the academic mission of the university,” Aaron Hanna, executive director for facilities administration, said.

Overall people think that it is a great idea to have two commons. The hard

work of the library staff is paying off with positive feedback.

“A lot went into creating the Law Library Commons,” Leyva said. “It was a big effort on the part of facilities, contractors and library staff. It was communicating with the law administration. It was a team effort.”

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WHERE WINNING IS A

TRADITION St. Mary’s has won five sports national championships titles, plus a sixth title — a team academic national championship — proves we’re developing student-athletes ready to succeed in life.

The Catholic and Marianist University | www.stmarytx.edu

WHY BECOME A

MARIANIST? When Brother José Julián MatosAuffant, SM, joined the faculty at a Marianist school in Puerto Rico, he began sharing daily prayers and fellowship at the Marianist community.

He was drawn to “teaching as a sacred calling and to religious life,” he says. “It’s a life that sustains me and helps me grow.”

Brother José is minister of spiritual development at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio.

IS A MARIANIST LIFE OF SERVICE, COMMUNITY AND PRAYER RIGHT FOR YOU? Learn more today. Contact Brother Tom Wendorf, SM twendorf@sm-usa.org Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI ntrahan@gmail.com

BROTHERS – PRIESTS – SISTERS

marianist.com

6 COMMENTARY STAFF EDITORIAL SOFIA ZANETTA COMMENTARY EDITOR

The horrific Paris attacks occurred Friday, Nov. 13, causing France to officially declare a state of emergency and shut down its borders. More than 100 people were killed at the Bataclan Concert Hall, according to BBC News. Multiple attacks happened all across Paris such as the reported suicide blast near the national stadium of France Stade de France, Le Petit Cambodge, La Belle Equipe and multiple other districts in Paris.

“Witnesses on French television said the scene at the concert hall, which can seat as many as 1,500 people, was a massacre, describing how gunmen with automatic weapons shot bursts of bullets into the crowd,” the New York Times reported.

Three of the four attackers killed during the police raid in Bataclan were wearing explosive belts, Paris police spokesman Michel Cadot, told France Info radio.

“Terrorists capable of carrying out such atrocities must know that they will face a France that is determined and united,” President Francois Hollande, said.

“This is an attack not just on Paris, not just on the people on France, but an attack on all humanity and the universal values we share,” President Barack Obama said.

Although many nations have faced internal conflicts over the course of this year, Paris has experienced many external threats as the Charlie Hebdo massacre left 12 dead, as well as 11 others wounded.

A Syrian passport was found outside the Stade de France, alongside an Egyptian passport though there is no confirmation whether the passports belonged to the attackers, according to Telegraph.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, but the claim could not be officially confirmed. It seems they are targeting the allied countries involved in the bombing of Syria and other places in the Middle East. The Islamic State threatened to further terrorize France and other European countries that are fearful of jihadists migrating from the conflict in Syria.

Will this event only feed into the fear the U.S. already holds for immigrants? This tragedy might spark hatred toward Syrian and other Middle Eastern immigrants and their treatment by the citizens of the U.S. The Paris attacks were devastating to many people. It is also important that people recognize other recent bombings occurred in Beirut, migrant workers were kidnapped and beheaded by ISIS in Libya and the Garissa University attacks in Kenya.

All of these events prove that violence begets more violence and until one party is ready to accept cultural differences and pursue peace instead of war, the cycle will not end. How much more suffering are our political actors willing to put their innocent citizens through?

Source from twitter.com@therealbanksy

EDITOR: SOFIA ZANETTA/ @RATTLERSOFIA

Starbucks sets caffeine fiends on national controversy As if Starbucks consumers don’t already have a bad reputation for spending over four dollars on coffee, this year they take it to a whole other level.

Daniel

Perez

MANAGING EDITOR

Recently, many Americans, and college students alike, stood as one in boycotting the coffee giant, Starbucks. Their fight was taken to every medium available, announcing anger over the lack of holiday decor on the faces of Starbucks’ cups.

This holiday season, the coffee giant released its holiday cups without words or drawings spreading Christmas cheer.

Instead, the cups are a solid red insulated cylinder with the iconic Starbucks logo.

Customers were so livid, they announced on social media their disdain at the lack of Christian proliferation and the beginning of their official boycott of the franchise. Tweets and posts were covering the feeds of all major sites with some reading “Now @Starbucks is blowing off Christmas with their non-Christmas coffee cups. I’ll never step into a Starbucks again. #BoycottStarbucks” and “The fact that Starbucks took Merry Christmas off their cups is crazy to see where our society has come to. C’mon who doesn’t like Christmas?”

It was the holiday controversy heard and seen around the world. After spending a few minutes online, it was inevitable to run into some kind of commentary on

The infamous red Starbucks cup lacks holiday spirit and snowflake crystals. | Photo by Mat Martinez

the subject.

The holiday season is not a subtle time of year since everyone is reminded of the time of year by turning on the radio, TV or when they are shopping for Halloween decorations.

For people to be upset their coffee cup isn’t projecting the holiday cheer described in holiday movies and songs is downright ridiculous. One thing to consider is the average lifespan of a coffee cup. At most, it is used for a few hours. If a cup of coffee needs to be the reminder that Christmas is around the corner, then something has gone terribly wrong somewhere.

The cup serves the purpose of being a receptacle to hold coffee with the intention of caffeinating the drinker. One of the last things it should do is promote a holiday

celebrated by a particular segment of the population. Being red in color as compared to the basic white should be enough — at least there is a distinction.

It is great to see people take up a cause, but it is a difficult to get behind it. Standing up for an injustice is commendable but perhaps taking time to put things into perspective should be done before this amount of anger is put out into the world during this cheerful season.

The good news for all those who have swore off Starbucks is Dunkin Donuts has released their special holiday cups complete with all the appropriate Christmas designs.

This is an excellent alternative for all those who wish to display their love of Christmas proudly for all to see for the few hours the cup is in use.

Aramark promotes sustainability in St. Mary’s cafeteria

St. Mary’s students converse while carrying their self-served food in hand at the Diamondback Cafe. | Photo by Mat Martinez

Students’ and consumers’ concerns about the Diamondback Cafe’s lack of carrying trays are addressed.

Lena

Westerfeld

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In 2007, the Diamondback Cafe was only using plastic foam and plastic ware products, and there was an extraordinary amount of garbage overflowing in the trashcans, but John Finerghty, food service director of Aramark, has altered the entire approach of St. Mary’s environmental impact, from processed waste to raw food usage.

Each food service entity at St. Mary’s

has mindfulness in every aspect of their operations. The Diamondback Cafe saves every piece of food waste from the production of food including carrot skins, inedible parts of vegetables and other scraps that cannot be included in food. Once the kitchen waste is collected, it is stored in clear containers to be analyzed to determine efficient food usage for cost and sustainability. All food and drink operations on campus are waterconscious, even though Aramark does not pay for water.

Despite all these efforts, the biggest challenge lies in the hands of the end-users: post-consumer waste. Due to self-service, consumers often serve themselves more food than they can eat. In order to minimize this, Finerghty eliminated the use of trays in the cafeteria. This helps prevent consumers from loading up a tray full of food that may not be eaten, and helps ensure consumers

eat what they carry.

Finerghty is occasionally questioned for the lack of trays; however, he stands by his commitment of sustainability. Per his suggestion, a group of students will be weighing the waste of post-consumers Thursday, Nov. 19 to demonstrate how much is needlessly lost. It is hoped that the event will raise awareness in people’s platefilling habits.

