Vol. 104, No. 11 - 11/16/2016

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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 Issue 11 | Nov. 16, 2016 | San Antonio, TX

TRUMP’S VICTORY UPSETS PRESIDENTIAL RACE

Student protesters gather at The Quad at St. Mary’s University on Friday, Nov. 12. Students are listed top-left to bottom-right: Natalie Juarez, Raul Mejia, Samantha Perez, Samire Adam, Jacqueline Lucero, Kayla Trevino, Andrew Diaz, Eyerusalem Debebe, Alyssa Alvarez, Jocelyn Cardenas, Ariana, Jocelyn Ascensio, Julissa Cantu, Katia Reguero, and Katherine. | Photos by Natalia Zuniga

second time since 2000, the popular vote did not help her win the election. The U.S. Election Project estimated that 128.8 million people casted their ballot out of 231 million eligible voters, leaving about half the country choosing not to vote this election season.

For some, especially people of color and members of the LGBTQ community, the result was a worst case scenario as seen in many reactions on social media.

Trump’s campaign has been blamed as the cause of the violent acts committed by his supporters, who often incite his name during the acts.

This fear and violence has led to anti-

Trump protests across the nation in cities like Baltimore, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Washington D.C., and even here in San Antonio. The San Antonio protest took place on Friday, Nov. 11 in front of the Alamo. Some St. Mary’s students were also in attendance. The protest was labeled as “peaceful” since no violent acts took place.

However, there were individuals who took assault riffles to the protest.

The St. Mary’s students, and many others, who attended the San Antonio protest Friday night found out about the protest through Facebook. One student,

SPORTS

COMMENTARY

Post-election day left many St. Mary’s students, and people around the world, with mixed emotions about the future of the country. While some celebrated the Republican Party victory, others responded with fearful uneasiness over the unofficial results of the 2016 Presidential Election. This election is one of the most historic elections in recent history. The election of Presidentelect Donald J. Trump and his running mate Vice President-elect Mike Pence marks the end of what is being called the most

polarized presidential race in recent history, according to several news outlets.

Trump defeated the Democratic Party nominee, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, by winning the majority votes in the Electoral College. Trump is expected to win at least 290, while Clinton is only expected to have amassed at least 228 votes, with 20 still too close to call at the time of publication. These results will not be official until the Electors of the Electoral College cast their respective votes on Dec. 19.

While Clinton won the popular vote by a narrow margin of 0.02 percent, for the

ENTERTAINMENT

RICARDO REYES / DEAN DETTEN NEWS EDITOR / COPY EDITOR

FEATURES

St. Mary’s students reflect on concerns and fears for future laws and policies

PG. 6

NEW SMOKING POLICY TO COME

PG. 10

ELECTION VIEWING PARTY

PG. 12

PAST STUDENT ON THE VOICE

CONTINUED ON PG. 2

PG. 16

WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS

2 NEWS

EDITOR: RICARDO REYES | @STMURATTLERNEWS | NOV. 16,2016

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UPCOMING EVENTS THURSDAY, NOV. 17 ANNUAL TURKEY FRY

PECAN GROVE 6 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 30

CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING

PECAN GROVE 7 P.M.

SATURDAY, DEC. 10

FALL 2016 COMMENCEMENT

BILL GREEHEY ARENA 1:30 P.M.

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Speaker, Mayor Ivy Taylor reflects on success to St. Mary’s students. Read the full article Online at: http://www.stmurattlernews.com | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

Students gather for Village’s cement pouring PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

For many students, watching the process of a new building come to life has been exciting. The Village’s first residence hall received 35 trucks of cement on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 4 a.m. Despite some setbacks the build encountered earlier in the semester due to permitting and weather conditions, the residence hall is quickly making progress.

James Villarreal, director of Residence Life, and a few other residents were in attendance of the cement pouring despite the late hours.

The cement pouring was originally supposed to take place an hour earlier, but there was not enough truck drivers to operate all 35 trucks at that time. Traffic also had to be taken into consideration when choosing the timing.

“For traffic, it’s just easier if there was not much traffic in the way so that it’s a steady stream of them,” Villarreal said. “They will just continue to come…it’s easier for them to come early in the morning to get to a site.

Any kind of concrete work starts early in the morning.”

Along with the drivers, there was also about 20 construction workers that helped layout the cement.

The cement pour took a total of five hours to complete and covered about 350 square yards of cement for just this single

FROM “COVER”

Natalie Juarez, sophomore biology major, went to the event because she felt like it was something important to attend.

