Vol. 107 No. 1 - 09/12/2018

rattler A S T. M A R Y ’ S P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C E 1 9 1 9 Vol 107 | Issue 1 | Sept. 12, 2018 | San Antonio, Texas

SA Express-News dubs St. Mary’s first in Reader’s Choice KARINA CHARO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After surveying more than 29,000 San Antonio residents in an annual assessment of San Antonio’s best, San Antonio Express-News has declared St. Mary’s their Readers’ Choice Best University for the third year in a row. St. Mary’s attributes the award the university’s

dedication to fostering the formation of faith and educating leaders for the common good through liberal arts education and community.

Regarding the announcement, the university released a statement saying, “It is an honor to be recognized—again and again and again.”

For students at St. Mary’s, though, the ranking does not come as a surprise.

“My mom and dad met at St. Mary’s and they

OPINION

were both a part of Greek life,” said Catherine Centeno, junior English-communication arts major. “[So far, my college experience has been like] everything my parents have told me, which is [that] the community is close and the faculty is helpful to the students.”

Centeno also believes that the evident CONTINUED ON PG. 2

PG.6

Scooter trend makes students more active

Financial troubles leave students looking for answers

FINANCIAL AID FALLTHROUGH

LIFESTYLE

“On top of classes I’m stressing about whether or not I can even afford what I I am doing.”

VICTORIA SALDANA NEWS EDITOR

PG.11

The truth about polyamory revealed ENTERTAINMENT

“The only time they took me seriously was when I showed up to the office in person.”

PG. 13

Review: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” SPORTS

Although the fall semester is now in full swing, issues with scholarships, loan applications and work study processing have prompted apprehension from certain St. Mary’s students who find themselves having difficulty with their financial aid. As a result of this widespread panic,

numerous students have visited the financial aid office, sometimes multiple times, concerned about the delay in processing their financial aid. “[The financial aid department has] had my financial aid CONTINUED ON PG. 2

PG.14

Special Olympics coming to St. Mary’s

2 NEWS

EDITOR: VICTORIA SALDANA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 12, 2018

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THE RATTLER

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS MEETINGS

TUESDAY, OCT. 9 UNIVERSITY CENTER Newsroom 6 p.m.

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Freshmen show off school attire and paints near the Sigma Beta Chi field in support of the men’s first home soccer game on Thursday, Sept. 6, against University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The game ended in a tie between the two teams.| Photo by Natalia Zuniga

FROM “FINANCIAL AID”

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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.

on hold for 3 weeks now and have made no effort to update me on it or let me know if I even have a scholarship anymore,” said an anonymous student who wished to remain nameless due to the sensitivity of the matter. “On top of classes I’m stressing about whether or not I can even afford what I am doing.”

Rosalind Alderman, vice provost of enrollment management, explained that the financial aid office started off with a rough patch this semester due to the resignation of financial aid counselors over the summer. Although the hiring process began immediately after the new vacancies, Alderman asserted that the financial aid office needed time to find the right candidate because of such a sensitive position.

As a temporary resolution, the financial aid office set up a three-week plan where other staff members in different areas of enrollment management rotate in and out of the financial aid office to help with the flow of students. These staff members are also monitoring the financial aid office email until the end of September, when the newly hired financial aid counselors are supposed to begin.

According to Alderman, various problems in the financial aid office can be traced back to the students, primarily those who did not handle their paperwork in a timely fashion. Especially in areas involving work study, where students need to go through a verification process, failure to complete paperwork before the specified deadline can result in partial or complete loss of scholarships, as this process is mandated by the federal government.

“They wouldn’t treat my situation as important as it really was,” said another anonymous student who requested to remain nameless. “The only time they took me seriously was when I showed up to the office in person and that was really

frustrating because I am from El Paso, eight hours away.”

The student also explained how important it was to submit all of her paperwork on time due to how time-sensitive her financial aid situation was. However, when she went to the financial aid office to question the delay in processing, she found that they had not started processing the paperwork. Her financial aid situation began early February and had not been resolved until Aug. 29.

Because of this delay, the student was not able to register for classes or utilize her meal plan, something that has plagued more than just this singular student.

Alderman also noted that aid cannot be awarded until the first day of classes. As student situations are constantly changing, financial aid is not implemented until the first day of classes while students continue to make their final decisions, meaning there can only be so much notification regarding financial aid issues before this point.

“So, it is not that the aid runs out. It’s that your eligibility for it might not be there,” Alderman said.

The process of educating students on when and how to get these things done in a timely fashion has proven difficult, especially when the focus of the financial aid office is the class of incoming freshmen who need this guidance.

“We try our best to be fair to students,” Alderman said. “Why should [students who completed their paperwork on time] get the same [aid] as the student[s] who completed everything Sept. 1?

It’s a tough balance, but we do have some expectations.”

Because of these expectations, the financial aid office is searching for new ways to reach out to students and help them keep on top of the financial aid process. One of the ways they would like to communicate with students, which was proven very effective with the incoming freshmen this semester, is through text messages.

This process would include alerting

students not only what documents are missing, but also links to these forms to make the process that much easier. The financial aid office also hopes to continue education on how to use Gateway so that students can own the financial aid process themselves. “[The financial aid counselors] really care about the students and are working doubly hard,” said Alderman.

Although the semester started out rough for the understaffed financial aid office, Alderman hopes that any student who has a problem with their financial aid will speak out and come to the office to figure out what measures can be taken. She also hopes to continue improving communication between students and the financial aid office in the semesters to come.

Students in line at financial aid office waiting to have their questions answered. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

NEWS 3

SEP. 12, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS .COM

STRIVE Center hosts the STRIVE-ing to Know You event VICTORIA SALDANA NEWS EDITOR

Hoping to start the semester with an opportunity for students to connect with those who aid in the search for internships, jobs and other opportunities outside the classroom, the STRIVE Center and the Center for Life Directions hosted the STRIVE-ing to Know You event.

The event, which was held in the University Center where the STRIVE Center is located, was divided into five hour-long sections scheduled throughout the day so that students would not miss an opportunity to connect with members of the STRIVE Center staff and expand their knowledge about the resources available to them. “[To] help [students] know and understand that we are available to help them out with career services is a fun and friendly process … and [we] want to provide this opportunity to connect on an informal basis so that it is not stressful and hectic

when they are looking for us at some point in the future,” said Tylor Behrens, associate vice president of the STRIVE Center.