He works endlessly to fulfill both the needs of the environment as well as the needs of St. Mary’s consumers. So, the next time a plate is filled, think about the effort that goes into the production of the food, how much will be realistically consumed and minimizing waste. Through the combined efforts of St. Mary’s students, the campus can foster a culture that practices environmental-consciousness and cost saving lifestyles.

COMMENTARY 7

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Graduation tickets in spring limit students

Editor-in-Chief Tamara Garcia

Managing Editor Daniel W. Perez

Daniel

Perez

MANAGING EDITOR

Graduation is right around the corner for those eligible to walk the stage this fall, but their walk may be a lonely one. Luckily, those who graduate this semester get to invite 10 people with which to share their shining moment.

This semester, those eligible for graduation receive 10 tickets to give to friends and family to gain entrance to the Bill Greehey Arena for the commencement exercises. If someone has a large family or a lot of friends, graduating in the fall makes the most sense since there are fewer students graduating, which translates to more tickets.

For those graduating in the spring, it is a different story.

Last semester, students received six tickets to give to friends or family. It has become almost a tradition where those who have many people to invite will have to seek out more tickets from fellow graduating students with extra tickets.

Purchasing tickets from other students is an interesting practice and it can be a costly one —making it an unrealistic option for many.

St. Mary’s has a large demographic of Hispanic students, with them making up about 56 percent of the total student population on campus, according to the

EDITORIAL STAFF

Copy Editor Travis Bowles Advertising Manager Valerie Perez Design Editor Sara E. Flores Web Editor Brandon Leonard Photo Editor Mat Martinez Students concerned about ticket availability for spring ceremony. Graphic by Mat Martinez

2013 University Profile. Traditionally, for events such as graduation, the whole family comes out to show their support.

This puts students in the awkward position of having to either purchase tickets from other students or pick and choose which family members will attend the ceremony. Not all family members completely understand the situation and it can lead to some conflict.

The practice of supply and demand is old, but it shouldn’t be part of the graduation revelries. Yes, the space used for graduation is small compared to venues used by other universities but there are ways around it.

Perhaps having separate graduation ceremonies by school would be more beneficial for all students. Lifting the restriction on the amount of tickets each

student receives would be one less thing to worry about.

In the past few years, the university has tried to accommodate the overflow of people.

Streaming the ceremony live online is a great option for those who can’t make the trip to San Antonio. Having an overflow room in the university center to watch the ceremony on large screens is also a good idea but it simply doesn’t translate to the same experience as attending the actual ceremony.

Graduating with a college degree is a huge milestone and it should be celebrated with every ounce of pomp and circumstance. The best way to do this is with those whose support helped these students reach this goal.

Assistant Photo Editor Julia Ewalefo News Editor Paige Gandara-Valderas Commentary Editor Sofia Zanetta Entertainment Editor Manuela Gonzalez Sports Editor Allie Beedle Faculty Adviser Brother Dennis Bautista, S.M., Ph.D.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY The Rattler welcomes letter 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.

Greek life expansion may pose threat to established organizations Recently, students received emails from the Office of the Dean of Students concerning a movement toward Greek expansion on campus.

Allie

Beedle

SPORTS EDITOR

St. Mary’s has begun talks of expanding current Greek Life and adding two new fraternities and a new sorority as early as next semester.

Over the last few weeks St. Mary’s held several informational sessions as well as discussions with the different chapter presidents. Currently St. Mary’s has eleven Greek chapters on campus.

While expansion could be something new and exciting for the campus, sororities and fraternities are already struggling with their recruitment due to the smaller classes of incoming freshman.

Another factor to consider is what current fraternities and sororities want. The organizations’ opinions seem to be the most important since they will be the ones who are most affected by this expansion.

The current Greek presidents and chapters are facing having their personal voice and opinion being over ridden by the influences of administration.

Many chapters feel that, while expansion is definitely something that could be beneficial to the university, there needs to be more honest, open and fair discussion among all Greek Life and administrators before a formal decision is made.

Greek Life received backlash from the administration on their lack of programs focusing on inclusive with non-Greek students, and they are worried that the outlook on Greek Life may become negative if they cannot keep up recruitment and events.

The events are paid for out of chapters’ money, so programing on campus for Greek events are usually on a smaller scale instead of the large social programing seen at bigger universities.

Even so, the Greek participants on campus are interested in what will become of their chapters if new ones are added.

The process of becoming a chapter would involve any invited fraternities or sororities to come to campus as a colony and begin working on an interest group, proving they can thrive on campus.

The organization must prove themselves to their national headquarters before they can truly be initiated as a new chapter on St. Mary’s campus.

One of the most promising prospective

“

Current established sorority and fraternity members should have the right to a larger input regarding the administrators’ choice to expand Greek life on St. Mary’s campus.”

Allie Beedle Sports Editor

fraternities is Sigma Lambda Beta because of the interest group on campus and the

Greek life is in the process of installing a new fraternity and sorority. Graphic by Mathew Martinez

current alumni activity in San Antonio.

But, from the sorority aspect, recruitment is already an issue, and, without large numbers of incoming freshmen, it would be extremely difficult for the chapters already established to thrive.

Adding new chapters, even just one, could cut back on the current chapters’ recruitment pools, thus impacting Greek Life on campus negatively.

While St. Mary’s is always looking to involve more students in campus other programs outside of Greek life my help to get the students more involved and thus eliminating the need for more Greek activity

on campus.

Although, the university is always trying to diversify it’s students perhaps the more effective way would be to improve programs that are already on campus and focus on nongreek life programs for recruitment.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE WWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

After the release of the documentary Blackfish, in January 2013, Sea World has repeatedly tried to deny the impact that the documentary has had on its wallet, as reported by a recent article in Forbes magazine.

Although this corporate giant has experienced various protests from animal rights activists, these were nothing compared to the present number of insurmountable protests against Sea World, even outside park grounds. One of the most recent protests occurred on New Year’s Day when people protested Sea World’s float in the Tournament of Roses Parade in California.

As a student of a university that does research with Sea World, it is only natural to question whether the continuation of the research partnership with Sea World is ethically correct. Based on the evidence of Sea World’s treatment of the orcas, it is immoral to continue the search of knowledge at the cost of the specimens’ pain and exploitation.

As reported in the documentary, Sea World has a prolonged history of mistreating its animals. The park has been accused of robbing and kidnapping innocent baby orcas from their mothers at a very young age and confining its adult orcas in tiny pools that constrict their movement.

The detrimental effect of Sea World’s hospitality does not end here. What belongs in the wild, should stay in the wild; it cannot be tamed and its instinct cannot be hindered. The orcas, at times have tendencies to attack one another, especially concerning territorial rights. Sea World’s employees did not take this into consideration when they consciously placed one or more male orcas alongside two or more females in a small tank. This has resulted in the premature death of many orcas, who were bitten and abused by other orcas.

Laws have been developed to prevent the harm of human study subjects. Marine wild life should not be an exception. Many may argue that the study of animals is necessary because, without it, the progress of science would be stunted. It is like saying that it’s better to harm other animals than to harm humans in the process of learning about new diseases and developmental behaviors.

This is understandable of specimens that are overpopulated and created in a laboratory setting. Orcas are not a model specimen for experiments.

There are model organisms that can be studied instead. Orcas are like humans in that their life span is similar to ours, they form emotional bonds between their children and their families, they have different languages amongst their respective communities, and they suffer emotional and physical trauma like we do. The thirst for knowledge should not be an excuse for placing an innocent life in harm and depriving it of its nature.

By continuing the research partnership, we lose sight of what it means to be part of a Marianist Catholic institution. Although research with Sea World does not mean that the university is also engaging in the mistreatment of the marine wildlife, it still doesn’t mean that it is doing all that it can to stop something immoral from taking place.

