Vol. 104, No. 9 - 10/05/2016

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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

Vol 104

FEATURES

Issue 9

Oct. 5, 2016

San Antonio, TX

Catholic Intellectual Tradition talk sparks controversial debate between attendants BLAKE VERA STAFF WRITER

Michael L. Lecocke, St. Mary’s alumnus and professor of mathematics, has a unique teaching style that students love and can easily adapt to. After earning a B.S. in electrical engineering from St. Mary’s, Lecocke went on to Rice University to get his master’s and doctorate degree in statistics. He has been teaching at St. Mary’s for 11 years and started right after graduating from Rice University in 2005.

Lecocke has a unique relationship with his students and his teaching methods seem to be loved by everyone who has taken his classes.

“I think he does a really good job at explaining the material, he is able to keep the class’s attention for the entire class period, and he is able to get the respect of all the students,” Adam Valadez, sophomore computer engineering major, said.

Lecocke tries to remain engaging during his classes or, as he puts it, “slightly silly” while still providing the information in an effective matter. He learns his students’ names within just a couple of weeks, which ensures that he gets the students engaged by also calling them out when they begin to drift or get distracted on their cell phones.

“One girl was looking at her phone during the middle of a review and he calls her out, ‘What are you looking at?’ … she was watching this random GIF and then he shows the whole class,” Jaime McKay, freshman mechanical engineering major,

COMMENTARY

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Portrait of Professor Amir Hussain. | Graphic by Julia Ewalefo

back of the conference room even shouted “let her finish!” to the second male.

Haley McGraw, senior political science and international business major, expresses remorse over the interruptive nature of their comments.

“Overall the event went very well, it’s a shame those two gentlemen appeared to have some sort of agenda aiming to undermine the purpose of the discussion, however, Dr. Hussain outlined important reasons for the formation of faith neighbors between Muslims and Christians,” McGraw said.

Hussain also believes that people seemed to have come with an agenda, but this experience is not unique to the presentation he gave at St. Mary’s.

“Whenever I give public talks on Islam, I often get hateful questions or comments.

I’m more troubled with people who come

with an agenda who want to prove that Islam (even though they are not Muslim) is a hateful religion, and that any Muslim (like me) who is peaceful is not “really” a Muslim,” Hussain said.

St. Mary’s posted six photos of the talk that evening on their Facebook page with a quote from Hussain that read “We need Christians to stand with us (Muslims) through persecutions.” Multiple individuals, including some St. Mary’s alumni, responded harshly to the post with degrading comments about both Hussain and the Islam religion.

One commenter, Mary Hernandez Sutherland, said, “Muslim religion has one end and it is to convert or destroy, nothing else.”

Another, Bubba Hernandez, who is an alumnus of the university, wrote “Seriously?

SPORTS

CARMEN RUBY MORALES STAFF WRITER

ENTERTAINMENT

Professor Michael Lecocke loved by all

The annual St. Mary’s Catholic Intellectual Tradition Talk turned controversial on Wednesday, Sept. 28 when Amir Hussain, professor of theology at Loyola Marymount University, was met with controversial questions during the Q&A session of his lecture on ChristianMuslim relations.

Highlighting the importance of solidarity between Muslims and Christians, Hussain, who is Pakistani-Canadian, is a Muslim scholar of both Christianity and Islam. He emphasized the similarities between the two faiths in order to create a dialogue of friendship.

A male attendee, who claimed to have studied the Quran for himself, took the microphone during the Q&A session (after the lecture) and asked how anyone could believe Hussain’s message of peace, with what some believe to be a more violent interpretation of the Quran. While his question was legitimate to some, attendees described the manner in which he asked it to be long-winded and self-righteous.

Tensions escalated when a second audience member began questioning Hussain’s expertise on Islam and method of prayer. He started the question by explaining his own interpretations of the Quran’s teachings in what some believed to be a personal argument with Hussain.

After going on for some time, St. Mary’s President Thomas Mengler approached the second male and asked him if he had a question for the speaker, since the guest was speaking on his own personal beliefs rather than providing an actual question.

The individual subsequently gave the microphone to Mengler where it was then passed on to continue the Q&A. Another incident occurred when a female attendee tried to address the two previous men, saying, “you should be careful to not take what is written in the Quran out of context.” The woman, however, was abruptly interrupted when the second man who spoke against Hussain began to shout loudly at her, arguing his point of view again.

Multiple audience members tried to quiet the individual and one woman in the

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2 NEWS

EDITOR: RICARDO REYES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Construction continues near entrance gate CARMEN RUBY MORALES

STAFF WRITER

THE RATTLER

WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS MEETINGS

TUESDAY, OCT. 4 UNIVERSITY CENTER UC-B 5 p.m TUESDAY, NOV. 1 UNIVERSITY CENTER UC-B 5 p.m

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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.

Construction on the Northwest 36th Street entrance will continue for a few more weeks to improve traffic flow. The project, which began two weeks ago, will add turning lanes so that the traffic will no longer stop to make left-hand turns as they used to in the past. A new sidewalk, new signs, road markings and even crosswalks for pedestrians, will also be added as part of the project.

The project is being undertaken by the city of San Antonio, not by St. Mary’s.

However, St. Mary’s did present the idea of adding these turn lanes years ago to the city’s capital improvement schedule. Now, after many years of planning, the city has decided to begin construction to benefit St. Mary’s and the community surrounding the campus.

A community planning session was opened to the public in order to launch the new plans and coordinate with St. Mary’s and the surrounding community to see how the construction would affect them. Aaron Hanna, executive director and facilities administrator, attended this as a representative for St. Mary’s, but also to know what other plans the city will have in the future.

St. Mary’s University facilities emailed a

FROM “COVER”

me to donate money to the school.” Charles B. Suehs, alumnus of St. Mary’s who attended the talk on Wednesday, was upset at the school for “not allowing one of the attendees to ask honest questions.”

This comment prompted St. Mary’s to officially respond, “the guest was given plenty of time to speak, even though he was being argumentative with Hussain. His question became a diatribe that took time from others who wanted to ask questions.”

“

We are all God’s children and we should think of each other as neighbors.

Construction on NW 36th reduces traffic flow from four lanes to two lanes. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

revised entrance map to help guide students, faculty and staff to make the entrance and exits easier to distinguish during the construction. The hours of operations for the other three entrance gates on campus have not changed. However, students, faculty and staff should plan accordingly with the construction, if it has been a problem thus far.

All three gates, the Culebra street, Ligustrum, and the main gate on Camino Santa Maria open at 5 a.m. and close by 7

teachings in their heart while listening to the talk.

“Dr. Hussain’s message was inspiring: We are all God’s children and we should think of each other as neighbors,” Mengler said.

“There would be a lot more peace and justice in the world if we took to heart and acted on Dr. Hussain’s core message.”

The two individuals in the crowd have yet to be identified.

Even though some attempted to overshadow the message of peace that Hussain aimed for, the positive response of the St. Mary’s community both online and during the talk stood out to Hussain. “[It was] an extraordinary moment of grace,” Hussain said. “One of many, many such moments that I experienced in my time at St. Mary’s.”

Thomas Mengler St. Mary’s President

For some, the fact that he was argumentative with the speaker was considered irrelevant to the fact he was taking time away from legitimate questions of other guests. Not all comments on the Facebook post were disapproving of the event. St. Mary’s professor Patricia Britton of the Greehey School of Business commented on why she found the event to be beneficial.

“I am proud that our University provides the opportunity for people of all faiths and views to participate in civil discourse,” Britton said. “We only learn by speaking to one another.”

This interchanging of ideas was the main take-away for many of those who attended the event as opposed to “individuals who had not attended the lecture, and consequently were uninformed and uninformative” Mengler said.

Regardless of the different views of Christian-Muslim relations or of Islam as a whole, the overall message of Hussain was not lost by many who held key Marianist

p.m. on weekdays, in conjunction with classes and standard department operation hours. The weekend schedule slightly differs per gate: the Culebra and Ligustrum gates are open only on Sundays because of Sunday mass; and the Camino Santa Maria gates are closed all weekend, except on rare occasions.

The road construction has also become a collaborative, multi-part project because the new sidewalks that will be added will also connect to the new residence hall that is under construction in The Village.