“After the election I felt really defeated,” Juarez said. “Just knowing that everyone is coming together and knowing that there is love out there and humanity left… that’s why I came out,” she told KSAT 12 News reporters.

The 2016 election cycle has noticeably divided the country. While Trump supporters are being called sexist and racist by a majority of Democrats, Republicans have been accusing Democrats of being communists, and say that family values are under attack.

For many though, this election is causing fear because of the violation of human rights in the U.S. by possible policy changes Trump may chose. This is not usual politics because members of the LGBTQ community fear an overturning of marriage equality, the ending of Obama’s directive on protecting transgender students and Pence’s beliefs that homosexuality can be cured through

cement pour. Once the cement fully dries, the construction workers will be able to remove the woodened structure that holds the cement together as it sets up.

“They [the construction workers] will be able to walk on the cement structure sometime in the next few weeks to start pulling up the pipes that will come up to the second floor,” Villarreal said. “There will be a concrete base that they will be able to walk and work on.”

Villarreal wanted to be a part of this process so that if any resident students came out with concerns, he would be able to address it right away. He also wanted to experience what the residents would be experiencing.

For the residents in attendance, seeing the progress of the construction of a new building was a surprising process. One of the residents who experienced the cement pour was Rebecca Gurstner, junior psychology major.

“Honestly, this is super cool,” Gurstner said. “I’ve never seen a building being built before.”

Another student who witnessed the cement pour was Jean-Claude Prudhomme, senior accounting, and finance and risk management majors.

“This was a breathtaking experience because I never knew the process that went into making a dorm,” Prudhomme said.

“It’s amazing to see and I am just surprised.

Standing on it once it’s done is going to

be breathtaking.”

Another part of the build that has been structured and is currently in progress is the elevator shaft that is located on the far left side of the building, which will operate two elevators.

Many students look forward to the new hall. The progress on the building is noticeable and watching the changes is exciting for many in the St. Mary’s community, despite the delays. “[The build] is making good progress considering that only three months ago it was just grass,” Villarreal said. “I hope that the weather continues to cooperate for the next portion of it.”

electro-shock therapy. For the minority community, a fear of violent opposition against Muslims in the U.S., Trump’s stance on mass deportation of illegal immigrants and the open support of the KKK has left many fearful for their safety.

A majority of students at St. Mary’s are still in shock by the results. One student Miguelangel “Mikey” Escobar, senior psychology major, reflects on the uneasiness that many are feeling right now.

“It’s surreal. It honestly feels like the world is in a cloud of anxiety right now,” Escobar said. “Trump said a lot for hateful things during his campaign. The idea of him following through with them, is the essence of fear for many people.

Especially minorities.”

The Dean of Students and Vice Provost for Student Development, Timothy Bessler, along with the director of Civic Engagement, Clare Acosta-Matos, addressed the uneasiness of the students by sending out a mass email, which urged students not to act out in protests, but to join together in community.

“As we look to settle in to the path that

our nation has selected for the next four years, I encourage you with the same message you received late yesterday as the polls were closing: to enter into discussion and dialogue, to listen to one another, to put the needs of those most vulnerable in our communities at the forefront, and to stay at the table.”

A group discussion took place in the Contreras Family Lounge at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 9 with about 30 students and faculty in attendance. There were emotions from both sides of the political spectrum, but students were able to vent in a safe space provided by St. Mary’s.

In addition to the many protests breaking out around the country, there was also a peaceful protest that took place here at St. Mary’s on Friday, Nov. 11 at the quad.

While any election brings uncertainty for the future, the violence that has already occurred against people of color has led to many fearing for what life will be like when Trump takes office on Jan. 20, 2017. For students of St. Mary’s, and for the nation, this election result was met with a mix of emotions.

First cement pour filled in a woodened frame structure. | Photo by Paige Gandara-Valderas

NEWS 3

NOV. 16, 2016 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

POLICE BLOTTER OCTOBER 2016 OCT. 21 Consumption of alcohol by a minor reported in Dougherty Hall Case is closed.

OCT. 26 Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor Reported in Cremer Hall Case is closed.

OCT. 26 Theft of $500 to $1,500 reported in University Center Case is closed.

OCT. 27 Theft of $500 to $1,500 reported in Moody Life Center Case is active.

OCT. 30 Criminal trespass reported in soccer field #1 Case is closed.

OCT. 31 Theft of $500 to $1,500 reported AACC Case is active.

OCT. 31 Criminal trespass reported in Founders Hall Case is active.

OCT. 31 Student conduct violation/weapons violation in Dougherty Hall Case is closed.