“We just want to lay the groundwork for any connection.”

The STRIVE Center emphasized this sentiment through the informal “Coffee Talk” segment that kicked off the STRIVE-ing to Know You event. During this meet-and-greet, students had the opportunity to introduce themselves to different members of the STRIVE Center staff and get to know other students over coffee, juice and donuts.

The second segment of the event was specifically geared toward international students, an under-represented community on campus when it comes to career opportunities. This segment was a response to multiple requests from international students reaching out to the center for more internships and full-time jobs available in Texas, specifically within the last year.

“The change in focus for international students … [is by] providing more local opportunities for them,” said Behrens.

The last segment of the event explained and demonstrated the implementation of new technology the center is promoting to

“

[To] help [students] know and understand that we are available to help them out with career services is a fun and friendly process.”

Tylor Behrens associate VP of the STRIVE Center

allow students more access to resources for jobs and internships.

“There are four new online programs that are really wonderful and they help students figure out who they want to become,” Behrens said. “They help students connect with alumni, [and] they also help students prepare for a job search.”

The three programs highlighted during the final segment were LinkedIn, RattlerCareers and Jobzology. RattlerCareers, the newest program promoted by the center, is a program that posts internships and job opportunities in a forum so it is more readily accessible for students to keep track of these potential opportunities.

Jobzology, on the other hand, is a program that helps students assess information about themselves and which industries align most closely with their personal values and characteristics.

Although the STRIVE Center is specifically geared toward freshman and sophomore students, the center is open to all classifications. The STRIVE-ing to Know You event was just the beginning of the STRIVE Center’s goal to familiarize students with its staff and teach students how to access the online programs the career center plans to use to provide new opportunities for students.

Harvey Najim Center cultivates teamwork and innovation VICTORIA SALDANA NEWS EDITOR

Every Monday from 8 a.m. to noon, the Harvey Najim Center for Business Innovation and Social Responsibility invites students of all majors and classifications

Mariangela Zavala, creative director of the Harvey Najim Center, hangs out in the recently renovated space. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

FROM “SA EXPRESS-NEWS”

growth of the student population is a testament to the university’s growth as well.

“There are definitely way more people than when my parents went here, which ... means St. Mary’s is growing and progressing, which is overall a great thing,” she said.

Regardless of every student’s reason to become a Rattler, many speculate that the university’s recent improvements and unique events may be what set St. Mary’s apart from other universities in San Antonio.

St. Mary’s definitely attributes the

for coffee, snacks and a chance to work with innovative teams to develop creative solutions. The Najim Center, located in AT&T Center for Information Technology room 108, is a creative space for students to gather into teams and take on projects allocated by different businesses.

During these meetings, various companies ask students to act as their consultants and use available resources to fact-check and offer suggestions based on their findings. In this center, students gain the opportunity to not only work with real companies and potential employers, but also to be involved in a creative group.

“Everybody takes a job and they are likely to work on teams with different thinking people,” said Hugh Stevens, director of the Najim Center.

True to this sentiment, the Najim Center encourages students of all majors to come out and gain experience in real field work.

The interdisciplinary teams created through the Najim Center then work to come up with solutions to professional challenges and compile more comprehensive findings.

The center was a collaborative effort created by the Greehey School of Business; the School of Humanities and Social Sciences; the School of Science, Engineering and Technology and the School of Law to bring all students from different disciplines together to develop amazing and innovative projects. These projects not only help

students gain real world experience but also generate local revenue by allowing students to work with businesses based in San Antonio. Students are even invited to come with their own concepts, which they can then use to connect with businesses and other students who can help make them possible.

The Najim Center also provides

“three-peat” award to the university’s commitment to adapting to change.

The university has seen the emergence of other positive changes such as the Defining Moment campaign, which has raised over $100 million to date.

Designed to heighten the educational experience of the student body, the Defining Moment campaign has gained numerous donations in its quest to offer students new opportunities like scholarships and new equipment.

Before it was closed in the 1980s, the Pub became a favorite venue of many

students, prompting its reopening in 2015 and promoting student involvement thanks to a donation from alumni Tom Contreras (B.B.A. ’88) and his wife, Leti Contreras (B.B.A. ’89).

Hosting numerous events such as karaoke nights, open mic nights and weekly trivia nights, the Pub is evidence of St. Mary’s community spirit, yet another reason why the university was chosen as the best university in the city.

The university also boasts community involvement and annually hosts Oyster Bake, a Fiesta favorite held to raise funds for

innovation sessions that allow students to learn techniques that can help them develop their projects. Aaron Tyler, provost of academic affairs, will be hosting a session on reverse assumption on Sept. 12. Throughout the semester, the Najim Center will continue to invite students to develop their ideas while getting involved in a creative group.

Christian Stevens, freshman vocal major, talks with Mariangela Zavala in Najim. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

student scholarships.

“Although there is still room for improvement, especially among the small departments and the arts, the beautification of the campus has certainly made a great impact on our community and diversity among students, giving St. Mary’s the means to receive this award,” Alan Vargas, senior psychology major, said.

There is always room to grow and St. Mary’s has managed to do that through the years. However, one thing is for certain. As St. Mary’s accolades grow, so do the value of the diplomas given.

At St. Mary’s University, there are many opportunities to discover, affirm and cultivate your unique talents. Find your passion and create your own defining moment.

Welcome, Class of 2022!

The Catholic and Marianist University www.stmarytx.edu

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6 OPINION

EDITOR: LOUIE DIAZ | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 12, 2018

Birds bring a fun and memorable way to travel on campus Samantha

Rubalcava CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Electric scooters known as Birds appeared on the corners of various sidewalks across San Antonio earlier this summer, providing a new form of transportation for St. Mary’s students. To use them, students can pick them up, pay a starting fee of $1 and then pay an additional 15 cents every minute they ride. The Birds can then be dropped off anywhere in the city, later to be picked up and charged by “Bird Chargers”— employees who take the scooters home to charge them before redistributing them the next morning.

So far, many of the students who have used the Birds have been satisfied with their experiences.

“I think it’s a fun little thing that got brought on the campus,” said Brandon Villarreal, junior communications major. “I got kind of nervous getting onto it because it’s something new and I wasn’t really good on electric scooters back in the day, but when I jumped on this one it was a lot better.”

For some, the large appeal of the Birds stems from childhood memories of owning a regular scooter. Unlike the original scooters, however, these don’t require too much manual labor. Then again, doing anything outside in Texas heat feels like extreme manual labor.