FACEBOOK COMMENT FEED “Seriously? Take me off your Alumni list and stop calling me to donate money to the school.”

- Bubba Hernandez “Muslim religion has one end and it is to convert or destroy, nothing else.”

-Mary Sutherland “Is this guy serious?

Muslims are beheading Christians and desecrating our holy sites throughout the middle-east and he wants us to stand with them?”

- Kevin Abernathy “Sorry, already made the commitment to stand with the Jewish nation of Israel.”

- C.J James

WHAT DO YOU THINK? EMAIL US A LETTER

rattlernews@gmail.com Guest speaker Amir Hussain. | Courtesy of Andrew Festa

NEWS 3

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National sexual assault campaign comes to educate campus SYDNEY ALFARO STAFF WRITER

The “It’s On Us” national campaign hosted an event on campus titled “Til it Happens to You” on Thursday, Sept. 22 in Founder’s Hall. “Til it Happens to You” was centered around the realities of sexual abuse and assault and its prevalence on college campuses. The mission of the discussion was to educate the St. Mary’s community that this issue is not just something that is heard about in the news, rather that it is a reality that happens every day, and ultimately, can happen to anyone.

Charity Bowen-Miller, assistant director of Residence Life, facilitated the event. She highlighted that the event is important for creating a safer community.

“The more people that are educated about how to intervene and provide support to someone who is a survivor of sexual violence makes our community a safer and more supportive place,” Bowen-Miller said.

Sexual assault is the most underreported crime across the country, according to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Statistics. Bowen-Miller hopes that educational seminars light these might help to change the number of people who feel

uncomfortable filing a report.

“Students [will] hopefully feel more comfortable coming forward to report these acts so they can get the support they need,” Bowen-Miller said.

There was a lot of information given through the various speakers at the talk.

There was a panel of six presenters at the event, some St. Mary’s faculty and others coming from the medical staff at Fort Sam Houston here in San Antonio.

Joshua Smalley, an employee at Ft. Sam Houston working with adolescent medicine, opened the talk by warning that sexual assaults happen everywhere. There are no boundaries or limitations for where sexual assaults can or cannot occur.

There were two officers from the university police department on the panel for the seminar that gave factual statistics about current sexual assault reporting.

Sergeant Hamilton, the midnight supervisor on campus, spoke about the importance of detailed report keeping of the incidents and examinations after the fact.

“Without the [medical] exam and evidence collection it is very unlikely [the courts] will prosecute the case,” Hamilton said.

When the university police department

receives a complaint, extensive reports are immediately taken because details are the easiest to recollect immediately after the incident.

It is the victim’s decision to press charges against the perpetrator, but the records are kept either way in the event that they decide to do so after the immediate attack. After the initial reports of the incident, the process of healing may begin.

Deidra Coleman, interim director of the St. Mary’s psychological center, along with Sandra Vasquez of the health center spoke specifically about the resources on campus that students can utilize when sexual assaults occur.

Some resources and services include those in University Ministry, the Student Psychological and Testing Center, university police department, the University Health Center, the staff of the Dean of Students and many others depending on the situation.

An important resource available is the “counselor on call” program through the Center of Life Directions. A counselor is only one phone call away anytime during the academic school year at 210-825-3622.

The importance of having this number is to provide support to students who feel the need to talk about a situation.

The overall message was to help victims understand the importance of seeking help, even if he or she does not want to press charges. There are many ways a sexual assault can affect a victim’s mental stability.

Talking about the incident, whether it is to the university police or a counselor on campus, can help the victim process what occurred. There are also other resources outside of those offered on campus.

The San Antonio Police Department Victim Advocacy line and the San Antonio Rape Crisis Center are places that offer services to victims. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is another resource that is free, confidential and operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 800-656-4673.

Another strategy is to stay in groups when going out and to keep in contact with someone from the group at all times.

Another method is watching out for others.

If something does not feel right, stepping in or finding those close to the person involved can help protect them from a predator.

If a person believes themselves to be a victim of sexual assault, the person can utilize the resources available to him or her. There are systems in place to help those affected overcome the physical and emotional trauma.

Campus student organizations work together to promote voter registration MARISSA HOULGIN

STAFF WRITER

The Student Government Association (SGA), The Political Science Living Learning Community (POLLC), Pi Sigma Alpha, The Marianist Leadership Program (MLP), the Social Justice League and the Civic Engagement interns registered a total of 520 students on Thursday, Sept. 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on campus.

The on-campus organizations partnered with an organization called “Move San Antonio.” The organization is a non-partisan organization that aims to register people to vote in the Bexar county area.

Although St. Mary’s has a mix of people from different areas St Mary’s was able to register people from other places as well.

All participating organizations were scattered around campus to help meet this goal. The registering locations on campus included the quad, the university patio, at the

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Classes, directly or indirectly, inform students about issues, politics, government and candidates, giving them the advantage.”

- Daniel Reyes sophomore political science Rattler statue and at the common’s patio.

The upcoming U.S. presidential race makes it important to get students on the radar to vote. republican candidate Donald Trump and democratic candidate Hillary Clinton have made this year’s election one of the most important in history because they have the highest unfavorable ratings of any two presidential candidates.

Realizing the importance for everyone to vote, St. Mary’s made it a goal to have people

register. Although the event was open to the public, the event benefited the students the most.

In the 2014 election, as with most elections, there was a low student-voter turnout, which reflects a lack of civic participation by the Millennial demographic.

St. Mary’s teamed up with Move San Antonio to make a difference for this election.

As a non-partisan organization, Move San Antonio empowers the community by getting them involved in the democratic process.

They have also helped register people in other places around San Antonio such as other universities and museums.

The voter registration event was meant to push the St. Mary’s community to be ready to vote in upcoming elections, giving the opportunity to still register before the Oct. 11 state deadline. Daniel Reyes, sophomore political science major, believes students are the best kind of voters.

“Classes, directly or indirectly, inform students about issues, politics, government and candidates, giving them the advantage,” Reyes said.

Only registered voters are allowed to vote in the presidential election, as well as those in local and state offices.

Often, students are so wrapped up in class, homework or activities that the task of registering to vote can sometimes be overlooked. On-campus registration gave students the opportunity to do something they otherwise wouldn’t have time for. Student life is busy and fast-paced, so bringing the registration process to campus matches the current lifestyle.

Samire Adam, sophomore political science major, volunteered her time during the campus event.

“It’s amazing how many people get the opportunity to register on campus,” Adam said. “It became to the point where there were no more registration forms.”

Voting is an important part of democracy, but registering to vote is the big step that often gets forgotten — every voice counts.

Antonio Gonzales, freshman biology

Anthony Robledo, freshman political science

Lucas-Keian Butler, sophomore biology

Genesis Rivas, freshman forensic science

Alejandro Carrillo, sophomore criminology

Abril Davis, junior computer science Photos by Natalia Zuniga

EVER CONSIDER BECOMING A MARIANIST BROTHER, PRIEST OR SISTER? Brother Dennis Bautista, SM, says he “felt called to be a brother — someone who shows Christ to others.”

Learn more: Brother Tom Wendorf, SM, twendorf@sm-usa.org Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, ntrahan@gmail.com

BROTHERS – PRIESTS – SISTERS

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6 COMMENTARY

EDITOR: SOFIA ZANETTA | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Youthful couples commit to marriage, lose their autonomy Jasmin

Rivera SENIOR, HISTORY

Marriage rates are decreasing and those being blamed are women. The average age for a woman to marry has increased to 28. Society still pressures women needing to marry.

Essentially, one of their life goals should include a ring on a left hand, something that symbolizes and defines the success as a woman.

Shows such as The Bachelor make it seem that woman only aspire to marry and that a man is worth competing for. Not all women want to marry, and marriage does not guarantee a happy ever after.

In a divorce study, it was concluded that women are actually the ones that file for divorce 66 percent of the time.

It is assumed by tradition that a woman aspires to marriage, have a family and build a home, but now women have shifted their focus. The question is, why are woman deciding to get married at a later age?

There are many reasons as to why a woman does not marry at a young age, and each reasoning varies depending on the woman. Women are working on careers, becoming educated and self- sufficient.