Recent videos showing a Planned Parenthood executive discussing fetal tissue sales quickly turned to the shaming of women’s health rights and legal scientific practices.

The footage that started the debate came from a lunch with Deborah Nucatola, senior director of medical services for Planned Parenthood. In the video members of the Center for Medical Progress, an antiabortion group, asked Nucatola about the fetal tissue sales Planned Parenthood makes from the abortions they perform.

A second video from the same group

was released a about a week later, this time featuring Dr. Mary Gatter, medical director for Planned Parenthood. Similar to the first one, Gatter is questioned on the cost and profits of handling such tissue samples.

Both videos were originally released as highly edited versions of the full conversations, and painted Nucatola and Gatter as making a profit off such sales. This elicited a response calling for the closure of a non-profit organization that, “defend(s) their taxpayer funded abortions and profiteering from selling aborted fetuses,” chief political strategist for Rand Paul’s campaign, Doug Stafford said.

Many other GOP candidates and other conservative media figures were quick to agree on the morally lax stance of such sales and call for Planned Parenthood’s closure.

They are right too, profiting from the sale of fetuses is not only reprehensible, but also illegal.

Planned Parenthood, however, is not profiting from such sales. Several highranking directors and presidents of organizations involved with biorepositories — labs that use fetal tissue for scientific experiments — agree that at the “$30 to $100” price Nucatola quoted in the video, Planned Parenthood would be lucky to break even.

“In reality, $30-100 probably constitutes a loss for [Planned Parenthood],” Sherilyn Sawyer, director of Harvard University and Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s biorepository, said. “The costs associated with collection, processing, storage and inventory and records management for specimens are very high.”

Under the law, such clinics may sell fetal tissue for no more than the cost to cover expenses. Many are lucky to simply suffer no loss, much less break even.

The examination of fetal tissue provides several scientific and medical benefits. Most notably in creating vaccines for diseases such as polio, measles and shingles. In addition, they’re also used in research to fight things like cancer and HIV. “(T)hese cells from one fetus have no doubt saved the lives of millions of people,” Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said.

Despite the medical benefits and lives saved, Planned Parenthood still receives scrutiny for not only selling the fetal tissues, but also for performing abortions. The majority of their operations are, in reality, STD testing, cancer screening, contraceptives and other medical services for women.

Abortions make up only between 3 percent and 12 percent of their total operations depending on the study and year.

The majority of those served at Planned Parenthood are beneath the poverty line and would not be able to receive these medical procedures otherwise. With the release of these videos and the GOP candidates gearing up for the next election cycle, Planned Parenthood will be under constant scrutiny over its Federal funding of about $500 million.

“I’m not sure we need a half a billion dollars for women’s health issues,” Jeb Bush, Republican presidential candidate, said when asked about the value of services rendered versus the fact Planned Parenthood also performs abortions.

The real debate, then, is how much women’s rights and health are worth, and whether both women and health clinics such as Planned Parenthood’s should be constantly shamed and mocked for acting well within their legal and Constitutional rights.

From cricket infestations, to water leaks and AC units going out, the residents of St. Mary’s are seeking help not only

through staff, but also through work order submissions.

Many students view St. Mary’s not only as the foundation for their future careers, but also as a place to call a second home. The residential halls are one of the locations on campus where students spend most of their time. However, several students who live in the halls, specifically in the Outback, have stumbled with some issues.

“Some of the maintenance issues I have come across in Cremer have required me to call residence life instead of submitting a work order,” Amber Hernandez, junior psychology major, said. “Issues like a clogged sink or overflowing toilet water, remodeled each semester taking a total of two years for the project to be completed.

So far the lounge area and laundry room in the basement have been remodeled and open for the residents to use. There is also an ice machine in the laundry area, which is the first one to be on campus, along with the one in Leies Hall. Ice machines are slowly going to be brought into more areas on campus.

“I really enjoy the ice machine in Leies Hall because it is convenient for cold smoothies and iced drinks,” Sifuentes said.

Some near future plans for Chaminade include a newly renovated study area that will have a more modern feel to it. The space will be similar to that of the new Graduate Center for Student Success. This study area will have a video conference room and white boards that will be available for students.

“I haven’t seen many students utilize the new facilities in the basement of Chaminade,” Jacqueline Miranda, low voltage technician, said. “I don’t think many people are going down there since no one lives there.”

Facilities will meet with residence life soon to talk about some of the projects for the upcoming semesters. Some other buildings that are being inspected for refurbishing include Treadaway Hall, Dougherty Hall and Marian Hall. Eventually these halls will be remodeled similarly to Chaminade’s current renovations, which is a longer-term plan.

“We are looking at Treadaway next and we will probably do a total renovation at some point ... it’s just a matter of coming to an agreement on how we want it to look,” Aaron Hanna, executive director of facilities, said. “It’s an older building, which makes it a big challenge.”

A few changes that have been made to Marian Hall include the new sidewalk, grass along the front area and reinforcements to the patio level. A new drainage system was also installed. The purpose of the new sidewalk is to prevent students from walking through water runnings as they go up the hill to class.

“There will especially be more water now that Chaminade is being remodeled,” Villarreal said. “All the water from Chaminade will run down to lot J, where many students walk to get to class.”

With many of these changes taking place on campus, it not only gives residents a new place to live, but will also provide them with new facilities. Some of the buildings at St. Mary’s were built over 50 years ago.

Residence life and facilities plan to get to each hall in a period of 8-10 years to catch up to technology and students’ needs.

“We have the space, style, accessibility and security within our halls, it’s just the inside that’s changing, and we need to keep up with those changes,” Villarreal said.

Last week, officials cut the blue ribbon to inaugurate freshly built sports facilities, completing a long-time construction project and ushering in a new era for the University.

According to President of St. Mary’s University, Thomas Mengler, the Park at St. Mary’s project has cost $17.3 million, the

first such project since Founders Hall was built in 2009. The Park and Founders Hall were equivalent in terms of project cost. But the Park at St. Mary’s proved to be a more complex project due to the size of the acreage, the variety of venues and the topography of the land, according to Vice President of Administration and Finance Rebeckah Day. “It has transformed that part of the campus in huge ways. It was a big project to oversee, and one of the biggest projects in many years,” President Mengler said. “It opens up so many possibilities for St. Mary’s, for our athletes and the outside community.”

Mengler, who was elected after the Park project had already begun, said the finalized project has exceeded expectations. The Park at St. Mary’s comprises a fully renovated baseball field, a stadium-bearing softball field, new baseball facilities, new tennis courts and two FIFA regulation soccer fields.

The baseball facilities, named Dickson Stadium in honor of David Dickson, an alumnus who donated $1 million to the project, features a renovated seating area, press box, new ticket windows, concessions stands and a team building that includes coaches offices, a locker room, an athletic training room for medical treatment, a strength and conditioning room, study areas and a hitting facility, according to Day. “The baseball stadium went through a process of going from lemons to lemonade, and the softball stadium I am told – well, first off it’s the only softball stadium in San Antonio,” Mengler said. “The architects said this softball stadium is the second best softball stadium in the state behind Baylor. That was his view. The facilities are magnificent. They’re beautiful.

“I think it will hopefully increase the spirit on campus and encourage our students to attend the competitions and the meets their colleagues are participating in. I also think it will bring lot of visibility to St Mary’s as we host tournaments.”

Because of the Park’s proximity to the Rattler Drive entrance, Day thinks the renovation will enhance the community image of the University.

“More importantly, we expect our facilities to attract NCAA Division II tournament play, and that will showcase St. Mary’s beyond San Antonio,” Day said.