It is too soon to tell if these electric scooters will be used as more of a transportation method than as a recreational experiment.

Short-distance travel on a Bird would be more cost-friendly than taking an Uber or Lyft, but there is a limit to how long or how far a Bird can be ridden, depending on the battery life and how much one is willing to spend. An hour would cost students roughly $10.

Another reason why Bird scooters may not be so convenient for everyday use is that students would have to walk off campus to actually pick one up, since there are not any designated posts located on campus.

Students would have to make the journey to one of the nearby Bird posts and bring it back on campus and then risk the chance of having another person taking the scooter.

Commuters often already have a means of transportation, so they do not need to invest in daily use of the scooters. Maggie Amador, a freshman computer science major who lives less than a block away from school, also owns a bike, but opts out of bringing it on campus.

“As of right now I have no issues arriving to my classes on time, and I feel that having to unlock and lock up [my] bike to a rack takes more time,” she said. “The same applies to Birds. Having to get out the app and set it up just takes more time than necessary.”

As the scooters become more integrated with campus life, safety concerns begin to rise. Campus police chief David Ott weighed

Birds can be found all over campus, providing transportation for students. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

in on where campus police stands on the matter of allowing Birds on campus.

“That’s a daily discussion. Should we allow them on campus because we’re a private university? Well, they serve a purpose for the student[s],” Chief Ott said. “Is it really a benefit? We really haven’t decided anything on that yet. They can [cause safety issues] driving around the parking lots and through crowded groups of people. It’s stuff I guess we’ll have to look at.”

The app provides safety guidelines such as wearing a helmet if the rider is 21 years of age or younger and riding in only bike

lanes, and riders are required to have a valid driver’s license. However, there are some things to consider when riding a Bird scooter. Pedestrians are everywhere and a lot of them are secretly hoping for a lawsuit to pay for their tuition, so be cautious. Also, when a Bird is left on campus, that might prompt strangers to come on campus in the middle of the night and take it.

The future of Bird scooters on campus may be uncertain, but they remain a source of entertainment to both San Antonio residents and St. Mary’s students alike, which means the Birds have found a nest.

MyStMU provides an accessible new method for students to get connected Jamira

Richardson COPY EDITOR

Indicative of St. Mary’s dedication to adaptation and change, the university has embraced the modern doctrine of integrating technology into the educational

Graphic by Victoria Valle

landscape, launching the new mobile app MyStMU. The app — which allows students to stay up to date with important campus news and events — is reminiscent of a streamlined version of Gateway, providing students easy access to current course schedules; transcripts; registration status; midterm and final grades; financial aid information and Canvas.

“

I think [the MyStMU app] is something special that students should not [overlook]. ”

Joe Lopez junior English-communication arts major

Since the implementation of SafeConnect, St. Mary’s new security compliance tool and wireless network registration, in March 2018, internet connectivity has become a chore for numerous students. Through the introduction of the MyStMU app, St. Mary’s has alleviated the burden of sifting through page after page of content on Gateway, providing the most fundamental information all students might need at their fingertips. “[The MyStMU app] allows us to check our grades, financial status, class schedules and more in one easy app rather than forcing us to stumble ... through different web pages for the same information [on Gateway],” said Monica Esparza, senior psychology major.

While students could theoretically turn to Gateway for information regarding registration, financial aid and final grades, the portability of a mobile device provides easier accessibility to students who don’t have the opportunity to lug around their laptops to class. Thanks to the app’s simplistic design, gaining access to crucial information such as emergency contacts, Outlook emails and assignment due dates has never been easier for St. Mary’s students.

Among all of the helpful resources provided by MyStMU, one of the app’s most useful features is its streamlined connectivity to Canvas. In considering St. Mary’s recent university-wide shift from Blackboard to Canvas, this feature makes life easier for

students by allowing them to view their individual assignment grades.

However, because the app provides a streamlined version of Canvas, students are unable to access specific features such as impending assignments, files or announcements. Regardless of minor bugs and flaws like the one aforementioned, MyStMU is a necessary tool for all students who find themselves relying on Gateway to survive an average semester here at St. Mary’s.

“I think [the MyStMU app] is something special that students should not … over[look],” said Joe Lopez, junior Englishcommunication arts major. “It is a beneficial tool for students because it integrates multiple necessities for students ... into one simple app.”

Although the newly launched app has yet to garner widespread attraction among the student body, MyStMU is a vital addition to every student’s arsenal.

HAVE YOU DOWNLOADED MYSTMU? IS IT A USEFUL APP? WHY OR WHY NOT?

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Submit: rattlernews@gmail.com

OPINION 7

SEPT. 12, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Financial aid processing issues prompt widespread concerns Jamira Richardson & Louie Diaz COPY EDITOR & OPINION EDITOR

Due to its recent loss of counselors, St. Mary’s financial aid office experienced numerous problems within the past month, including an appalling backlog of approximately 800 students. With the rising cost of higher education, financial aid remains the highest priority of many college students, with the majority accepting some sort of federal or state aid in the form of scholarships, grants or loans.

Because financial aid determines the

HAVE YOU HAD TROUBLE WITH FINANCIAL AID? LET US KNOW. Write a letter to the editor!

Submit: rattlernews@gmail.com

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Miriam Robles Managing Editor Samantha Salazar Copy Editor Jamira Richardson Advertising Manager Daria Flowers Layout & Design/Photo Editor Natalia Zuniga Web Editor Victoria Valle Social Media Manager Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian News Editor Victoria Saldana Lifestyle Editor Julissa Cantu Opinion Editor Louie Diaz

affordability of St. Mary’s wildly expensive tuition for the vast majority of its students, a blunder of this magnitude has dire consequences. In fact, a number of students have already been forced to shoulder a financial burden, with many unable to dine on campus, register for courses or use military benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs due to an error with financial aid processing.

Oscar Ortega, sophomore history major, could not return to his previous work-study position for the first three weeks of school due to an error with verification paperwork.

“I wasn’t getting any notifications [from the financial aid office] and had no aid,” said Ortega. “Once I went over and talked to them, they already had an idea of what I had to do. I think they were as helpful as they could have been.”

According to Dr. Rosalind Alderman, vice provost for enrollment management, the financial aid office had to rotate people from the retention, admission and operations departments over the course of three weeks to cover for the loss of the counselors.