Often, this new mentality is frowned upon. It is frowned upon because a woman is trying to succeed in a world where everything that she does is questioned. Even women who marry and become stay at home moms are criticized for

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EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Paige Gandara-Valderas Managing Editor Jasmin Rivera Copy Editor Dean Detten Advertising Manager Michelle Michimani-Leyva Layout and Design Editor Christopher Repka Web Editor Samantha Ramos Photo Editor Julia Ewalefo Assistant Photo Editor Natalia Zuniga News Editor Ricardo E. Reyes Features Editor Megann Vera Commentary Editor Sofia Zanetta Entertainment Editor Miriam Robles Sports Editor Demarius Holmes 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.

learn and grow before getting married.

Marriage culture is changing. People do not think the same and that is okay. There is nothing wrong with waiting to marry. There is nothing that deems someone a bad person for having decided to live and grow as a person before joining someone and making a life together.

Marriage does not mean that life is over, but it also does not mean that life has only begun because of marriage. Life for a woman is not only about wearing a veil and walking down an aisle. It is about finding what makes a person happy and building the persons’ being.

Women have a right to wait on marriage without being criticized by those whose traditions fall on the spectrum of what constitutes a successful life for a woman.

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Recycling on campus helps global problem Samantha

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not having chosen a different route in life.

There will never be an approval of what is right and wrong for a woman to do. By woman accepting and acknowledging, this allows them to justify their reasoning of why marriage at a young age is not right for them.

Women, just like men, should not be criticized for waiting to be married; marriage is not for everyone.

Women should not feel pressured to marry or to mold into the expectations of society. Marriage is not the only way for a woman to demonstrate her success.

Society needs to understand that ideas are changing and each person is different.

What is right for one person does not mean that it is right for another. Marrying later on in life allows women and men to

JUNIOR, MARKETING

The growing epidemic of plastic pollution is finally being realized and accepted by the world. Students on campus are beginning to make a difference in the world by practicing sustainability, but there is still room for improvement.

Plastic is a material that is not biodegradable; it only breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time, causing harm to the earth’s ecosystems and the organisms that live in them. The durable nature of plastic means they can be used repeatedly, especially plastic containers such as small boxes and bottles.

Instead, many see plastic containers as an object for a one-time use and they will discard it after they are done.

Discarded plastic materials and containers that find their way into the ocean frequently cause the death of marine animals as they can ingest the plastic or become entangled in them. In addition, plastics left in landfills can leach toxic chemicals that can find their way into water sources, causing harm to wildlife and humans alike.

The health hazard caused by discarded plastic does not have an immediate effect.

Often, animals that become entangled in or consume plastic can live for months or years in a debilitating situation before they pass away from starvation or disease.

Similarly, in humans, the chemicals that leach from plastics can lead to cancer, birth defects, hormone disruption and other health concerns.

St. Mary’s has been showing an interest in sustainability on campus, with one such area it endorses being recycling of plastics, along with paper and glass, in blue bins

scattered across campus. In 2012 students lobbied to gain more recycling bins within resident halls, and the university granted the request.

In 2013 the university purchased a larger trash compacter, allowing them to fit more recyclables into a dumpster. Annually, the university takes students to clean up pollution left behind or washed up on south Texas beaches in the Adopt-A-Beach event.

The university also recycles more than plastic, glass and paper. They also have procedures set up for recycling batteries, scrap metal, kitchen grease and ink cartridges, among other materials.

Also, at the end of every year, the university partners with goodwill and the food bank to make sure that bins are put in the residence halls to make sure that the

non perishable foods and materials do not go to waste, but instead are donated for a good purpose.

Though St. Mary’s does an excellent job of recycling plastic waste, there is always room for improvement. One area that is due for an update is the inclusion of styrofoam recycling to be included in the blue trash bins. In addition, of the five trash bins the university has, only one is dedicated to collecting and storing recyclables.

Still, St. Mary’s ultimately wants to create a more environmentally sustainable campus. The Environmental Sustainability Committee meets monthly to generate new ways to promote sustainable practices on campus and spread awareness of the positive impact recycling has for the world.

It is important for students do their part.

Recycling bins are accessible to all students on campus, ready to be used. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

COMMENTARY 7

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

STAFF EDITORIAL On Sept. 26, St. Mary’s students gathered at the pub and the flex lounge to watch one of the most historical events in their lifetimes, the 2016 presidential debates.

Students could not peel their eyes from Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

The candidates discussed the economic stagnation that has overpowered the U.S. since the 2008 recession, taxes, businesses, police brutality, as well as low-income communities. However, the debate mostly focused around their qualifications. Trump interrupted Clinton multiple times, but according to Fortune, “Hillary Clinton won the first debate.” Fortune also added, “Trump once again painted a dystopic vision of American inner cities as war zones, noting he’s seen them in person on recent visits while Clinton “decided to stay home.”

Clinton interjected, “I think Donald just criticized me for preparing for this debate.

And, yes, I did. And you know what else I prepared for? I prepared to be president.

And I think that’s a good thing,” applause penetrated the okay of the debate, as well as, in the Pub. According to an editor at The New York Times, who was assigned to silently watch and analyze the body language of the candidates during the debate, “Actions speak louder than words … Mr. Trump couldn’t stand still. He fidgeted. He smirked.

He grimaced. He squinted. He adjusted his microphone.” The second debate will take place Sunday, Oct. 9.

WHAT DID YOU THINK ABOUT THIS YEAR’S PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE? WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR! RATTLERNEWS@ GMAIL.COM

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Rap music, disregards crucial social issues or solely artists’ self expression?

Miriam

Robles

JUNIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Musical audiences often misconstrue rap music as sexist, but really it is a medium to express the social and economical disparity suffered by the African-American community. While the truth of the matter is that some rap songs are sexist, this reflects a much bigger problem within the music industry. Rap music was not founded on a basis of sexism, but instead as a form of expression. When looking at sexism in rap, one should consider that there is sexism in most, if not all, music genres and only blaming rap music is a form of prejudice.

Robin Thicke’s song “Blurred Lines” topped the Billboard charts in 2013 and was nominated for two Grammy’s. When talking about the music video Thicke said, “We tried to do everything that was taboo.

Bestiality, drug injections, and everything that is completely derogatory toward women.” With lyrics such as “Good girl! I know you want it” and “you’re an animal ... just let me liberate you,” Thicke definitely embodies his goal of encompassing “everything that is completely derogatory toward women.”

Luke Bryan has come under similar fire for his continuous infantilizing and sexualizing of women in his particular brand of “bro-country.” Amy McCarthy, a correspondent for The Observer, calls out his continuous use of the words “little girl,” saying that for Bryant “women are described exclusively as nameless conquests.”

Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5 and Jason Derulo have also been criticized in the past for sexist lyrics or themes in their music.

None of these examples are particularly excusing of the sexism found in rap songs.

Recent rappers that have been called out for having sexist lyrics include Tyga, Drake and Kanye West. When one looks at the entire landscape of music, sexism is found in almost all genres, not exclusively rap. Therefore, it is unjustified that so much criticism falls solely on the rap industry.

When looking at rap music as a movement, it is notable that it consistently has been used as a medium for marginalized people to express frustration with their situations. This continues in modern rap through artists like Kendrick Lamar, a rapper who touches on subjects like racism, police brutality and poverty.

It would only make sense that another marginalized group, women, also take solace in rap music.

In recent years women have used rap to make a name for themselves.

Artists like Nicki Minaj, Missy Elliot, M.I.A. and Lauryn Hill are all prominent rappers who rap about a broad range of subjects, from topics like prejudice and sexism to femininity and sex. In a lot of ways, rap and hip-hop are some of the only musical genres by which women can express themselves .

It is misinformed to say that rap alone is causing more sexism in the music industry or in culture. In fact, it’s more likely that it is the other way around and that sexism in rap—and all the other music genres— is a result of a misogynistic culture. Rap is one of the few genres where women can speak as candidly as can men.

JONAH KAVANAUGH / SOFIA ZANETTA SENIOR, PHILOSOPHY / SENIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

In an Internet-fueled era where pretty much anyone can learn to make beats and make music, rap has suffered the most.

The concept has become disingenuous to the character of rap due to its popularity in clubs and house parties; causing much of rap music to lose connection to lyrics and instead concentrate on heavy bass, synth and trap.