University plans nearly smoke-free campus for the spring ANTONIO GONZALEZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

St. Mary’s Students may soon see a change to the policy of using tobacco on campus. For several years, St. Mary’s has permitted the use of tobacco products by students, faculty, staff and all visitors of the university. Recently, the university has made a new initiative to prohibit the use of tobacco products on campus with the exception of a few designated areas that have yet to be announced. The goal of this initiative is to create a cleaner and healthier campus.

Currently, the proposal is intended to head into a nearly smoke-free campus and is only being considered, but nothing has been set in stone. The conversation around this proposal is a collaborative effort between university officials and the input from several student organizations and student leaders. The university wants to take small steps to help gradually ease into a completely smoke free campus.

The university hopes to start the process next semester, where there will only be six designated smoking areas on campus – eventually heading into a completely smoke-free campus later on down the line.

The planned areas to prohibit the use of tobacco products are listed as all interior spaces and property leased by St. Mary’s, outdoor property or grounds on the university campus, small areas such as walkways, breezeways, patios, and all

owned or leased parking lots and facilities.

This will also include university rental vehicles and all indoor and outdoor athletic facilities. All students, faculty, staff and visitors are expected to comply with the new policy, but the shift may be difficult for many who are frequent tobacco users, which is why the university plans on approaching this in stages. “[The proposal] has not been fully finalized, there have been administrative groups that have weighed in and indicated their support for the policy going forward,” Timothy Bessler, vice provost for student development and dean of students, said.

While the university is moving toward a tobacco-free campus, it does recognize that there is a population of individuals that utilize tobacco regularly.

The university has decided to make exceptions in six outdoor locations on campus that will be considered designated smoking areas, which have yet to be announced. Bessler and other university officials want to ensure that the six smoking areas will be easily accessible to students in a respectful manner for others who do not smoke. The designated areas will be announced once the proposal is finalized, but there will still need to be more conversation and student input on where those designated areas will be located.

The current university policy around smoking is “50 feet from a building,” which can be unclear just how far 50 feet really is.

Having designated areas will help indicate

where smoking is permitted. Each of these designated tobacco-allowed locations on campus will be marked with “Designated Tobacco (Smoking) Area” signage.

Appropriate receptacles will be available at each designated tobacco (smoking) area for the disposal of tobacco products.

The policy will be enforced right away once the proposal is passed. The proposed start day is Jan. 1, 2017. If individuals do not dispose of their tobacco appropriately they will be subject to disciplinary action.

Refusal to appropriately dispose of tobacco products in the designated area is grounds for removal from campus.

Once the proposal is approved, the types of smoking that will be prohibited (outside of the designated smoking areas on campus) include cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, pipes, hookah, smokeless tobacco, all other tobacco products, as well as e-cigarettes and other electronic smoking devices such as vape pens. FDA-approved cessation such as nicotine patches and gum are not included in this category.

The university will make exceptions for this policy when it pertains to research approved by the provost, religious ceremonies, sidewalks outside the campus, and within the Marianist residence. The university hopes that this new approach will protect the health and safety of St. Mary’s faculty, staff, students and visitors on campus, and create a healthier and cleaner campus environment where all can be content.

St. Mary’s hosts the second annual Archdiocesan Assembly CARMEN RUBY MORALES STAFF WRITER

St. Mary’s welcomed the Archdiocese of San Antonio on Nov. 5 where over 4,000 people attended. Archbishop Gustavo Garcia lead the mass and the events that were held throughout the day.

Campus volunteers prepared for two days to set up tents on the intramural soccer field and to prepare golf carts that were to be used during the event. The Greehey Arena, the intramural soccer field, the law classrooms, the Alkek business building, the university center, and the Alkek Plaza were all reserved for the event.

The event is part of a three-year plan that St. Mary’s President Thomas Mengler and Gustavo arranged last year. This was the second year that the Archdiocese Assembly was hosted at St. Mary’s, with the final one planned for November of next year.

For a day, the Archdiocesan Assembly brought the community together, through this year’s theme of unity, made of religious figures and the Archbishop of San Antonio.

“This experience is building unity and that is the theme this year,” Gustavo said.

“United as a church. United as a church we can do a lot not just for the church but for everybody. We can be better people to others, more compassionate, loving, caring, forgiving, mercy.”

The faculty and students of St. Mary’s volunteered their time to help out during the all-day occasion. In total, over 160 St. Mary’s students volunteered, working in sixhour shifts. The President’s Ambassadors were in charge of hospitality and the Marianist Leadership Program (MLP) were in charge of the golf carts, driving the elderly around campus.