Bexar Country provided a grant expecting the new sports facilities to better the surrounding community, Mengler said.

The president particularly has in mind the Gateway district that surrounds the University.

“We are pledged to open up our facilities to opportunities for boys and girls who’ll be here to use these facilities, then the greater San Antonio community,” Mengler said.

“And since our facilities are located in the Gateway district on the west side, we think that there will be a lot more use of restaurants and shops in this area by visitors from outside San Antonio.”

But Mengler did not express a belief that the new facilities affect perceptions of Rattler athletes.

“We view that young man or woman as a scholar first, and secondly as an athlete. We remain in Division II, which I think helps us maintain that student first athletes second philosophy,” Mengler said. “The biggest change I think will be because of the quality of the facilities, it brings a level of excellence to the program that I believe needs to be a core value of our goals for this university.”

According to Athletics Director Elizabeth Dalton, the Park boosts student-athlete welfare because they can visit the complex after class and have therapeutic and preparatory needs fulfilled all in one place.

“The entire complex immediately makes us someone different in terms of an

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EDITOR: DANIEL W. PEREZ/ @STMURATTLERNEWS

English department offers class with exciting literary twist DANIEL W. PEREZ MANAGING EDITOR

Fans of the popular “Lord of the Rings”

by J.R.R. Tolkien, can now sign up for a class being offered in the spring that uses his work to explore the evolution of the English language.

This spring, EN3351 History of the English Language is being offered with a new twist. Some new material being introduced to this established class seeks to help students better understand how languages function, and what better way to do that than using a popular series to add a little fun.

“What we will do in the class is track the history of English but do it using Tolkien as a model for language construction and language development,” Mary Lynn Gasaway Hill, professor of English and communication studies, said.

“We will be using Tolkien’s work as a touchstone for the major developments in the history of English. For example, the language of Rohan is based predominantly on Old English,” Hill said.

Some people may not be aware, but according to Hill, Tolkien was a linguist.

He studied languages and enjoyed them so much that he created unique ones for his series.

“Tolkien was interested in the relationship between language and culture, the expectation of what is talked about, how it’s talked about socially and in terms of vocal production,” Hill said. “There was an interest in language itself and the relationship between the languages and the

| Graphic by Brandon Leonard

cultures that he was producing in Middle Earth. Rohan and Gondor are both human cultures, but they’re different so you get a different sense of them.”

After signing up for the class, students can expect to create their own language complete with a writing system, vocabulary, syntax and way of speaking it. Over the course of the semester, students will learn the elements that make up a language and apply what they’ve learned to their project languages.

“The class will be divided into four or five teams and they will be given a culture, some basic cultural components, and a

basic geography,” Hill said. “It’ll be our own little world, and each team will create their own language.”

Having to develop unique cultures and geographies is important, so when students are broken up into groups, they will have specific parameters to form their language around. This will be an exciting class to take whether one is a long time “Lord of the Rings” fan or if interested in learning how the integration of cultures can influence language.

For more information, contact Dr. Hill via email at mhill@stmarytx.edu or at (210)-431-2006.

ADDITIONAL COURSES OFFERED FOR SPRING 2016 EN5360-12732 SPECIAL STUDIES: MEMOIR EN5361-11052 SPECIAL STUDIES: BRITISH DETECTIVE FICTION

New assistant director for student activities creates diverse events on campus JOSH MADRID STAFF WRITER

Assistant director for student activities and transition programs, Jenni Kraft.| Photo by Mat Martinez

Each week, the pub is the location for various events for students and faculty, but some may not know the woman responsible for crafting those events is Jenni Kraft.

Jenni Kraft, assistant director for Student Activities and Transitions Programs, is in charge of the evening and weekend programs for students.

A San Antonio native, Kraft got her B.A. in Business Marketing in 2010 and her Masters in Student Affairs in Higher Education in 2012 at Texas State University. She found her way back home when she joined the staff at St. Mary’s this past summer.

“My last three years, I was at Austin College doing a very similar role focusing on campus activities and leadership programs,” Kraft said. “I also helped with their student organizations and leadership programming, helping to develop themselves. It was a similar role, but was also on a smaller campus, so that’s why I did more. I was looking to focus specifically on just activities and not so much a lot of different things.

That’s why I started another job search. It felt like a good time to move.”

Kraft came across the position at St. Mary’s, finding it fitting to her interest as well as an opportunity to return to her hometown.

“I’ve only ever heard amazing things about this campus,” Kraft stated. “You can feel that family spirit as soon as you come onto the campus. I saw the application for the position and then talked to a few of my colleagues in the field, whom I knew worked

with or worked at St. Mary’s, and they just raved about it. I was confident about the work environment I’d be in with the students, and the staff and the faculty.”

Developing a general outline at the beginning of the semester, Kraft then goes from month to month booking live music performers.

“It’s been pretty successful,” Kraft said.

“There’s been a few bumps here and there just because it’s a new space. Understanding the limitations of the space, the sizes. What if it rains? Where are all the electrical outlets?

Where can I store these things? Those are behind-the-scenes logistical hiccups that, during the program, you wouldn’t see.”

By the end of study week, Kraft will have helped host over 50 programs this semester.

The events included Bibles and Brew once a month on Monday, a trivia night every Wednesday, open mic and live music on Thursdays, and karaoke every other Tuesday and Saturday.

Kraft already has plans for next semester, some of which include the return of well-received events such as Club Pub, the dueling pianos, movie nights and some of the music artists. She also obtained feedback, and she is hoping to have a comedian, a two-stepping night and even inflatables.

“Everyone is invited,” Kraft said.

“Freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, graduate, law student, there’s a place for them in each of the programs we got.”

If any students have any comments or requests for any new events, email suggestions with feedback to jkraft@stmarytx.edu.

FEATURES 11

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Thanksgiving options for students staying on campus during holiday break The St. Mary’s community is stepping in to make things more like home for students stuck on campus..

PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS NEWS EDITOR

Residence life and Aramark are working hard to provide students who stay on campus for Thanksgiving great food, entertainment and a warm place to stay so they can best enjoy the festivities with their family away from home.

“I believe that it is important for us to have activities and programs for the students and have the halls open so that it still feels like a community,” Charity Bowen-Miller, assistant director for residence life, said. “We like to help them feel like they have a home away from home.”

Thanksgiving break is officially Nov. 25-27, but students take advantage of the weekend after the break to stay home as well. International students do not always have the time or money for such a short turnaround.

“It’s hard not being able to go back home to El Salvador,” Guillermo Avelar, sophomore finance and marketing major, said. “Although it is hard to be away from family, it is also a time to reflect on myself and share it with some friends who cannot go home either.”

Although the majority of people will be gone for the break, there will be

activities and games going on at the Pub, Casa Maria, residence halls and in the Alumni Athletics and Convocation Center.

The Pub will be having a Pinterest and karaoke night at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 24 and the AACC will host women’s and men’s basketball Friday, Nov. 27 at 3:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.

Other places, such as Casa Maria, are providing activities as well. The brothers of St. Mary’s will be having an open house for everybody on Tuesday Nov. 24 at 5 p.m., which is also the normal time of their weekly Burgers with the Brothers.Although Aramark will have most of its locations closed Friday-Sunday, with the exception of Subway, dinners will be offered everyday from Nov. 24-28 in various residence halls.

“I think that our dining service does a good job at balancing the needs of the students as well as the needs of the Aramark employees,” Bowen-Miller said. “Residence life and dining services are working together in order to meet the students’ needs overall.”

Everyday at 7:30 p.m. there will be a dinner for the residents. Residents from any hall are welcome to join nearby halls’ dinners. Flyers will be posted around campus to inform students when and where each dinner will be taking place.