This recent phenomena does not necessarily make the rap or song negative, but it tends to favor more vulgar lyrics with little meaning beyond connotations of sexual pleasure.

Rap was founded on the poetic capabilities of the first MCs, like Kurtis Blow, Run DMC and LL Cool J. In the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s an MC, or Master of Ceremonies, was considered skilled by the eloquence and grandeur in his word play.

Rap that glorifies sexual appeal, disrespect of women, money and drugs is prevalent in the environment in which rappers find themselves today. Rappers such as Drake, The Weeknd, A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Jay Z have all made contributions to this new phenomena in rap culture.

It is important for people to understand their lifestyle, but this new generation of rappers rarely focuses on lyrics on deeper themes than drug abuse, sex addiction and materiality. The songs lyrics become

redundant, objectifying women, degrading them and glorifying the act of sex.

Any rap enthusiast should become aware of the formerly mentioned themes in the music they listen to. Deeper, more complex topics need to be written and discussed.

The goal is to find lyrics that open a deeper discussion rather than only share an experience.

For instance, the lyrics, “What’s popping its Lil Yachty, I’m in the party. I need three thotties (those h*es over there) to come suck on my posse,” appear in the rap artist, Lil Yachty’s song, “Just Keep Swimming.”

However, the lyrics are extremely different from the lyrics heard in Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools:” “I’m a drown in some poison abusing’ my limit, I think that I’m feelin’ the vibe, I see the love in her eyes, I see the feelin’ The freedom is granted as soon as the damage of vodka arrive.”

Both deal with parties and both have a rhyme scheme that works; however, Lil Yachty’s lyrics do not go far beyond the rhyme scheme. There is neither depth nor a meaningful message behind this sample of Lil Yachty’s lyrics. Kendrick Lamar on the other hand acknowledges that there can be a problem with drinking heavily, as well as its capability to cause a negative impact on sexual action toward women.

Personal bias toward using poetic lyrics as well as an affinity for discourse may affect the type of music that the writer prefers.

Therefore, the reason for listening to rap is different for certain people than it is for others who listen to rap just for its beat production.

Rap is extremely popular in youthful communities. Music is a powerful tool and motivator. Women are not second class citizens and the music people listen to should reflect that idea.

WHO: Eugen alumnus an WHAT: the Le WH

Hispanic Heritage Month Events in San Antonio

It is about halfway through Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrations are happening throughout San Antonio, most of them free to the public. The observation of Hispanic Heritage Month originated in the White House in 1968 with Texan politician and U.S. President, Lyndon Baines Johnson.

Originally, Hispanic Heritage Month was a weeklong observation held during mid-September. National Hispanic Heritage Week was signed into public law by Congress and authorized by Johnson to proclaim the week as a national observation on Sept. 17, 1968. On Aug. 17, 1988 Congress changed the celebration so that it starts on Sept. 15 and continues for 31 days until Oct. 15.

Contrastingly, Presidents Ronald Raegan and Johnson are often remembered for especially intrusive foreign policies in Latin America. For example, Johnson was connected with the militarization of the Dominican Republic in 1962 by U.S. marines, who forcibly prevented the insurrection of an unsavory right-wing politician, Reid Cabral.

Raegan is also sometimes remembered for “The Reagan Doctrine,” an anti-Marxist policy designed to fight Soviet-era communism. The Raegan Doctrine was often far-reaching in Latin America, where it supported regimes for their support of capitalism as opposed to communism.

Looking back, American humorist, Will Rogers, spoke with comedic grace on his visit to Havana for the sixth Pan-American conference in 1928.

“It takes quite a sense of humor for these people to understand us shaking hands with one hand and shooting with the other,” Rogers said.

Johnson and Reagan were in office through times steeped with fearful suspicion of Soviet expansionism and nuclear warfare. Nonetheless, they often sought to bring about policy that celebrated the lives of Hispanic-Americans on the domestic front. Even in their foreign relations, they typically acted in what they thought was the best interest of the nation’s neighbors to the south.

Sept. 15 through Oct. 1 also see several days of independence throughout Latin America, including those for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Chile and Nicaragua. Today, Americans celebrate this month-long observation in many different ways and fashions, here is what San Antonio has to offer.

ne Rodriquez, a St. Mary’s nd staffer for Henry B. Gonzalez “Latinos in Public Service and egacy of Henry B. Gonzalez” HEN: Oct. 8 from 2 to 4 p.m.

WHO: Photographer Chris Castillo WHAT: An exhibit on male figure and lanscape WHEN: Oct. 15 during library hours WHO: Rick Sperling, St. Mary’s professor of psychology WHAT: “Integration or Stratification Hispanic-serving Institutions and the Researchers who Love Them” WHEN: Oct. 8 from 2 to 2:45 p.m.

WHO: Author Meg Medina and illustrator Angela Domingues, recipients of Pura Belpré Honor Citations WHAT: A celebration of the award-winning book “Mango Abuela and Me” WHEN: Oct. 10 from 11 to 12 p.m.

WHO: Artist Gloria Bueno WHAT: “Curses,” the memoirs feature poetry, prose, illustrations and prayers in both Spanish and English WHEN: Oct. 12 during library hours

WHAT: “Dìa De Los Muertos Ofrenda Workshop,” where participants can make sugar skulls and decorate ofrendas WHEN: Oct. 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

10 FEATURES

EDITOR: MEGANN VERA | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Campus retreat supports spiritual development on campus MEGANN VERA FEATURES EDITOR

Nearly 60 St. Mary’s students left campus for the Tecaboca Retreat Center in Mountain Home, Texas for the 21st Rattler Awakening retreat held Sept. 23–25. Rattler Awakening is a three-day retreat hosted by University Ministry and run by students. The retreat used to be held once a year, but in fall 2013 they decided to start having the event twice a year, once each semester.

Awakening retreats are held all over the country and are mostly led by college ministries, although, some retreats are put on by the religious dioceses. The first retreat was held over 40 years ago but St. Mary’s started about 17 years ago. The aim of Awakening retreats is to bring out the faith of the students, strengthen their relationship with God and help build fellowship on campus.

While the Rattler Awakening retreat is overseen by staff members from University Ministry, the retreat is completely run by the students Over 70 students volunteer as staff for the weekend, which includes positions like cooking staff, media staff, gopher staff and many others.

These staffers plan accordingly and start early in the spring 2016 semester. They meet every week after coming back to school in the fall. Staff is made up of students who went on previous Rattler Awakenings trips.

“Rattler Awakening feels like home. It’s

a chance for me to relieve my stress and gain new friendships,” Sydney Villa, senior English major, said.

Villa was a gopher on Rattler Awakening 21. Gophers are one of the six main staffs on the retreat who help facilitate the Awakening experience. The staffs each have specific responsibilities.

The gophers lead icebreaker activities and keep the energy up; the cook staff prepares all of the meals and serves everyone on retreat; the media is in charge of all things technical; and music staff leads praise and worship.

Another one of the staffs called “Core,” which is made up of members from the other six staffs. Core members lead their staffs and make decisions about the retreat. Brother Jose Matos, who is in charge of spiritual development for University Ministry, works with core to make sure the retreat is as great as it can possibly be.

Core members look at what worked and what didn’t work on past retreats to ensure that those on retreat have the best experience possible.

“Just because something worked in past retreats, doesn’t mean it works now,” Matos said.

Since the first Rattler Awakening, the retreat has only evolved and grown.

Rattler Awakening gives students an opportunity to grow in their faith and spirituality. The retreat is open to students of all faiths and religious backgrounds.

Table staff’s Dominique Del Real (left), junior theology major; and Nahim Rancharan (right), junior international relations major, participate in a gopher-led icebreaker. | Courtesy of Awakening staff

Rattler Awakening participants complete retreat on Sunday, Sept. 25 | Courtesy of Awakening staff

FROM “COVER”

said.

He keeps everyone smiling and creates a fun and inviting atmosphere, helping students who want to learn in his math courses. Lecocke also tries to be as approachable as possible when it comes to students visiting him during office hours; he encourages students to ask for help on the homework or to just come in and have a casual conversation.

Part of his teaching method is to always include a break to talk about non-math topics, whenever he believes the students have “done too much math.”

“I think if you hit them too hard with math too consistently it just goes in one ear and out the other,” Lecocke said.