“You can’t hire a temp person to do the work of a financial aid counselor,” said Alderman. “There’s a lot of federal training that has to be done.”

However, this supposed solution seems counterintuitive, considering the sensitive nature of this issue requires assistance from counselors who specialize in financial aid.

Alderman attributes many of the financial aid office’s issues to the tardiness of students in submitting their FAFSA and verification

The financial aid office had a backlog of around 800 students this August. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

paperwork, implying that timeliness would mitigate most of the confusion and frustration. However, in considering the expansive scope of these financial aid errors, this excuse seems rather farfetched. In

“

I wasn’t getting any notifications [from the financial aid office] and had no aid.”

Oscar Ortega sophomore history major

Video games not to blame for gun violence Miriam Robles & Chicago Schuller EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & STAFF WRITER

A gunman killed two people and injured nine before turning the gun on himself in a mass shooting at a “Madden NFL” tournament in Jacksonville, Florida, this past month. The gunman, 24-year-old David Katz from Baltimore, opened fire inside the GLHF Game Bar in Jacksonville Landing, according to the Jacksonville sheriff ’s department. The motives are still unknown.

This tragic event has helped re-spark an argument as old as video games themselves; do video games (especially those of violent nature) cause violence among those who play them?

Video games have been a part of popular culture for sixty years; however, the debate

surrounding their relationship to violence has only been circulating for a short time.

Arguments about violent video games grew during the 1990s. In 1994, the entertainment software rating board was established, in which the video game “Mortal Kombat” was the first game to receive a mature rating, for people over 17.

In fact, some people credit “Mortal Kombat” for starting the ESRB rating system.

The violent and graphic nature of the game caused it to receive the mature rating and is one of the go-to games that people point to when they say video games cause violent behavior in people.

According to a 2015 study found on vidgame.info, total sales of video game hardware and software in the U.S. increased 204 percent from 1994 to 2014, reaching $13.1 billion in sales for the year 2014, while violent crimes decreased 37 percent and

Entertainment Editor Elizabeth Arredondo Sports Editor Tawny Davis Faculty Adviser Camille Langston, Ph.D.

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

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

addition, using the students as a scapegoat for the inefficiency of the current financial aid system is only perpetuating the problem rather than eradicating it.

“If any student believes that they have not heard back from anyone … they should certainly let us know,” said Alderman.

Hopefully, now that the financial aid office is in the midst of completing the hiring process for two new financial aid counselors, students will not be plagued with these financial aid issues in the semesters to come — nor will they be assigned the blame.

murders by juveniles acting alone fell 76 percent in that same timespan.

However, correlation does not equal causation, so it is important to take these statistics with a grain of salt.

This debate has already reached the courts — in 2011 the Supreme Court faced Brown vs. Entertainment Merchants Association, where the Supreme Court struck down a California law making it illegal for minors to buy violent video games. The court ruled 7-2, asserting that video games do not cause “real-world” violence and that the act of purchasing video games is protected under the First Amendment. In the majority opinion, Justice Antonin Scalia noted, “[The evidence] do[es] not prove that violent video games cause minors to act aggressively.”

The situation that happened in Jacksonville was a tragedy; there is no doubt about that. However, “Madden NFL” is not even a violent game, therefore this incident blows most video game opponents’ “violent” video game theories out of the water. The issue is not with the video games, but instead with the lax gun control regulations that allowed the shooter to get ahold of weapons capable of such devastation. The jury is still out on the mental stability of the shooter. However, those who play or have played violent video games will attest that the shooter’s actions are probably not linked to video games inspired by football.

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10 LIFESTYLE

EDITOR: JULISSA CANTU | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 12, 2018

Searching for smells: Aluminum-free deodorants that beat this Texas heat San Antonio is humid; there is no denying that. While the walk from Leies Hall to St. Louis can be torturous, what could be an even more torturous experience for students is being halfway through their day and realizing that their deodorant is not holding up.

MIRIAM ROBLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Deodorant is important, no doubt, and pretty much a requirement in this weather.

However, current health concerns surrounding common deodorant ingredients have sparked a movement against traditional deodorants. While this is a completely natural response, it is important not to forego wearing deodorant altogether. The Rattler tested some of the best alternative aluminum-free deodorants, ensuring that no student will ever be caught smelling less than pleasant.

LUSH’S THE GREEENCH DEODORANT POWDER

PIPERWAI NATURAL ACTIVITY CHARCOAL DEODORANT

Unconventional but functional, Lush’s powder deodorant is vegan, all-natural and affordable. However, the product can be hard to apply as a powder and can even be messy at times. The strong tea tree smell can also be negative for some, or even take some time for students to get used to.

TARTE COSMETIC CLEAN QUEEN VEGAN DEODORANT Tarte’s deodorant is a great option for students who are veganconscious. The formula is sensitive, smells great and doesn’t leave any messy residue. However, the price can be a little steep at $14, almost four times more expensive than traditional deodorants, which may give students pause.

Piperwai, another unconventional option that was featured on “Shark Tank,” is an all-natural deodorant that comes in a jar. The minty-smelling paste is easy to apply and helps cover the smell of sweat while eliminating sweat stains altogether. The only con would be its steep price at $16 and the deodorant residue left on users’ fingers due to its unconventional application method.

TOM’S OF MAINE LONGLASTING DEODORANT

This “Number One Natural Deodorant Brand” comes with a $4 price tag and is available in most places that sell deodorant.

However, the deodorant does not last nearly as long as it boasts and it does require reapplication, which may seem counterintuitive for those who don’t want to sweat.

SCHMIDT’S NATURAL DEODORANT SENSITIVE SKIN FORMULA Schmidt’s deodorant is a little more affordable for those who are looking for a natural deodorant. The only complaint with Schmidt’s is that the chunky formula may irritate certain skin types. Regardless, Schmidt’s is sold in common drugstores, which makes it one of the most accessible options.

Traveling through the safe sidewalks of St. Mary’s in style cobblestone and an additional walk to class,

JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Although St. Mary’s is one of the smallest college campuses in San Antonio, walking through its gravel paths on a summer day in Texas can be torturous.

Therefore, it is understandable that students attempt to reduce their commute to class as much as possible.

Students often drive their cars to class because it is the most convenient form of transportation. However, this remains the most troublesome option, considering the commute to class is the only form of exercise many students get throughout the day and students on campus can face tickets from UPD. Students should consider better utilizing their time instead of driving to the closest available parking space, which creates parking issues across campus, runs the risk of students receiving parking tickets and is dangerous for the environment.