“I plan on taking advantage of the residence hall dining options because I love the community,” Dominique Del Real, sophomore theology major, said.

Although international and out-of-state students cannot go home, they have other options available.

ALLIE BEEDLE SPORTS EDITOR I never imagined writing an article on a personal friend would lead to becoming a staff writer for a semester then a year of being an editor. I never had any intentions of becoming an editor but in the last year I’ve learned so much from the short time I’ve been an editor I’m sad to see this chapter end.

I’ve learned so much on not only writing articles but about layout, design, photography, current events and also made so many valuable relationships. My time as an editor has taught me more than I could’ve ever imagined it would and I feel extremely honored to have help the position.

In the short time I was an editor I wrote over 100 articles, competed in TIPA, created a new

TRAVIS BOWLES COPY EDITOR

section in Health and Fitness, attended a national convention, and attended more athletic games then I can count.

I could not have been so successful without the help of my fellow editors, St. Mary’s wonderful athletes and the Athletic Communications Department who have helped to guide me along and be a constant help when I’ve needed them.

If you are reading this, it means I have already passed on to the next life — the post-graduate afterworld. The last thing I remember was a shining light, a piece of paper and everyone wearing black while looking incredibly somber.

My most prized possession, the AP Stylebook, I hope will finally be set free to roam in green fields free of contractions and Oxford commas.

My red pen will go to the next life with me. The stigma it caused editors would lead to its early Salem-esque demise otherwise.

The newsroom staff was like a family-away-from-home, and I will never forget them — hopefully because we will all see

MAT MARTINEZ PHOTO EDITOR Working for The Rattler Newspaper has been an interesting experience. I came in as an Assistant Photographer and have moved up, becoming the now Head Photo Editor.

I will be leaving for study abroad next semester and will be starting a new chapter in my life, but the memories and talents I gained through The Rattler will never be forgotten.

Learning from each section, I have gained skills that have helped better my writing. I’ve learned all aspects of a college newspaper.

Working at The Rattler you will learn to communicate effectively with people and quickly get work done when necessary. Meeting

theavtimes.com

MANUELA GONZALEZ

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

one another in the next life. To work with such a passionate and driven team was the highlight of college life.

Refining my craft in the presence of those who make dedication sound like an understatement served as constant inspiration and reassurance that the next life will be wonderful.

Although my time at The Rattler has been relatively brief, as the first half of what would have been my second year comes to an end, I can safely say that my experience as entertainment editor has been what has shaped me the most throughout my college experience.

Not only was I able to have a creative outlet both artistically and as a writer through the encouragement of my coworkers and Brother Dennis, but I made lifelong friends along the way and realized exactly what it is that I want to do for the rest of my life.

The Rattler has never been just a job I have on campus, rather it’s been a passion of mine and the thing I looked forward to working

DANIEL W. PEREZ MANAGING EDITOR

new people, beating deadlines and attending meetings are some of the skills I have grown by working at The Rattler.

I have enjoyed my time working with the school newspaper and trust the new section editors will continue the great work we aspire to create.

“You know life is what we make it, and a chance is like a picture, it’d be nice if you just take it.”- Drake

Editor Farewells

The last four semesters on staff at The Rattler has been one of the most enriching experiences of my time in college.

Starting off as a staff writer and ending as managing editor is humbling.

Each person on staff comes in with the slightest idea of how to put together a newspaper. But, sooner than they realize you find yourself part of this quirky, yet tight knit group.

We would brainstorm together, eat together, celebrated each other’s victories and even stand as one during times of trial.

The Rattler is a team but more importantly, it is a family.

Working alongside the characters in the newsroom has

on the most. Being introduced to the fast-paced environment of a newsroom has without a doubt been the highlight of my time as a student within the St. Mary’s community, and for that I am grateful.

Thank you to the rattler for helping me propel forward into the future, and thank you to the amazing people I had the privilege of spending so much time with.

VALERIE PEREZ ADS MANAGER

left me with many wonderful memories. From the many times we listened to music full blast at 2 am on a Sunday morning to finding shelter while we attempted live coverage of The Pub’s grand opening—we always found ourselves in amusing situations.

May the paper continue strong and prosper in the many semesters to come.

Before joining the Rattler staff, I assumed that it was going to be strictly a job wherein I could gain experience before going into the Journalism and Communications field.

Never in my mind did I think that this experience was going to affect me as much as it did.

Not only did I grow as a student and advertising manager, I also gained lifelong friends. Although this farewell is bittersweet, I know that I will always have a home in the Rattler newsroom.

I am even more excited to go into the advertising field in the future. Also, I am

forever grateful for having the opportunity to be on the staff for a year and a half.

I know that I will look back at these moments with gratitude and happiness.

Goodbye Rattler fam bam and remember to keep writing and informing your St. Mary’s community. The University paper needs you!

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: MANUELA GONZALEZ/@RATTLERMANUELA

Racial stereotypes negatively impact portrayed communities

| graphic by Brandon Leonard

FROM “RACIAL BIAS”

not cast main characters that are not white. “Friends,” “Beverley Hills 90210” and “Sex and the City” are just a few popular shows that featured primarily white characters, despite being set in ethnically diverse cultural hubs.

If a TV series manages to portray non-white characters, it is often in a negative light. Various stereotypes can be seen throughout television and movies.

The standard thug persona is usually reserved exclusively for African Americans, who are often portrayed as angry and uneducated. Asian American characters are normally reduced to an academic intellectual trope that also assumes all Asians

are Chinese. Latino characters are portrayed as underprivileged, undocumented or are the main perpetrator in some sort of drug cartel operation.

“The Big Bang Theory” and “The Simpsons” both feature Indian characters that are portrayed with the same corny accent and off-putting attitude, much like the Asian character Han Lee on the show “2 Broke Girls.” The majority of the show “Rob” displays flagrant stereotypes regarding Mexican and Mexican-American individuals, displaying zero depth.

Reality shows are also guilty of being racist. “COPS” often focuses on crimes committed by African Americans and Latinos. Although some viewers believe that the show is not racist, the disproportion of

cases in which a person of color is a criminal as opposed to a white character is all too clear.

Racial stereotypes are not always blatantly obvious, and are subtle enough for viewers to pick up on the implied cues. These sorts of images serve as a steady indoctrination in terms of how audiences view people.

By conditioning audiences into believing that certain images are always associated with specific ethnic groups, society begins to treat those individuals based on this bias, consciously or unconsciously.

What goes on behind the scenes of these shows is also concerning. It was found in a survey by the National Association of Colored People that only 7 percent of writers for primetime shows are of underrepresented ethnic groups. Not only are there racial

biases in the final cuts of media productions, but people are also being discriminated against within the whole industry.

If a show has primarily white actors and actresses along with a white writer, the representation of people of color will be affected. Jay Dyer, a famous African American writer, was told he wasn’t hired because the TV program he was applying for was “not a black show, we don’t need a black writer,” according to Entertainment Weekly.

Incidents like these repeatedly occur in the entertainment industry. Relying on racial stereotypes to be the go-to comedy shtick is harmful and indicative of our lack of creativity and understanding in media.

Big media should celebrate diversity rather than use it only as a joke.

MUSICAL HITS FOR WHEN THAT HOTLINE BLINGS: TOP OF THE CHART 2015 SINGLES

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HOTLINE BLING | DRAKE

HELLO | ADELE

HERE | ALESSIA CARA

WHITE IVERSON | POST MALONE

A highly anticipated single of 2015, “Hotline Bling” features a side to Drake never seen before. Using familiar sounds akin to classic Nintendo 64 videogames, soft vocals and bitter lyrics, “Hotline Bling” is truly a standalone hip-hop jam. The music video incorporates creative choreography by the infamous Tanisha Scott, and aesthetically pleasing background sets to go along.