Lecocke is not only liked by just his students, but also by his colleagues in the department of mathematics and the School of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Paul Uhlig, professor of mathematics, describes him as someone who is well liked professionally and on the court. “[He is] well known and liked amongst

Graphic by Megann Vera

the coaches and athletes, and he has a long record of service to the athletics department,” Uhlig said. “Not to mention, he can also run circles around most of his colleagues on the basketball court.”

Bahman Rezaie, professor of electrical engineering, also describes how well Lecocke is liked by describing his goodnatured character. “[He] is a gentle soul in a true sense of the word,” Rezaie said. “He is a caring, polite and respectful colleague who never misses the opportunity to help others. Mike epitomizes sense of helpfulness and service.

It is a rare seen to see him sitting in his office alone. There are always students in his office who seek his advice and help.”

Lecoke’s character and teaching is a reflection of those who inspired him, taught him effectively and advised him such as Rezaie and Uhlig.

His teaching style derives a bit from both of these professors, but ultimately he teaches the way he feels is the best way for his students.

“I teach the way I thought was affective for me,” Lecocke said.

Michaels Lecocke teaches students even in an early morning 8:20 a.m. class.| Photo by Megann Vera

FEATURES 11

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Professor challenges campus community to learn from more than just class MARISSA HOLGUIN STAFF WRITER

Mary Lynne Hill of the English department recently posted a list that guides students toward embracing the opportunities that St. Mary’s has to offer. She hopes that her advisees take these opportunities to become “artisans of the world,” an allusion to Father Chaminade who is remembered to have called his students the same thing.

The list’s practicality can be applied to the whole St. Mary’s community. After observing and working with students through her years as an educator, Hill drafted this piece in hopes of inspiring students to make a difference for themselves and the surrounding community. The list’s goal is to develop the emotional, academic and spiritual aspects of anybody who follows the advice given.

“Don’t sell yourself short by graduating from St. Mary’s without developing as an artisan of the new world,” Hill said.

Not exclusive to English and communication majors, advice found on the list pertains to writing works for both undergraduate and post-graduate students.

Hill suggests writing for The Pecan Grove Review or other local publications. Writing at high-levels is a skill that employers seek when hiring employees according to Hill.

She believes that writing as an investigative

reporter gives students opportunities to engage with the community.

“Young graduates need to be as tech-savvy as possible regardless of major,” Hill said.

“Attend one of the Academic workshops on e-portfolios.”

Most students go through their years at St. Mary’s without creating an e-portfolio or earning their Academic Media Center certifications; however, being certified to use advanced technologically helps students look hirable and approachable. The benefits of learning how to use technology reflect on students’ grades, portfolios and networks.

Ultimately, the list suggests a lifestyle at St. Mary’s that most students miss out on, because they would rather shy away than speak up. Taking a moment to offer an ear and listen to what the community is offering can put a student at an advantage. Students who adapt the list for other universities can find themselves in a bind as they search for equal counterparts to the uniqueness St. Mary’s has to offer.

The St. Mary’s community has a unique and colorful background here on campus.

What separates the university are the connections, people and spirituality that it possesses.

Regardless of any student’s major, this list animates the life St. Mary’s students should aim to achieve.

The image of a bonded community

at St. Mary’s is with self-trusting and open individuals that learn from every prospect.

“You cheat yourself and all of those who

are supporting your education if you only go to class, stare at your phone and don’t engage with the amazing individuals that also call this place home,” Hill said.

Graphic by Megann Vera

Fair Trade Coffee House serves Italian roast that ignites meaningful conversation PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Office of Faith and Justice hosted their first Fair Trade event of the semester on Tuesday, Sept. 20 where the community was offered free Italian roast brew from Starbucks Coffee. The event was hosted at the Pub and nearly 30 people came together for coffee and to learn about Fair Trade.

In spring 2015 St. Mary’s became the first Fair Trade certified university in Texas after a student-led committee worked to make Fair Trade products available on campus.

“I think we need to be more proud of that and we should promote that as well because we are the first [in Texas],” Jennifer Hernandez, senior sociology major, said.

Hernandez has worked closely with University Ministry for the past four years, but now works under the newly established Office of Faith and Justice.

The Office for Faith Formation and Enrichment and the Office of Social Justice have combined into one, which is now called the Office of Faith and Justice. They are in charge of putting on events like the Fair Trade Coffee House. Their goal

is to have at least one Fair Trade event a month.

“We are learning more about what it means to be Fair Trade [through these programs] not only for our school, but also how we can promote that to other schools and to other people,” Hernandez said. “I don’t think many people know what Fair Trade is or what that means.”

Fair Trade ultimately makes sure that farmers and producers of products are paid fair wages for the items that they grow.

Coffee was the first product to be named as Fair Trade back in 1988.

Students stop by the Pub to grab a cup of Starbuck’s Italian roast, their Fair Trend blend. From left to right: Jennifer Hernandez, senior sociology major; Nataly Chavez, freshman international and global studies major; and Kiara Etheridge, senior accounting major. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

Of the 1.6 million workers and farmers that are involved with Fair Trade products, about half of them are coffee farmers.

Fair Trade coffee farmers can be found in over 30 countries. About 25 million small-scale farmers produce roughly 70–80 percent of the world’s coffee, which is one of the many reasons why Fair Trade focuses more on the smallholder farmers.

Fair Trade coffee can be found on campus in the POD, the bookstore, the cafe and Starbucks. Though many people are unaware on what Fair Trade means, they can make a difference with the coffee that they order.

“Some companies do not pay their harvesters a fair wage, whereas Fair Trade does,” Irene Quesnot, adjunct professor of theology, said. “Students have to ask for the Italian roast [at Starbucks], because that’s the Fair Trade coffee.”

Unless students at Starbucks ask for the Italian roast, they are not going to get Fair Trade coffee. Simply saying “Italian roast” during a coffee purchase at Starbucks can make all the difference.

“Really, it’s interesting because the difference between being an ethical consumer and being mindful can be as simple as saying, ‘oh, can you make it Italian,’” Gisela Reyes, sophomore philosophy major, said. “It’s just a simple little thing, but if you’re not educated about it, then you cannot make that distinction.”

Overall, the Fair Trade Coffee House event gave the students who attended a relaxing atmosphere to take a break from busy schedules. The students got a free cup of coffee and were educated about what it means to be a Fair Trade certified school.

“While it is just one coffee house and while it is just one community, it really has a big effect on a global scale,” Reyes said. “This little gathering is going to create an ability for other students to be educated, that will educate other students.”

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: MIRIAM ROBLES| @STMURATTLERNEWS

Movie Review

Source from TheHollywoodReporter.com

The Emmys win big with diverse shows JASMIN RIVERA MANAGING EDITOR

This year kicked off the 68th Emmy Awards on Saturday, Sept. 18 on ABC. What made this year unique was that there were more winners of color who took home awards in several categories and not just for leading and supporting roles.

To be nominated for an Emmy award is an honor given to the people who perform in, write or produce primetime, daytime, sports or news television.

There have been an increasing number of diverse winners. This year had a well diverse representation for people of color.

The winners for the primetime section were diverse and showed the inclusivity of cast members from various racial backgrounds.

Rami Malek, an Egyptian-American, won the award for outstanding lead actor in

a drama series. Another person of color who won outstanding leading actor was Courtney B. Vance, who won the award for his work in series The People v. O. J. Simpson. Regina King was one of the winners for outstanding supporting actress in a limited series.

There was diversity in all of the categories, not just for acting. Aziz Ansari, an Indian American actor and comedian, won an award for outstanding writing for a comedy series. Another winner was Alan Yang, who also won the award for outstanding writing for a comedy series. Yang is a Taiwanese-American screenwriter, director and producer.

RuPaul, an African-American reality performer, won the award for outstanding host. RuPaul is not only known for his television personality, but also as a drag queen. Having him win an award did not just show the diversity of the winners racially, but also the inclusivity

of changing ideas of femininity and masculinity.

The 68th Emmy award show showed the inclusion of major issues that have been circulating this year. This showcase was important not only for the recognition of people of color as actors and actresses, but as writers and television personalities.