That is why students should consider either walking or relying on faster alternatives like bicycles or Birds. Newly introduced to San Antonio and campus life, Birds are electronic scooters that cost $1 to unlock and about 15 cents per minute of riding time. Bicycles, while not as readily available for rent like the Birds, are also an option for getting across campus.

The best method to burn as many as possible would be to bicycle across campus rather than walking. This is due to factors such as inclines that require more work as well as the constant motion of one’s legs.

Speed is also a factor to keep in mind as that determines the amount of force being

this would be an optimal location for students who wish to go to the Diamondback Cafe or to the Commons.

Students can also take the road past the tennis courts, keeping right at the fork in the road toward Treadaway Hall, taking a right past the Richter Math and Engineering Center. This area would be ideal for students who are running late to class. While this path includes a steep incline and takes longer than the aforementioned route, the bike rack is used by less students and the ground is safer.

After recording the travel time on both paths, the Rattler staff found that each route takes between five and seven minutes.

Birds were found to be faster than bicycles because they are both motorized and easier exerted. It was also found that riding scooter to class does not burn as many calories as one would think since Bird scooters are motorized and require less physical labor.

According to research conducted by the Rattler staff, strolling through campus on a bicycle or Bird makes for a more scenic trip to class and is also more efficient despite the onerous path. Riding a bicycle and sticking to paved roads from Leies Hall to the

to park than the latter.

Graphics by Victoria Valle and Natalia Zuniga

University Center, past Casa Maria, takes approximately five minutes at a leisurely, comfortable pace. For students who want to know where to park their bicycles, the best parking spot is located in front of the University Center, where students should make sure to use secure locks to ensure the bicycle’s security.

Though this path involves badly paved

Though they might not always be readily available, the Birds are the ideal form of transportation around campus on a sweltering Texas day. Overall, while the commute depends on the students and their needs, getting to class, which is not the most fun activity at all, can be much faster and more fun.

LIFESTYLE 11

SEPT. 12, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

The truth behind polyamorous relations JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Millennials, as a whole, are becoming a less traditional generation. Compared to previous generations, they are choosing to get married and have children later, if they don’t choose to have a pet instead. When the opportunity arises, they are traveling all over the globe and expressing themselves on social media at a rate that has never been seen before.

In addition, millennials are also moving away from the traditional views on relationships and are beginning to see that having multiple, healthy relationships at the same time is not an impossible idea, but a reality for some.

Polyamory is defined as the practice of dating multiple people at once. However, for many people, it’s much more than that.

Polyamory is having an overabundance of emotions and being mature enough to let them take root and blossom, learning how to communicate to prevent fostering ill intent and regret. Most importantly, like any other human connection, it is a learning experience with the goal of teaching people how to become better individuals.

“I think that it is an open topic of conversation that everyone should consider,” said Daniel Reyes, senior political science major. “No human was made for monogamy.”

Through polyamory, individuals learn to let go of the toxicity of possessiveness. Some individuals have a strange perception that the people with whom they are in a relationship belong to them and them alone, and that should not be the case. All individuals, no matter the affiliation between themselves and others, should be recognized as their

own beings.

Another aspect of polyamory is the rejection that inherent attraction to someone who may not be one’s partner is inherently malicious. Attraction to other

Graphic by Victoria Valle

human beings cannot be stopped due to its reactionary nature. Time is also a factor of attraction, and the conception that the amount of time spent together equates to the amount of love and value between individuals in a relationship can be a hard, and sometimes unhealthy, expectation to keep.

The key to keeping multiple healthy connections is communication. Being transparent with a significant other is an important element in both platonic and romantic connections. However, this is not to say that everything about polyamorous relationships is better than monogamous ones; any type of relationship comes with its own pros and cons. The key to overcoming these highs and lows comes from each individual’s ability to overcome his or her own selfishness in order to create a healthier sense of self.

Packing the pack rat far away space-consuming objects should stay. This is usually a longer process than anticipated due to internal debating, but students should Moving far away from home can be separate items into piles of things to bring to a strenuous experience for many college college, things to leave at home and things to students. Students who go away to college sell and donate.

Students should also consider getting rid are often homesick and miss their parents, their pets and their beds. Because of this of belongings that have no place in their life homesickness, students have a habit of anymore. Selling old items through online over-packing, bringing many belongings to venues like Depop, ThredUp and Poshmark campus that may not be the most practical is an option to get rid of old clothing and other possessions when living in a small while earning money dorm room. back.

However, These habits of this process does bringing everything involve shipping they own can leave and handling students in states of expenses, which may anxiety due to the be troublesome. cluttered chaos within Graphic by Victoria Valle There are also their own living space. In quicker options for order to better their daily life, students should try leaving unnecessary students, such as selling clothes to Plato’s items at home or completely cleaning Closet, though the store is normally a harsh judge of whether specific articles of clothing house through sales and donations.

While the first step would be admitting are still in style. Swap meets, where students that there is a problem with over-packing, trade items that they like and all leftovers are often a problem in and of itself, the hardest donated to charity, are another option. This part for most students is choosing which idea can even be applied among fashionable friends. Goodwill is also a great option. things they can live without.

The most important way for students Some of the items students bring to school have been with them since they were to prevent the habit of over-packing is the children and while the sentimental value of action of donation. Moving forward with these items is important, the bigger issue life involves leaving items behind, but it also lies with whether or not these items bring involves leaving an opportunity for others to the same amount of comfort they once did. possibly gain a meaningful experience from Students should also keep in mind how someone else’s past meaningful possessions. much they use each item when deciding Therefore, rather than getting hung up on if something should stay or go. Using the the feelings of nostalgia and allowing them item on a weekly to monthly basis should to clutter up their lives, students should try be sufficient in determining whether to focus on both their own futures as well as those of others.

JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Trend Watch: Statement pants making stands globally and across campus JULISSA CANTU LIFESTYLE EDITOR

While wearing pants might seem less than ideal in hot Texas weather, patterned pants have been the perfect center piece for any outfit since the ’70s. Pants are incredibly comfortable for going to cold classrooms, taking a tour around the city or whatever else the day might bring. Choosing to wear a pair with striking patterns is enough to spice up an otherwise boring outfit.