Lingering vocals accompany Adele’s newly released single, “Hello”. A haunting piano takes the listener on a trip through a broken relationship, followed by the chorus amplifying Adele’s booming vocals as she reflects on the heartbreak experienced.

A mix of sultry emotions and passionate lyrical content, it is clear from this release that Adele is back and stronger than ever.

A 2015 music newbie, Alessia Cara stunned audiences with the release of “Here” from the debut album “Four Pink Walls.” Cara uses smooth vocals to captivate listeners as she details her journey during a short-lived experience at a party. With an almost jazzy piano and a heavy but precise bass filling the backdrop, “Here” is only the beginning for Cara Alessia’s career.

Based in New York, home to numerous hip-hop greats, Post Malone released his hit “White Iverson” earlier this season.

Featuring a spin on the persona of basketball player Allen Iverson, Malone uses calculated beats and smooth rapping to pull off one of the hardest hip-hop hits of 2015. At just twenty years old, this is certainly an artist to watch.

Compiled by Manuela Gonzalez

ENTERTAINMENT 13

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Media bias raises questions regarding LGBT community PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS NEWS EDITOR

Although acceptance of LGBT communities is growing — most recently with the Supreme Court ruling allowing same sex marriage — various forms of media still display biases and censorship against these communities, creating a duality between how straight sexuality and LGBT sexuality are approached.

Some same-sex scenes in films such as “Bent,” “Blue is the Warmest Color” and “Brokeback Mountain” receive a negative reaction from audiences. Most scenes in these films are no more sensual than films like “Fifty Shades or Grey,” or “Out of Time,” which heavily feature heterosexual relations.

However, the perception and reviews are vastly different.

“I never wanted to see “Fifty Shades of Grey,” but, if it were two guys instead, I would definitely not want to see it,” Jonathan Herrera, sophomore physics major, said.

“However, I think the general population would throw a fit about it in my opinion.”

Audiences usually react with queasiness at the sight of sex in media. The bias against same-gender versus heterosexual displays of affection on screen helps demonstrate the way many in society demonize one type of relationship over the other, based solely on the gender of the partners involved.

“Most of these TV shows and films star straight people and are written by straight people,” Claudia Cardona, senior English communications major, said. “It’s not a fair

| uphe.com

representation of what queer love and sex is.”

“Modern Family” is one such show that has made its way to the top of the charts. In this show, there are two gay males raising an adopted child. The show began airing Sept.

2009, in the midst of gay rights movements all over the U.S. While some respond negatively, others think differently.

“I hate how people make the assumption that gay couples shouldn’t raise kids,” Victoria Heffner, sophomore criminology major, said. “My mom started dating a woman about five years ago, which has taught me a lot about family. I think ‘Modern Family’

Native American rapper RedCloud welcomed by St. Mary’s community JASMINE RIVERA STAFF WRITER

St. Mary’s hosted Native American rapper RedCloud on Nov. 5 as part of the Native American Heritage Month celebrations.

The California native got his first taste of freestyle rapping when he was in middle school. RedCloud, who got his name from an Oglala Lakota warrior chief, was introduced to freestyle when two kids at school, who looked ready to fight, broke into a rap battle instead. He recounted the story vividly, detailing how rap music grew in importance to him through various life experiences.

RedCloud spoke to students in a lecture style presentation in University Center Room B. “The story of his life really caught my attention,” Meagan Lozano, senior history major, said.

“I liked the performance,” Lilia Enriquez, junior criminal justice major, said. “It was wonderful having someone come and speak of themselves and explain their lives as a Native American. He made his presentation interesting and entertaining.”

Some students may have expected RedCloud to be dressed in a way that would represent his Native American ethnic and cultural roots, but he surprised the crowd with his casual attire, fit for a rap artist.

RedCloud kept students laughing, but what they really enjoyed the most was the freestyle that he did with no background music. RedCloud had everyone in attendance tell him a word, which he wrote on a piece of paper. At the end of the presentation,

shows how actual families function day-today and will let people see that just because it is a gay couple doesn’t make it any less of a family.” Many real, everyday couples also face the reality of the inequality involved.

“I am always hesitant about showing PDA when I am with my same-sex partner because I know that people disapprove of it,” Jose Parrilla, junior information systems management major, said. “I’ve rarely seen relationships like mine [same-sex and interracial] in media.”

LGBT acceptance has come a long way in U.S. society which has slowly

accepted it, but some seem to have a harder time adjusting.

“I feel uncomfortable watching same-sex scenes because of society’s norms,” Jasmin Hernandez, freshman accounting major, said. “I’m trying to be more open-minded about it, but I know my parents don’t agree with it at all.” Research shows the millennial generation is one of the most accepting of gay rights, reported USA Today.

“As long as someone is happy, it shouldn’t really matter on if it’s a straight couple or a same-sex couple,” Roy Salinas, freshman criminology major, said.

Campus Marianist holds journal workshop Students can join the Casa Maria Marianist community in learning to creatively journal in an environment that fosters and promotes artistry.

NICOLAS MCKAY CONTRIBUTING WRITER

RedCloud poses by L.A. home | rpm.fm.com

RedCloud created an impromptu rap using every word he had taken down. The act was indicative of his talent, leaving a positive impression of his work on the crowd.

“Do what [you] love,” RedCloud advised at the end of the presentation.

Later that evening, RedCloud performed two songs for St. Mary’s Pubgoers. RedCloud’s presentation and performance helped students understand what it means to be a Native American.

“I do believe the presentations were beneficial to understand what Native American Heritage Month is,” Lozano said. “There are modern day indigenous people here from various tribes, and they need representation.”

This past Sunday, Brother A. Brian Zampier hosted his monthly sketchbook journal workshop in the Casa Maria, teaching that true art can come from anyone and anywhere, not just from those who are already artistically inclined.

Zampier hosted two sisters, both with varied artistic experiences and skills. “I encourage people to come even if they don’t draw,” Zampier said. “People say, ‘Oh I can’t draw,’ but you can make marks on the page, this is art 101 and you can express yourself freely.”

The class began with Mark Making 101, an exercise Zampier uses to get his students warmed up before they start drawing. Afterwards, Zampier touched on the topic of contour, or freehand, drawing, cartooning and an exercise he called “taking a line for a walk,” where participants create three squares that get bigger each time, drawing lines that go through the squares, and coloring in the shapes the lines make.

The sketchbook workshop is not exclusive to art, as Zampier also demonstrated other forms of journaling including writing, making collages and using Photoshop and iPads. “I enjoy making art and encouraging other people to as well,” Zampier said. “I enjoy

Brother Zampier journals during his workshop | courtesy of Brother Brian A. Zampier

encouraging people to be creative, and to use the sketchbook as a way to do that.”

Zampier first began sketch-booking in college, and he has continued to do so for over 30 years. He has been hosting the workshop for over 20 years in various cities including St. Louis, Dayton and San Antonio.

The workshop is open to St. Mary’s students and the surrounding community, and it takes place on the second Sunday of each month. For more information contact Zampier at a.brian.zamp@gmail.com.

WORKSHOP DETAILS Suggested Price: $25 Time: 1-4 p.m.

Contact: Brother A. Brian Zampier Phone: (314)-435-9327 Upcoming Date: Dec. 13

14 FITNESS & HEALTH

EXERCISE OF THE WEEK

STUDY BREAK Take 30 minutes away from the books and take some time to stretch and re energize.

These exercises can be done without leaving a study space or in a dorm room.