The awards also included the presence of someone who won an award [RuPaul], who is also very well known for his role in the drag and LGBTQ community. This is not to say that he won simply because he is a drag queen, but rather for the personality that was created and brought to life.

This inclusion of diverse people is important because the Emmys showcased the talent of the oft-forgotten work done by people of color on television. This is a positive sign, one that highlights a change

Hollywood leaves behind transgender actors MIRIAM ROBLES ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

At this year’s Emmy awards, Jeffery Tambour accepted his second consecutive Emmy for lead-actor in a comedy for his role in the Amazon-produced, “Transparent” as Maura Pfeifferman. Tambour is the first actor to win an Emmy for playing a transgender character on television; however, Tambour, himself, is not a transgender woman but a cisgender man, someone who whose selfidentitiy conforms to their gender.

While accepting his award, Tambour went on to say, “I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a female transgender on television.”

The reality is that Tambour is not even the last cisgender person to play a transgender person this year. Storylines featuring transgender characters are more popular now in the media than ever before,

Source from TheWrap.com

but casting transgender actors to portray them is not.

Earlier this year, Matt Bomer came under fire for accepting a role playing a transgender female sex worker in an upcoming film titled “Anything.” The backlash on social media was swift against Bomer and Mark Ruffalo, who is one of the executive producers.

The response came in a series of tweets saying, “To the trans community, I hear you. It is wrenching to see you this in pain.

I am glad we’re having this conversation.

It is time.” When asked if whether or not Bomer would continue in the role. Ruffalo responded with, “The movie is already shot and Matt poured his heart soul in this part.” Overall, Bomer and Ruffalo’s responses are truly indicative of Hollywood’s relationship with the underrepresentation of transgender actors.

Other actors such as Eddie Redmayne and Jared Leto gained praise and fame through the portrayals of transgender females in “The Danish Girl” and “Dallas Buyers Club” respectively. Both actors went on to get nominated in the “best actor” category of the Academy Awards, joining Tambour on the list of cisgender actors recognized for portraying transgender characters, a list that is only growing.

In fact, a survey conducted by AutoStraddle stated that in the last 50 years only 20 percent of roles written to portray transgender characters were actually played by transgender actors.

The ultimate problem with casting cisgender actors in lead roles of transgender

Source from TheWrap.com

characters is that, not only how it takes roles away from hardworking transgender actors, but also leads to warped perceptions about what being transgender really means.

Jen Richards, a transgender actor and activist, broke it down when she said, “When Matt Bomer plays a trans sex worker, he is telling the world that underneath it all, trans women … are still really just men.”

While transgender artists, like Jen Richards and Laverne Cox, for example, are trailblazing and creating their own roles in shows like “Orange is the New Black,” “Tangerine” and “Her Story,” the fact of the matter is that there is still so much more to do.

So the question begs, why is it so difficult to cast transgender actors in transgender roles? Regardless of what the answer is, Tambour had words regarding this as well, “To you people out there, you producers and you network owners and you agents and you creative sparks, please give transgender talent a chance .”

“Sully” TAWNY DAVIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The latest film directed by Clint Eastwood, “Sully,” is about a pilot who landed a plane on the Hudson River. Capt.

Chelsey “Sully” Sullenberger, played by Tom Hanks, landed the U.S. Airways Flight 1549 and saved all 155 people on board.

The film tells the story from the moment the plane takes off. The reason the plane loses thrust is because of a flock of geese that crashed into both engines. The director uses an alternate timeline from the past to the present, which highlights the pilot and the overall focus of the story.

The story revolves around the events after that landing, which includes the investigation of the National Transportation Safety Board. Both Sully and co-pilot Jeff Skiles, played by Aaron Eckhart, are forced to defend their actions since the board found that they could have landed safely at the airport instead of landing on the river.

While there is evidence that they could have made it back to the airport safely, Sully had to prove that he did the right thing. The film also showcases Sully’s flashbacks to plane crashing that only the audience get to see, which makes them more connected to the movie because they get to go through his personal thoughts.

While he thinks he doesn’t deserve to be recognized as a hero, everyone around him believes he is one. This includes the surviving passengers, the media and the population at large. He believes everyone who helped the passengers out of the river should be recognized, which include the Coast Guard, NYPD, the fire department and the EMTs. There are also scenes with Sully’s wife, played by Laura Linney, and glimpses of his past as he learned to fly a plane as a teenager.

It brings the audience closer to the character because it engages with him as a person rather than the hero everyone proclaims he is.

Overall, it is a moving film. It showcases the personal struggles of a man who is said to be a hero while he feels he just did the right thing at the right time. There have already been talks of an Oscar nomination according to various online forums including The Hollywood Reporter.

If someone goes and watches the movie, it will leave the audience with a surprise.

Not because of the outcome, but because it’s not just about that flight on January 15, 2009 that landed on the Hudson river; it’s about who saved them from the river and all the events and attention that occurred afterward.

ENTERTAINMENT 13

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Free Events In San Antonio this Month Graphic by Samantha Ramos

Alamo City Comic Con to bring stars to San Antonio JOSHUA MADRID STAFF WRITER

Some big names in entertainment are coming to San Antonio this fall. San Antonio will host the annual Alamo City Comic Con event at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center from Oct. 28-30.

The annual event started in October 2013, with an estimated 34,000 guests. Last year, over 78,000 people were in attendance.

The idea for the Alamo City Comic Con came from a team of passionate fans of various pop culture icons. The leader of the team was Alfredo “Apple” De La Fuente.

De La Fuente and his team have set out to celebrate the artists who provide entertainment through comics, movies, TV, gaming and cosplay. Another goal for the team is to bring in celebrities to the convention to interact with their fans. The organization also serves the city of San Antonio by helping with many fundraising events throughout the year.

Over the years, the guest list will include: Adam West, Steven Yeun, Kevin Nash, Stan Lee, Danny Trejo, George Takei, Nichelle Nichols, Lori Petty, Danny Glover, Ron Pearlman, Naomi Grossman and more.

This year’s lineup will be the biggest one yet.

Including SpongeBob SquarePants actor, Tom Kenny; Star Wars legends, Billy Dee Williams and Jeremy Bulloch; professional wrestler Sting; Power Rangers’ stars, Amy Jo Johnson and Jason David Frank; Dragon Ball Z actors, Chris Sabat and Sean Schemmel; Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown; Daredevil actor, Charlie Cox; legendary Doctor Who actor, David Tennant and

many more.

Among the activities at the convention there is the World Beyond Gallery. The theme of the gallery is for attendees to meet six of the leading illustrators in science fiction and fantasy in an intimate gallery setting. Artists showcased in the gallery are Brom, Ruth Sanderson, John Picacio, Todd Lockwood, Jeffrey Alan Love and Peter Mohrbacher.

Another popular activity at the convention is the costume contest. Any type of comic con is the perfect time to create and showcase a costume inspired by a fictional character, which is also known as cosplay. The winners of cosplay are able to win all kinds of prizes.

Various merchandise vendors and artists from DC comics, Marvel, Dark Horse and other comic companies will be in attendance showing off their work.

Prices for the event vary depending on the day: Friday is 35 dollars, Saturday is 40 dollars and Sunday is 30 dollars.

Alternatively, a patron can get a pass valid for all three days for the discounted price of 80 dollars.

Source from Alamocitycomiccon.com

rom left to right Leslie rtiz, sophomore marketing major; Delfino Tello, freshmen electrical engeneering;and Robert Tijerina, freshmen history major at the Silent Disco | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

Students enjoy a night at silent disco ZARALY FRASQUILLO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

St. Mary’s hosted their second silent disco event at the Pub on Thursday, Sept.

22. About 30 people attended the event, put headphones on and danced. The first silent disco on campus was held last semester in the Chik-fil-A lobby area.

Leslie Ortiz, sophomore marketing major, is an intern for the Pub and helped plan the event that took place.

“Silent disco is an event where you are able to check out wireless headphones with your St Mary’s ID and you put them on and you are able to choose from three different stations,” Ortiz said.

The three different stations are controlled by three different DJs. The event also gave away free snacks and mocktails for those who are not of age.

For the people who didn’t want to dance, the Pub also had board games outside for students to play.

Watching from the outside, it may appear that people are just dancing to no music, but with the headphones, students are actually dancing to music on the same

stream of music.