Photos by Natalia Zuniga

Recently, patterned pants have been featured on popular fashion websites like DollsKill and NastyGal, and while these options might not be within every student’s price range, there are also suitable options available at affordable retailers like Forever21

and H&M. Men could also get a pair from online stores such as ASOS or TopMan. There are so many opportunities to work patterned pants into an otherwise simple wardrobe. Students can try plaid pants, going studious with neutral colors or paying

homage to early punk fashion with a spunky red. One can also try wearing stripes, both horizontal and vertical, with amazing color combinations like primary colors and nautical schemes. Of course, floral never goes out of style, and a lovely pair of floral pants with an autumn color palette would do wonders for a lackluster back-to-school wardrobe. Palazzo pants would be another fine addition as they come in many different patterns and a high-waisted design that can only accentuate a student’s legs. Finally, for students who dare to take a step out of their

comfort zone, vinyl pants are an undeniably precarious but a definite show-stopper.

The most important aspect to keep in mind when wearing pants is the length, which can either make or break a look.

Students should always choose to go with either a cuffed hem or an elongated shape to make their legs look longer. Wearing pants cuffed would be more ideal for events where students are crammed into a tighter space to avoid getting the hems dirty while wearing

pants that barely graze the ground would be better for strolls with friends.

As for the best tops to pair patterned pants with, students should choose tops that make them feel comfortable. Some students feel more empowered in a button-up, both casual or classy, while others prefer plain or patterned blouses. When wearing a pair of

pants, students should consider the weather and occasion before choosing a pair of shoes.

A cooler affair could call for sandals while

events with bigger crowds might demand closed-toed shoes like sneakers or boots.

Considering today’s post-modern age of fashion, there is a wide variety of different occasions to wear statement pieces like patterned pants. Students going into the workforce are beginning to gain a wider array of possibilities, worrying less and less about adhering to the strictly solid color palettes of professional workplaces past.

Even so, while trends today may seem less individualistic and more like following a wave of people, sometimes spicing up a simple outfit with a pair of fancy pants is all fast-paced college students need to pick themselves up from momentary slumps.

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: ELIZABETH ARREDONDO | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 12, 2018

Apps that all college students should download to help make the year flow smoothly ELIZABETH ARREDONDO ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

College can be an extremely stressful time and no matter what anyone says, learning how to be an adult is hard. Student can use these apps to make their college experience a little easier and even more fun. These free apps will help students study smarter, manage their money and time, stay fit, stay safe and get to know the city of San Antonio.

1.) Mint – With books, tuition, room and board and Greek Life dues, paying for college adds up extremely quickly. For most students, this is their first time having complete freedom and total responsibility over their lives and finances. Mint is a free web and mobile app that helps users keep track of their spending. Students can easily create budgets; get suggestions based on their spending; track and pay bills; get alerts; schedule payments and check their credit scores.

2.) StudyBlue – Flashcards are a very effective way for students to get their studying done, but they can be a headache and take a lot of time to make by hand.

With StudyBlue, students gain the ability to use text, pictures and audio to create the perfect stack of (digital) flashcards. They can also search StudyBlue’s massive database to borrow someone else’s. StudyBlue is a study library offering flashcards, notes and study guides to help college students learn faster, stress less, study anywhere and maximize time. This app is available for iOS and Android users.

3.) MyHomework Student Planner – MyHomework Student Planner gives students a calendar in which they can track their upcoming assignments, exams, projects and other important events, as well as a homework widget where they can sync their assignments and receive reminders for when they’re due. The free app syncs across

C A M P U S

devices so users can easily stay organized and become a better student. This app is also available on tablets, Chromebooks, Windows and Mac. 4.) Circle of 6 – Circle of 6 won the White House’s Apps Against Abuse challenge.

It helps students who feel uncomfortable being in a new city or walking alone at night stay safe by connecting them to six trusted contacts, whenever and wherever. Students can use the pre-programmed “come and get me” message with their GPS location, or easily call national and local emergency hotlines in critical situations. It is a fast and discreet way to put safety first.

5.) 30-day Fitness Challenge – College can be very time-consuming and busy for students. With all of the time spent studying, doing homework, attending campus events and trying to have a social life, staying fit can sometimes be pushed aside. Want to avoid the dreaded freshman 15? The free 30-day Fitness Challenge app helps users get back on track no matter where they are on campus, no gym required. This app features easy, medium and hard 20-day training plans focusing on full body, abs, butt, arms

and legs. It also includes a 30-day meal plan and shopping list. It records users’ training progress, reminds them daily to work out and gives them detailed video guides. There are different levels to help students find the best workout for them. This app is free and available for iOS devices.

6.) Foursquare City Guide – Foursquare is the ultimate city guide for

Graphic compiled by Elizabeth Arredondo

students who are new to San Antonio and want to find places to eat, drink, shop or hang out. Foursquare works by compiling recommendations and tips from others in the same town, leaving everything up to the locals. This app is available for iOS and Android users.

E V E N T S Graphic by Victoria Valle

ENTERTAINMENT 13

SEPT. 12, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Spotify and chill: Essential playlists for music-loving Rattlers For when it’s party time

For when it’s time to chill

Compiled by Elizabeth Arredondo and Natalia Zuniga

For when it’s time to study

To all the movies I’ve reviewed before, you don’t compare to this one MIRIAM ROBLES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The romantic comedy is dead. Poor critical reviews and declining box office performances marked the early 2000s death of the rom-com. Romantic comedies performed poorly, gained little to no award traction and became more and more sloppy in their execution. Gone were the days of John Hughes-esque classic romances and it became easy to look down on romantic movies.

As a response, romantic movies tried to become more and more subversive within their own genre: the anti-rom-com, marked by witty banter and unexpected endings. Films like “The Big Sick” and “Trainwreck” made a name for themselves by being expressly unconventional in an effort to fix everything that was “wrong”

with the rom-com. However, while there was nothing wrong with the rom-com, “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” sets out to prove it just needed to fit the modern age.

“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is the classic rom-com in a millennial-

her past crushes, one of them being her sister’s boyfriend. The letters get out and, of course, mayhem ensues.

Condor leads the absolutely charming cast as the titular character who circumvents the bland romantic female

accessible format. On the surface, the film is nothing out of the ordinary; maybe it is because the film accomplishes being ordinary so well that it is successful. The plot revolves around shy high schooler Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor of X-Men fame), who writes love letters to all of

lead role and instead presents the audience with a relatable, capable and dreamy protagonist with strong relationships outside of her romantic ones. In fact, some of the most compelling moments are shared by the Covey family: youngest sister Kitty (played by Anna Cathcart), older sister

Source from netflix.com

Margot (played by Janel Parrish) and their single father (played by John Corbett).