10 LEG LIFTS 15 TRICEP DIPS

Weighing in: crash dieting and body image BRANDON LEONARD WEB EDITOR

Crash dieting and negative body image are issues that most college students are all too familiar with, and, while affecting more students in recent times, there are ways to overcome such obstacles.

It is fairly common for college students to feel unhappy with their body image.

According to Brown University, 74.4 percent of normal-weight college women and 46 percent of normal-weight college men report frequently worrying about their weight. Negative body image increases risk for dangerous body control and weight behaviors including anorexia nervosa, extreme workouts and the use of substances for weight loss and muscle gain.

These numbers also change depending on other factors such as sexuality and race. Among the LGBT community, gay men are more likely to be dissatisfied with their bodies, weight and muscular level.

Among the African-American community, although women have historically been more comfortable with fuller figures, in recent years many African-American

10 JUMP SQUATS 10 PUSH UPS 60 SECOND PLANK 20 JUMPING JACKS 60 WALL SIT

women reported being less comfortable with larger body types, according to a study done by the University of Florida. A similar trend can be seen with Hispanic and Latina women. It is speculated that this trend has been attributed in part to the portrayal of stereotypical minority women in the media.

Due to body image issues, some students may decide that skipping a meal or trying a popular, new diet trend might be the best way to avoid gaining weight. Diets such as “The Master Cleanse” and “The Last Chance Diet” are dangerous, especially when these diets become fads. Extremely low calorie diets have a number of health risks including cardio vascular problems, low blood pressure and mineral depletion. A study by the Food and Drug Administration linked over 60 deaths to liquid diets during the Last Chance Diet craze in the ‘70s.

On the other end of the spectrum, some students feel the need to turn to anabolic steroids or human growth hormones to build muscle. Using substances to build muscle mass has plenty of health risks as well.

Many people who use steroids for building muscle often overdose compared to what is considered safe by physicians. The risks

and side effects of abusing steroids or other hormones include infertility, depression, aggression, higher risk of tendinitis and liver problems along with heart and circulatory problems.

College is a time to learn how to be independent and stay healthy. College students are now responsible for making decisions regarding their wellbeing that they did not have to make in high school. The best way to lose weight is both exercise and maintaining a healthy diet, losing weight at a rate of 1 or 2 pounds per week, according to CNN. Diet and exercise are both necessary to lose weight healthily. Limit the intake of saturated fat and sugar and focus on eating fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish and whole grains.

There are some tips to help students who feel negatively about their body image.

Don’t weigh-in constantly, the more focus that is put on weight, the worse one will feel.

Surrounding oneself with people who have healthy lifestyles will increase the chances of picking up healthy habits. Coming to terms with one’s body image and accepting what one has is also better than constantly comparing oneself to others.

Scheduling personal fitness during spring semester

20 SIDE LUNGES 20 SKATER HOPS

EDITOR: ALLIE BEEDLE / @RATTLERALLIE

ALLIE BEEDLE SPORTS EDITOR

As students finish out the semester and begin making their schedules for next semester, it is important to remember to allot alone time and time to improve and maintain physical health.

With hours being put into school, work, internships, family obligations and socializing, it can be hard for students to find time for their personal health. By working fitness into daily or weekly schedules and treating it as though it was a class or work obligation students are more likely to stick with their fitness regime long term.

The key to achieving a healthy lifestyle is consistency. At least 30 minutes of daily physical activity helps maintain weight or

60 minutes of daily activity to lose weight should be scheduled based on the desired outcome.

For the sake of being a productive college student, get creative when finding ways to both stay physical and get schoolwork done.

If a long section of reading is due for class, riding on a stationary bike can be a good option for a workout because students can read while pedaling. An elliptical, which has a stand to hold books or papers, will serve a similar purpose. A stationary bike or elliptical eliminates some of the chances for injury while still being a great cardio workout.

While it is a good idea to schedule a workout like a class or job, students should not stress about it like one. If class work is overwhelming that week, or an important

test is coming up that requires a few extra hours, then do it. If students are feeling overwhelmed and need to take a step back, a good way to relax is to go for a short jog or walk, or, if leaving the study space is not convenient, stay there, but get up from the desk and do squats or lunges. It is important that ones heart rate goes up and muscles that do not get as much use during class are exercised.

Workout times should be productive but also enjoyable. Work out with a friend, join a class, or find a workout that causes anticipation. For students looking to change their life style, healthy eating is important, but a balance of both healthy eating and physical activity — even if it is just play — is important in keeping the body and mind energized and ready to take on the semester.

Tips to efficiently study and limit stress during finals

1

Have an effective study strategy

4

Make a check list before you start

Start by planning out times to study for each subject and what to study. By making a timeline of what to study and when to study it will encourage working towards a goal of what is next on the list.

Some examples of an effective study strategy include listing a schedule such as finish English paper 12:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; lunch break 1:30 p.m. -2:00 p.m.

Compiled by Allie Beedle

Checking tasks off a list creates a visual for students to see what has been done and what still needs to be done, which can feel rewarding as students begin to check off more and more tasks.

Putting tasks for finals week in order from most important to least will make it easier to plan ahead and use study time effectively without feeling overwhelmed.

2

Do not forget to take time to rest

5

Get all the supplies together

Without rest the brain can not function at full capacity which is crucial when studying for multiple tests and writing long essays during finals week. A good nights sleep can make a difference when staying focused through out the day.

Also taking a step back from studying when feeling stuck or overwhelmed can refocus the brain and rejuvenate the body.

Before sitting down to study gather all of the supplies needed such as highlighters and pens, notebooks, old tests and review sheets that way everything will be easily accessible and time won’t be wasted looking for what you need.

Also gather any snacks or drinks and keep them handy so that if hunger does strike it won’t distract from study time.

3

Unplug from technology

6

Ask close friends for their support

Unplugging from technology or going on airplane mode at least will limit outside distractions making study time more efficient and less stressful.

Although laptops are valuable tools for education and Internet access is sometimes crucial, printing out research and working from hard copies of articles will help to shorten the time spent on the web.

Friends and fellow students understand the stress and anxiety as well as the importance of staying focused.

Asking classmates or close friends to study in a serious group is beneficial if students are feeling lost or overwhelmed by their classwork. The encouragement from others is vital to succeeding in college and classmates understand that.

SPORTS 15

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Men’s and women’s basketball bring in new faces to help continue success MEN’S

WOMEN’S

ALLIE BEEDLE SPORTS EDITOR

Intensity is a word that has defined the men’s basketball team for years, and this year is no different.

Last season the team finished 20-10 overall and 15-5 in conference play. In 2014 they brought home the Heartland Conference championship, for the first time in 10 years.

The team has made a name for themselves as fierce competitors, but, after graduating eight senior players last semester, there is now only one returning senior.

They are full of fresh faces and new talent, hoping to come in and follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, once again propelling the team to the NCAA regional tournament.

To make up for the loss of eight major players last season, the team brought in eight new players with four freshmen and four transfer students. Freshmen include two new guards and two forwards while the transfers include a point guard, a guard and a forward.

Freshman Yanni Wetzell is already making a big mark after scoring 14 points in the loss to Colorado School of Mines Nov. 13th.

Junior transfer student Trey Hall, who comes to St. Mary’s from Richard College where last season they won the NCJAA National Championship, scored 12 points in the same game, catching the eye of several attendees.

The team also has several key players returning, red shirt senior Bryce Smith and juniors Kriston Minor and Gemeny Givens all helped the Rattlers achieve their conference title last season.

Minor made his mark last semester finishing top five in almost all of the St.

GAME RECAP MENS BASKETBALL

Mary’s leader boards including 3rd in scoring points and 1st in most 3-pointers.