“Once you put on those headphones it is a total different experience,” Ortiz said.

Sergio Castillo, freshman engineering major, said that the experience took time to not feel strange.

“At first It is kind of awkward,” Castillo said. “Dancing to something when someone else is dancing to something else, but then you slowly start to not care about what others think and you start to do you. At first I did not want to come, but my friend convinced me to join her and I think it was a pretty great idea.”

According to Jennifer Kraft-Batchelder, assistant director for Student Activities and Transition Programs, silent disco was an event that was done last year and was successful, so they decided to bring it back this year.

“It is always fun setting up events like this at the Pub, all we really want is for the students and sometimes faculty to have a little fun and enjoy a nice Thursday evening,” Kraft-Batchelder said.

Forstudentswhowerenotabletogotosilent disco, there will be more opportunities for the experience in the future.

14 HEALTH & FITNESS

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Graphic by Demarius Holmes

Gluten lifestyle helps people with certain dietary needs For many college students, pizza, pasta, bread and cereal are items that are commonly incorporated into one’s daily diet, but to those suffering from Celiac disease or a gluten intolerance, a daily consumption of these items could be detrimental to one’s health. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that results in the damage of the lining of the intestines when gluten is consumed.

Gluten is a protein substance that is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye that allows it to hold its shape and stay stuck together.

Gluten is also found in several food products that are consumed on a daily basis.

Some other products include baked goods, salad dressing, processed meats and cheese, ice cream, beer and frozen foods. In

addition, some cosmetic brands also hide gluten in products such as lotion, lipstick, soap and shampoo.

Over the past couple of years, the glutenfree diet has become increasingly popular among two groups of people: those wanting to lose weight, and those who have a gluten sensitivity, intolerance, allergy or Celiac disease and cannot consume gluten without experiencing gastrointestinal discomfort.

According to CBS News’ chief medical correspondent, John Lapook, M.D., “approximately 1 in 5 Americans maintain a gluten-free diet, as it has increasingly become the most popular dietary trend surpassing the Paleo and Atkins diet.”

That being said, over the past hundred years, gluten sensitivities and allergies as a whole are among the rise due to an increased consumption in processed foods, fruits and vegetables that come in contact with pesticides, leaving at least 3 million people

with an undiagnosed gluten intolerance to some degree. In addition, outside of allergies and sensitivities, approximately 1 percent of the world’s population suffers from Celiac disease.

As far as the benefits of a gluten-free diet, the main benefit overall would be an improvement in digestion.

For those who do have a gluten allergy or sensitivity, the most distinct benefit of the removal of gluten from one’s diet would also be improved digestion, as many would have previously experienced stomach pain, inflammation, weight gain or loss, nausea and vomiting while eating gluten.

In addition, those who suffer from skin conditions such as eczema or Psoriasis may benefit from the gluten-free diet as they may see an improvement in their skin condition.

Among the many benefits, some drawbacks of eating gluten-free would be a decreased consumption in fiber and

vitamins and higher consumption of sodium, fat and sugar poses certain health risks. In this case, it is extremely common for those who eat gluten-free to make up for the loss of those nutrients by taking vitamin supplements and frequently consuming gluten-free grains such as rice, quinoa, vegetables, fruits and beans that are rich in fiber and vitamins. Lastly, the gluten-free diet might be rather unappealing to the ever-frugal college student as gluten-free groceries cost approximately twice as much as items that contain gluten.

Unless someone cannot consume gluten, there is not much evidence to prove that it is beneficial, despite the fact that the media portrays it to be worthy of trying for weight loss. Aside from that, while there is limited evidence to its benefits, there is no harm in avoiding gluten as long as a person remembers to consume a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables and gluten-free grains.

GLUTEN FREE CORN BREAD

GLUTEN FREE GRANOLA

GLUTEN FREE APPLE PIE

GLUTEN FREE PIZZA CRUST

Partial Ingredients: Buttermilk (cultured fat-free milk, salt, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D3), cornmeal, cage free eggs, canola oil, evaporated cane juice, potato starch, cornstarch, salt, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), xanthan gum, baking soda.

Partial Ingredients: Gluten-free oats, pecans, dried cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, honey, brown sugar, sesame seeds, canola oil, flax seeds, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice. This is also one of the favorites and can blend and fit in with just about any food item including shakes and salads.

Partial Ingredients: Apples, rBGH free butter (cream), evaporated cane juice, cornstarch, sweet rice flour, brown sugar, tapioca starch, potato starch, lemon juice, cage free eggs, rice flour, water, cinnamon, salt, xanthan gum, baking powder (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate, cornstarch, monocalcium phosphate), mace, cloves.

Partial Ingredients: Nonfat milk, tapioca starch, white bean flour, sorghum flour, yeast, xanthan gum, lemon juice , olive oil, salt, gelatin, evaporated cane juice. Not many people know that gluten free pizza exists. If a person is seeking out gluten free pizza crust, it is best to make sure that the restaurant carries the brand and ask for it.

DARIA FLOWERS STAFF WRITER

SPORTS | 15

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Student athletes benefit from early registration SYDNEY ALFARO STAFF WRITER

St. Mary’s has offered student athletes the opportunity of priority registration since the program first piloted in 2014, according to Nicholas Medina, assistant registrar for graduation services.

“The athletic department came to academics [sic] when it was discovered that students were having difficulty finding courses that would accommodate their practice schedules,” Medina said.

Though some may feel that student athletes receive special treatment with this policy, this accommodates them with their busy athletic schedule. In order to miss the least amount of classes, they are given the chance to build their course schedules before all other students.

Athletes have to follow certain protocols before the semester starts. They have to personally reach out to their professors and give them their athletic schedules so that the professor knows ahead of time when they will need to miss for games.

The athletics department brought up the priority registration proposal when it was discovered that students were running into schedule conflicts based on their practice times. Underclassmen especially had a difficult time because they were

the last ones register, leaving them little to no options when it came to picking out courses for the semester.

St. Mary’s conducted research and looked at other colleges as reference. It was found that it is a common practice for priority registration to be given to student athletes, especially at smaller institutions that do not offer many course options.

If athletes do not take advantage of the priority registration, they must wait until open registration weeks later.

Hannah Michel, junior criminology major and softball player, shared her thoughts on why she thinks it is a worthwhile policy.

“I do take advantage of priority registration, as does my entire team,” said Michel. “We have our practice time set aside during the day to get together and work on our team chemistry.”

The coaches work closely with the academic staff each year to establish a cooperative agreement. Athletes often run into the obstacle of a team practices or games while trying to balance academics.

The athletics department knows that the athletes are students first. According to John Drabier, visiting professor of finance, the ability to juggle the dual responsibilities of student and athletics can be very beneficial. “[Athletes] are typically very studious and

have acquired the discipline to manage their time to meet both athletic and academic requirements, skills difficult to teach in class,” Drabier said.

The athletics department ultimately wants to make the student athlete’s scheduling more manageable.

Though there are students all over campus who juggle responsibilities outside of their normal studies, at the end of the day, priority registration can only be given to so many students; otherwise it would negate the purpose.

Priority registration helps campus administration ensure that athletic events can occur without the athletes missing too much course work or class time.

Intramural sports hosted their annual INSTA world cup soccer event on Monday, Sept. 26 on the practice soccer field at 5 p.m.

Intramural sports act as an alternate sporting opportunity for students on campus. The world cup event allowed for students to create soccer teams named after the different countries mimick the professional league teams that play in the world cup every four years.

The world cup at St Mary’s gave students a chance to be competitive, but at the same time represent different countries around the world. Registration for the event started on Aug. 8 and closed on Sept. 16. Each player paid eight dollars to attend the event.

The event acted as a traditional soccer game with six players on each team, but provided a very relaxing environment.

Though it was traditional, the players got to wear whatever they wanted to. There were 12 people playing on the field, about 15 people in the crowd cheering them on and a total of

four teams.

“I participated in the world cup last year and it’s always really fun,” Monica Chavarria, sophomore accounting major, said. “It gets very intense. It’s fun and I definitely plan on playing again next year.”

The INSTA world cup soccer event is just one of many events that intramural sports offers throughout the year. Intramural sports normally have a variety of sporting events to choose from based on season and the demand. The students typically drive what kind of events they want to see brought to campus. From sports like flag football to sand volleyball, there are plenty of opportunities for the students to get involved and have fun in a relaxed environment.