Of course, the film is carried by the chemistry between Condor and her male counterpart Noah Centineo (the internet’s latest obsession). Centineo as Peter Kavinsky is not a traditional romcom leading man. He comes across as thoughtful, realistic and even goofy at times, a stark contrast to the “emotionally unavailable” bad boys of rom-coms past. Condor and Centineo are, above all, relatable, which makes their story compelling and inviting. Of course, a lot of the credit can go to the author of the book by the same name: Jenny Han, who has penned her fair share of romantic young adult literature.

A compelling cast, dreamy and light cinematography and great soundtrack make “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” achieve the unachievable and bring the audience back to the golden age of romantic comedies, but this time, with a modern edge.

For those who like this movie, these book recommendations are a must

Photos courtesy of Barnes & Nobles

14 SPORTS

EDITOR:TAWNY DAVIS |@STMURATTLERNEWS |SEPT. 12, 2018

The Special Olympics of Texas to host event with St. Mary’s EVA GARCIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This year The Unified Sports League, a league that unites Olympians with special needs and college students, staff and faculty in sport, will partner up with Special Olympics of Texas and St. Mary’s to host a triathlon. Through this triathlon, the athletics department hopes to instill a deeper sense of community in the student athletes who interact with these Olympians. “[Students] really form a bond and [from] what I’ve seen ... a lot of college students work with these ... Olympians and it is just unbelievable,” said Karen Williams, director of campus recreation and the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center. “It gives our students an opportunity to mesh with [them] ... teaching them and working with them on their competitive skills.”

This year, St. Mary’s wants to add a unified flag football league.

“Putting a league together where it has ... Olympians playing against our college students [is our goal],” Williams said. “It gives the kids an opportunity to still play the game that they love.”

Although St. Mary’s plans to implement soccer and basketball in the spring semester, the athletics department plans to use the

fall semester to test out the unified flag football league.

“The trial-and-error will be the unified flag football league in the fall semester,” said Williams.

Emmanuel Sanchez, program associate for Special Olympics of Texas in San Antonio, is in charge of coordinating and facilitating the event. Sanchez added that he was overjoyed when Williams was on board with adding a Unified League during intramurals.

Like Williams, Sanchez wants to expose this event to the Special Olympics athletes and to college students, encouraging the athletes to come to this event and participate with each other. Sanchez added that this sporting event will benefit both the Special Olympics athletes and St. Mary’s athletes.

“I want to expose them now to these types of events before becoming professionals such as lawyers, teachers, professional athletes, CEOs, etc,” said Sanchez. “That way, in the future they can advocate for special needs rights or fund more special needs athletes’ programs, in the case of those who own companies.”

In many cases of Special Olympic events, people believe that the athletes are not very good. However, Sanchez asserts that this event will not be what the audience expects.

Photo courtesy of Special Olympics of Texas

Rattler Athletics receive awards for academic performance

Lady Rattlers taking on the Newman Conference the same year that a number of their members gained academic recognition.| Photo courtesy of the St. Mary’s women’s tennis team via Instagram

TAWNY E. DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

Over the summer, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) and American Volleyball Coaches Association both announced their 2018 All-Academic Teams, Scholar-Athletes and Team Academic Award, awarding St. Mary’s student athletes for their academic achievements. For teams to be recognized, they needed to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.20 during the academic year. The women’s team received nine scholar-athlete selections while the men’s received six.

Kaylin Kruseman; Tyra Timm; Hannah Petersen; Ally Maciel; Alex Corder; Isabelle Bergman; Grace Bell; Paulina Torres and Abigail Csengery were award recipients for women’s tennis. Kruseman and Timm

each received the honor for the fourth time in their careers while Petersen and Maciel claimed the award for the third time.

“This was a surprise for us because it shows how hard we have worked not just on the court but in the classroom,” said Paulina Torres, senior marketing major.

For the men’s team, Jeremiah Gonzalez; Felix Hollaway; Jose Antelo; Luis Bonilla; Alex Gee and James Weatherhead were recognized. Hollaway and Antelo were named for the third time in their respective careers while Gonzalez earned the honor for the second time.

“I didn’t think I was going to be able to balance school and tennis that well and I was surprised about how well the professors helped us,” said Luis Bonilla, sophomore business management major. “It feels good to be able to play tennis and know that you

can also have time and put work into your education and studies.”

Each student maintained a 3.50 GPA

“

It shows how hard we have worked not just on the court but in the classroom.”

Paulina Torres senior marketing major

throughout the academic year to earn the honor. In the history of St. Mary’s women’s

tennis, 57 players have received ITA Scholar-Athlete honors while men’s tennis has earned 46 honors.

The St. Mary’s volleyball team was recognized by the American Volleyball Coaches Association as one of the 20172018 Team Academic Award recipients.

The award honors college and high school teams for excellence in the classroom, maintaining at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.

Of the 128 NCAA Division II schools recognized, St. Mary’s was one of four Heartland schools to be honored.

“This is an honor ... because of everything we went through last year,” said Channing Hankins, senior communications major.

“It is great to see that we were focused not just on the court but in the classroom as well.”

SPORTS 15

SEPT. 12, 2018 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Campus Recreation announces athletic events for the fall TAWNY E. DAVIS SPORTS EDITOR

This fall, the department of campus recreation is bringing many activities to the students here at St. Mary’s. From activities that involve exercising in the pool to those that involve taking classes for self-defense or Zumba, Campus Recreation is offering

a diverse range of exercise activities and classes for any student to participate in.

Besides just having the fall intramural leagues of sand volleyball, flag football, dodgeball and basketball, Campus Recreation will be hosting kickboxing classes, Zumba classes, Aquacise and lunch bunch water exercise.

“I want everyone to come out and have

fun,” said Karyn Williams, director of campus recreation and the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center. “We have chosen these activities specifically because we believe that [they] will get a lot of people involved, and hopefully they will have fun doing them.”

Lunch bunch will be held Mondays through Thursdays; Aquacise Mondays,

Wednesdays and Thursdays; kickboxing Tuesdays and Zumba Wednesdays. Lunch bunch water exercise and Aquacise are free for students while kickboxing and Zumba require a fee of $35.