The team, whose defensive talent sets them apart from most other teams in the conference, are working on establishing the roles of each new player and clicking on the court.

After falling to Texas A&MCorpus Christi and Colorado School of Mines, the Rattlers gained their first win of the season against Regis College Rangers at the HeartlandRMAC Shootout over the weekend.

The Rattler’s took the win 67-64 with Minor knocking down a team high of 23 points including several three point shots with only minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Junior Isaiah Parros also scored 17 points and four rebounds as well as nine steals and six assists.

Junior Trey Hall sealed the win for the Rattlers sinking his free throws after Regis’ desperate foul attempt.

The Rattlers are now looking ahead to the beginning of conference play on Dec. 17, which goes all the way up to mid March. The team currently sits at 2nd place in the Heartland Conference polls.

Before conference play starts, however, the team will open up their home court Wednesday Nov. 18th against Texas A&M- Kingsville for Operation Drive to the Basket, an event inviting all veterans and active military in the community to show appreciation and a chance to collect donations to make care packages for St. Mary’s ROTC alumni overseas. Athletics is offering free admission to anyone who brings a donation for the packages.

The Rattlers also have the annual Thanksgiving Classic Tournament Nov. 27-28 where they will take on Missouri S&T and Missouri Western State.

GAME RECAP

LEADERBOARD Field goals 3 points Free throws Rebounds

Yanni Wetzell Trey Hall Yanni Wetzell Kriston Minor

WOMENS BASKETBALL

VS REGIS

L 62-70

W 67-64 LEADERBOARD Field goals 3 points Free throws Rebounds

After finishing 10-8 in the Heartland Conference last season and coming in 3rd in this year’s preseason polls, the outlook on the women’s basketball team’s 2015-16 season is bright.

“We’re excited about this season … this group tends to be a very hardworking group,” Head Coach Jason Martens said of his new team. “At this point in the year we are further along than we were last year, so we’re excited about that.”

Morgan Pullins, the team’s lead scorer in points and free throws and lead rebounder last semester, graduated last semester, creating an opportunity for others to make an impact.

“I think it’s going to be a team effort, a couple people average a few more points here, a few rebounds there, and, all of a sudden, that 20 points and 12 boards is taken up,” Martens said.

The team’s veteran players include last year’s assists leader, steals leader and 3-point leader Dezirae Elias along with Kiara Etheridge, who was only second in rebounds to Pullins.

“The veterans … help us younger players recognize our mistakes,”Carlie Akina, junior sociology major, said. “They encourage us, and they’re not demeaning.”

The team is fortunate to have such impactful players returning and leading the younger players along with the new recruits.

The team, who has 5 new players this season with 4 transfers and one freshman, is excited for the new opportunities coming their way, according to Martens.

Arysia Porter, freshman forensic science major came in as a point guard for the team and who Martens said will be seen on the

GAME RECAP

MENS BASKETBALL

VS COLORADO MINES

ALLIE BEEDLE SPORTS EDITOR

Kriston Minor Kriston Minor Isaiah Parros Trey Hall

VS TEXAS WOMAN’S

L 72-77

court a lot this season.

“She’s very athletic and can do a bunch of things,” Martens said. “She can shoot the threes and she can pinch at the paint.”

Transfers include junior exercise and sport science major, guard LaBraile Fields, a scoring wing looking to give the Rattlers more offensive fire power, along with senior forward, math major, Haley Richter, who Martens said will find minutes on the court because of her ability to shoot the ball so well, and forward Mariah Lee, who is returning to the team after playing for the Rattlers back in 2013, will be giving the team more post presence inside.

Another new addition to the team is Assistant Coach Katelin Oney, who is already making her own mark.

“Katelin’s already been impactful to the program,” Martens said. “She’s very good with the girls on the court and she’s very good x’s and o’s wise. She’s already made this program better. She’s hit the ground running, and we’re really excited having her here and what she can do for the program.”

The team has worked tirelessly over the off-season to take care of the ball a lot more. The Rattlers racked up a total of 512 turnovers last season and averaged 19 per game. The team has also worked on changing their style of play.

“We’re going to play … a lot faster, run and gun a lot, shoot a lot more threes and it’s a little bit different from what we’ve played the last few years,” Marten’s said. “Hopefully it’s an exciting brand of basketball to play and an exciting brand of basketball to watch.

It’ll be fun to be a part of and hopefully we get enough fans to come out and watch us play.”

The Rattlers take to the court Nov. 24 for their first home game against Lewis and Clark State before the annual Thanksgiving Classic at St. Mary’s on Nov. 27-28.

GAME RECAP

WOMENS BASKETBALL

VS MIDWESTERN STATE

W 81-58

LEADERBOARD

LEADERBOARD

Field goals 3 points Free throws Rebounds

Field goals 3 points Free throws Rebounds

Kiara Etheridge Dezirae Elias Kiara Etheridge Kiara Etheridge

Kiara Etheridge Ciaira Briseno Haley Richter Carlie Akina

SPORTS 16

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

SENIORS SAY FAREWELL

Top row left to right The 2015 seniors are presented to the crowd for the last time middle row left to right junior Rachael Scicchitano sets up sophomore Tarine Grace. Senior Lauren Holman goes to the net for a block. Freshman Channing Hankins prepares to serve. Bottom row Sophomore Maddi King takes to the air to finish a kill.| Photo by Mat Martinez

FROM “VOLLEYBALL SENIORS”

studies major and marketing minor Jenna Paul, accounting major and business administration minor Lauren Holman, exercise and sport science major Tori Estrada, and forensic science major and criminology minor Kaylin Guthrie.

The four current St. Mary’s students were joined by retired Mikayla Bass, who would have been a current senior were it not for a rare medical illness that caused her career to an early end in 2014.

“It’s been both exciting and upsetting,” Paul said about her last game.

Paul, who finished her last home game with seven kills, said that being a college athlete “teaches you many different things … from discipline to time management, but dedication is probably the most

important. There are good times but also lows.”

Paul leaves St. Mary’s with a Freshman of the Year award and an All Conference award from her 2012 season. She finished this season with 169 kills and 43 blocks.

Holman also leaves St. Mary’s with an impressive record, making all conference in 2013. She suffered an injury midway through the 2014 season, but made her return this year to finish the season with 163 kills and 87 total blocks. Holman currently sits in the St. Mary’s record book at number 5 and 6 for total blocks in a game.

Guthrie, who has played for St. Mary’s for 2 seasons after transferring in 2014, played all 25 games this season and in 2014 reached a career high with 52 assists.

Guthrie said the experience for her was

“

I have high hopes for each one of them individually and as a team. Next year will be a different team with new goals and with the girls returning, they can achieve them.”

Jenna Paul senior entrepreneurial studies major all together bittersweet. “I’m going to be sad it’s ending but happy I’ve learned so much,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie said the most important lesson she has learned in her time as a collegiate athlete is the power of communication.

“Positive and negative … as a tool of guidance on how to communicate in a respectful, positive way,” Guthrie said.

Estrada, also a transfer, came to St.

Mary’s in 2013 from Blinn College and made a huge impact immediately. Estrada ended this season with 521 digs and 61 assists In their final home game the Rattlers fought hard but ultimately fell to Newman Jets 0-3 ending their season 7-21, without a conference tournament appearance and with a three game loss streak.

Next season the Rattlers are looking to come out strong and the seniors hope that they have left enough experience and wisdom behind to them propel them to a winning season next fall.

“I have high hopes for each one of them individually and as a team,” Paul said of the program she leaves behind her. “Next year will be a different team with new goals and with the girls returning, they can achieve them.”