“Intramurals offers people who aren’t able to compete at the sport they love at a collegiate level, a chance to still compete,” Soledad Reyes, sophomore English major, said.

Aside from the athletic nature of the world cup, the enlightenment that comes along with it can be immense. People at the event got excited about being a part of a team and representing a certain country,

St. Mary’s teams compete for the win during the Intramural world cup soccer event . I Photo by: Julia Ewalefo

WOMENS SOCCER Overall: 5-1-2 Home: 3-1-1 Away: 2-0-1 MENS’ SOCCER Overall: 2-4-2 Home: 1-4-1 Away: 1-0-1

VOLLEYBALL

Overall: 8-7 Home: 3-1 Away: 1-4 Source from www.knealemann.com

World cup soccer event builds community DEMARIUS HOLMES/ PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS SPORTS EDITOR/ EDITOR-IN- CHIEF

AT-A-GLANCETU SPORTS STANDINGS

especially if that individual is from that country.

With St. Mary’s having a diverse community, almost every team has someone that has either visited or lived in another country, that’s what makes this event so authentic for many students.

“The diversity on campus translates over into sports, bringing different types of playing styles and perspectives, and that’s something that intramurals capitalizes on” Reyes said. Most people don’t look at intramural sports as something that is really serious because they are not actual sports teams.

Though intramural sports mainly covers recreational purposes and events, It’s a way to get people involved and active on campus. Events like the world cup help the student body because it gives them an opportunity to remain involved in sports, without actually having to be on a team.

It also gives people the freedom to choose what events they want to go to and who they want to go with. They are able to have fun, play the sport they love and assist in building community on campus.

This year’s world cup was played on the practice field, but fluctuates from semester to semester. “The world cup is different than intramurals in the second semester,” Chavarria said. “Intramurals in the second semester is played on a full field. The world cup is a 5 vs. 5, therefore the pace is much faster.”

Being able to represent a country that is valued by a group of students or one that has a professional team that they follow is just another opportunity to gain a cultural appreciation and make social connections here at St. Mary’s. The next world cup event for next semester has not been announced, but will be advertised when the date is set.

MENS’ GOLF

NO NO AVG. VS. LOW IN PAR OR FIN. BEST NAME YR TOUR RDS. SCORE PAR RD. 60S BETTER PCT. WINS FIN. BENJAMIN ARNETT JR 2 6.0 71.33 -0.67 68 3 3 97.4% 0 3 EMILIO GONZALES FR 2 6.0 72.83 0.83 71 0 4 90.6% 0 T 7 JAKE STEVENSON FR 2 6.0 74.67 2.67 71 0 3 68.1% 0 T 15 JONO LEDGER SR 2 6.0 75.33 3.33 71 0 1 59.7% 0 T 39 ALEX BISSARO JR 2 6.0 76.33 4.33 69 1 1 45.5% 0 T 28

WOMENS GOLF

NO NO AVG. VS. LOW IN PAR OR FIN. BEST NAME YR TOUR RDS. SCORE PAR RD. 60S BETTER PCT. WINS FIN. KELLY CONTRERAS JR 2 4.0 74.00 2.00 72 0 1 89.8% 0 T 9 REGINA GONZALEZ SO 2 4.0 75.00 3.00 70 0 1 79.6% 0 T 3 ALLISON HOWARTH SR 2 4.0 76.50 4.50 71 0 1 70.9% 0 T 23 PAIGE WEISS SO 2 4.0 76.50 4.50 74 0 0 70.9% 0 T 23 MACKENZIE THAYER SR 1 2.0 81.50 9.50 81 0 0 31.9% 0 T 63 ANA BONILLA JR 1 2.0 82.00 10.00 82 0 0 25.7% 0 T 79

Photo courtesy of: stmarysuniversity.edu

16 SPORTS

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

OVERCOMING the limitations PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mackenzie Thayer, graduate student in the clinical mental health counseling program, does not let any limitations stop her from playing the sport that she loves.

Golf has always been a part of Thayer’s life, despite her rare medical condition.

Thayer is originally from Garden City, Kansas and graduated from the University of Kansas with a degree in accounting.

When she was in high school she won 22 tournaments over her four-year career, was named the State Champion her senior year and won the Most Valuable Player of Western Athletic Conference award each year of high school, to name a few of her many honors.

At the University of Kansas, she maintained an average stroke of 79.5 as a sophomore after shooting 82.5 in her freshman year.

She played golf for three years collegiately because she wanted to focus on her studies and save her last year of eligibility. She planned to continue her education with a master’s degree in accounting, but decided to go in a completely different direction after some thought.

“I couldn’t get excited about getting my master’s in accounting,” Thayer said. “I just didn’t feel like it was right for me—it wasn’t something that I was passionate about.”

According to Thayer, coming to St. Mary’s felt like it was destiny.

“I believe it all happened for a reason,” Thayer said. “I stepped on [the St. Mary’s] campus and I just felt it ... I felt like this is where God wanted me and it was kind of cool because I have never made a decision based on that.”

Thayer has been playing golf since she was old enough to play. Her father, Sean Thayer, is one of her biggest influences and taught her how to play.

Though golf has always been a part of Mackenzie Thayer’s life, she has also had to overcome her medical condition, KlippelTrenaunay syndrome.

“I like sharing my story because it’s something that has completely defined me,” Mackenzie Thayer said.

Mackenzie Thayer was born with a vascular malformation on her left leg, something caused by the syndrome. It causes pain in certain areas where there are more veins than there should be. It also causes swelling, which is why Mackenzie Thayer wears a support-compression hose to keep blood circulating through her leg.

“It hurts and where I face most issues are in my knee and my foot,” Mackenzie Thayer said. “It’s hard to explain because not all the pains are the same and a lot of it depends on if I am active. If I walk around a lot, I will pay for it later, definitely.”

Some limitations are not being able to run, bike or exercise. However, she overcomes the adversity she faces and still manages to play golf.

Another huge inspiration for Mackenzie Thayer is Casey Martin, a professional golfer

and current head coach at the University of Oregon. Martin has the same condition as Mackenzie Thayer, but on his right leg.

Back in 2001 Martin played on the PGA Tour, but took them to court because at the time it was not allowed for golfers to ride in carts in between shots. Since he suffers from Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, it was imperative for Martin to ride in a golf cart between holes. In the end, the Supreme Court ruled for Martin in a 7-2 decision.

“Whenever he won, I was six years old and up until that point my parents had no idea what was wrong with me because it is such a rare condition,” Mackenzie Thayer said.

When Martin’s story hit the press, Mackenzie Thayer’s parents thought it sounded a lot like what their daughter had.

Mackenzie Thayer’s mom, Ronell Thayer, got ahold of Martin’s mom, who referred them to a doctor in Minnesota. Mackenzie Thayer was then diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome at the age of six.

“I was questioning why I was different … why me ... at the age of 10, 11 and 12 … and my mom gave me a book that basically was about how God has a plan for everybody,” Mackenzie Thayer said. “That really set a light bulb off for me and after that, I knew golf was my plan.”

Golf ultimately gave Mackenzie Thayer the confidence that she needed. Martin also gave her the confidence to continue and keep up with the sport. She kept close communication with Martin throughout the years, and when she was 17 years old, she finally was able to meet her role model.

“It was incredible because I always wanted to meet him,” Mackenzie Thayer said. “They were driving me up and they said ‘Casey, we have a surprise for you,’ and Casey was like ‘Mackenzie?’ like he already knew.”

Mackenzie Thayer and Martin keep in contact to this day. She loves what she plays and appreciates what St. Mary’s has offered her so far.

“I like sharing my story because Casey’s story made a huge difference for me when I didn’t understand why I was different,” Mackenzie Thayer said. “Everybody has their obstacles.”

“

I like sharing my story because it’s something that has completely efine me.”

First photo pictured is Mackenzie Thayer and her father when she was six years old. Photo two is also Mackenzie Thayer and her father, Sean Thayer, in 2011 after the parent-junior game. Photo three is Mackenzie and famous golfer Casey Martin back in 2011. | Photos courtesy of Mackenzie Thayer