For more information about these activities or about other leagues in Campus Recreation, go to imleagues.com/stmarytx.

Graphic by Tawny E. Davis

St. Mary’s men’s soccer team welcomes the new head coach AINARA MORA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After serving as the assistant coach for the last two seasons, Johnny Clifford became the new head coach for the St. Mary’s men’s soccer team. As assistant coach, Clifford led the team to a post-season victory, a first since 2003. Since becoming head coach, he has been ranked no. 12 in the nation by the United Soccer Coaches poll.

“One of my goals was accomplished; we wanted to be ranked in the top 25 at some point in this season,” Clifford said. “To my knowledge, this is the highest ranking the men’s program has ever had, at least in recent times.”

Of course, being ranked in the top 25 by the United Soccer Coaches poll is not the only goal that Coach Clifford has for the soccer team. He also hopes to qualify for the conference tournament again this year,

a goal Clifford feels is attainable.

“We are in a very strong conference with two teams in the top 15 in the nation, so making the conference tournament and possibly ... go[ing] to regionals is something I would love our team to accomplish,” he said.

The men’s soccer team began their season with a challenging first two games in Colorado.

“The Colorado trip was always going to be very tough. We decided to challenge ourselves against these teams in order to prepare ourselves for the tough season,” Coach Clifford said. “It was a gamble that paid off but I was very aware with the level of competition [that] we could have easily came [sic] back 0-2 and I was well aware of that before we left.”

Through the challenges the Rattlers faced during their Colorado trip, Clifford and the

MEN’S SOCCER SCHEDULE

team demonstrated their willingness to go past their personal limits and work together to prepare themselves for the rest of the season. Kicking off the season with a high level of competition was a wonderful way for the Rattlers to show that they are determined and ready to have a strong season.

“It’s all about getting off to a strong start and taking each game as they come,” said Clifford. “[We’re] ready and excited for conference now.”

The team is already getting ready for conference and for all of the rigorous teams they will be playing against beforehand.

With an amazing accomplishment already under their belts and a grand determination for the chance to go to regionals, the Rattlers seem to be in for a successful season under their new leadership.

Photo courtesy of RattlerAthletics

WOMEN’ SOCCER SCHEDULE

SEPT 13

OCT 4

SEPT 13

@ ST. EDWARDS l 3 PM

OCT 4

SEPT 15

OCT 6

SEPT 15

OCT 6

SEPT 20

OCT 11

SEPT 22

OCT 13

SEPT 22

VS NEWMAN l 1 PM

OCT 13

SEPT 27

OCT 18

SEPT 27

VS TEXAS-PERMIAN BASIN l 7 PM

@ LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN l 7 PM

OCT 18

SEPT. 29

OCT 20

SEPT 29

VS DBU l 7 PM

VS ST. EDWARDS l 1 PM

@ MIDWESTERN STATE l 7 PM

@ OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN l 1 PM

VS EASTERN NEW MEXICO l 6 PM

VS WEST TEXAS A&M l 1 PM

@ TEXAS A&M INT. l 7 PM

@ ROGERS STATE l 2:30 PM

@ DBU l 7:30 PM

@ ST. EDWARDS l 2:30 PM

VS LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN l 1 PM

@ DBU l 3 PM

SEPT 20

VS ROGERS STATE l 7 PM

@ OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN l 1 PM

VS DBU l 7 PM

@ TEXAS A&M INT l. 7 PM

OCT 11

VS OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN l 7 PM

VS LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN l 1 PM

@ NEWMAN l 5 PM

OCT 20

@ ROGERS STATE l 12 PM

16 FEATURES

EDITOR: SAMANTHA SALAZAR | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 12, 2018

Countdown to the centennial: The Rattler prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary SAMANTHA SALAZAR MANAGING EDITOR

In 2019, the Rattler newspaper will be celebrating its 100th anniversary as St. Mary’s student-run newspaper. As the oldest organization on campus, the Rattler has transformed over the last century from a newsletter to today’s 16-page semi-monthly newspaper.

Its first issue was published as the St. Louis College Bulletin, a monthly publication, on Sept. 1, 1919. When the institution changed its name so did the publication, and the St. Mary’s College Bulletin made its debut in October 1923. The next fall, the staff made the decision to change its name and held a school-wide contest to find a new name for the publication. After reviewing submissions for the new name, none seemed to be the right fit until a suggestion from a friend of Brother John Black, S.M., former dean of men: the Rattler.

In the very first edition of the Rattler (Volume VI, Number 1), published Oct. 15, 1924, the editors wrote about its new name, calling it original and local.

“The Rattler has first of all the merit of being original in name and conception; it has a distinctive local flavor and we were going to say habitat too; it is suggestive of an ardent enthusiastic group of young college students who intend to ‘whoop’ it up and above all, it is a rattling good name.”

The history of St. Mary’s is long and rich, and for 99 years the Rattler has been there to cover it. From construction of the bell tower to St. Mary’s transition from an all-male university to a coeducational one in 1963, the Rattler was there to write about it.

Not only is the Rattler an established student organization on campus, but it has also gained national and state recognition.

Its first two national accolades came in 1934 with the All Catholic award given as the highest honor from the Catholic School Press

Association and First Class Honor Rating, given as the second highest award from the National Scholastic P r e s s Association.

As a publication, the Rattler has accumulated countless awards and honors from o r g a n i z at i o n s such as the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA), Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) and College Media Association (CMA), including, most recently, first place in its division at TIPA in 2018.

The Rattler’s 100-year anniversary will be celebrated in 2019. However, the countdown has already begun. The celebration will be marked in different ways beginning this semester, including a themed feature on the Rattler throughout the ages in the features section. As 2019 approaches, the Rattler staff hopes to continue with its tradition of reporting the news of St. Mary’s in a fair and balanced way. The staff also plans to continue with a promise made in the first edition of the Rattler (Volume VI, Number 1): “In other words we intend to give you some real news service.”

The St. Louis College Bulletin, a monthly publication, was first published Sept. 1, 1919.

The bulletin was edited by the students of St. Louis College.

The St. Mary’s College Bulletin was first published in October of 1923. The name change was concurrent with the name change of the institution.

The Rattler made its debut in Oct. 15, 1924.

The name was selected after a school-wide contest was held to choose a new name for the publication.

A Rattler History Ninety-nine years later, the Rattler is a semi-monthly publication run by the student editors of St. Mary’s.