University Ministry also helped at information desks located all over campus for the visitors. Chapel Choir also assisted the priests during mass.

Brother Jose Matos-Auffant, minister for Spiritual Development and Hispanic Ministry; and Brian Buchmeyer, coordinator of Marianist student initiatives, were involved during the entire event, as were many other faculty members. Buchmeyer

Archbishop Gustavo Garcia-Siller, entering Bill Greehey Arena. | Photo by Paige Gandara-Valderas

oversaw the entire golf cart operation that MLP was in charge of. There were a total of 17 carts used, having to be replaced whenever one needed to be recharged.

The assembly also had 400 volunteers who helped out during the event including 12 university police officers.

Captain Jeff Earle mentioned, “Our job is to help make sure that an event this size is a safe and so forth.”

Juan Carlos Rodrigues, chair of the Archdiocese Assembly, was in charge of the event this year. Rodriguez brought in the guest speakers and vendors. He has been planning the event for about a year.

The event had 73 vendor booths in the Greehey Arena. Some booths included The San Antonio Children’s Hospital who were personally invited by the Archbishop, the Marianist Vocation Service, Seton Home, Daughter of St. Paul-Paulinas and many others.

St. Mary’s also provided the event with food vendors who were stationed all over campus as well as two in the Greehey Arena and one in the Alkek Plaza. The Diamondback Café was also opened for the guests.

Jeff Schomburg, executive director of the Academic Technology Services, was the coordinator of all the technological services provided to the presenters and the venders.

“I saw a second year of really good success,” Schomburg said. “To my knowledge I saw zero technology issues.”

Another contributing factor to the success of the San Antonio Archdiocese assembly this year was the accessibility to all the buildings, including the handicapped and the elderly, and the mobility and design flow of the campus for the visitors to find their way around.

The mass and the closing remarks were bilingual, which reflects the San Antonio community. The event had many Spanish breakout sessions including a Spanish keynote with guest speaker, actor, model and singer Eduardo Verástegui.

The event was more successful than last year according to Matos-Auffant. He is confident it will be even better next year because they would have already had two trial runs by next year’s event.

ARCHDIOCESAN ASSEMBLY AT-A-GLANCE 4,000 attendees 3,600 online registrations 400 outside volunteers 200 priests 160 St. Mary’s volunteers 100 religious figures 100 deacons 73 booth vendors 45 President’s Ambassadors 25 ministry students 17 students from MLP 17 golf carts 12 police officers 6 reserved event areas 3 campus food vendors IT Team for Wi-Fi access Compiled by Ricardo Reyes and staff writer

Pecan Grove Review NOW OPEN

written by students, faculty, staff, and alumni of St. Mary’s University

TO SUBMISSIONS SUBMIT UP TO THREE OF THE FOLLOWING: z Short fiction z Essays

z Graphic shorts z Scenes from play

z Poetry

z Flash fiction

z Creative non-fiction

SUBMISSIONS SHOULD BE TYPED FOLLOWING THESE GUIDELINES: z Prose should be no more than 5 double-spaced pages per selection. z Poems should be no more than 40 lines per selection. z Graphic shorts can be collaborative. z Spanish submissions must include an English translation. z Each piece must be titled. z The submissions must include a cover sheet with the following: z name z title of work(s) & category z cell phone # z permanent address NOTE: DO NOT TYPE NAME ON MANUSCRIPT. SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT A COVER WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. PLEASE USE STMU EMAIL ADDRESS FOR SUBMISSIONS.

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6 COMMENTARY

@STMURATTLERNEWS | NOV. 16, 2016

Smoke-free campus: better health atmosphere or creates increased safety risk?

Sydney

Alfaro JUNIOR, CRIMINOLOGY

St. Mary’s is enacting big changes this year with senior faculty and administration changes, which also brings about newly proposed policies from those in leadership positions. Timothy Bessler, Dean of Students and newly appointed Vice Provost for Student Development, is assisting with a new proposal of tobacco policy that will take effect, if approved, this upcoming semester.

The new proposal will limit the spaces for tobacco use.

The new provisions would not eliminate smoking on campus completely, but it would reduce the designated smoking areas to only six.

The six smoking areas have not been confirmed yet. Eventually, the university plans to go completely smoke-free in the future.

This new policy will reduce health risks associated with smoking including those posed by exposure to second-hand smoke. It will give community members the opportunity to walk around without breathing in the toxic fumes.

With the proposal in its early stages, many students have not heard of the potential changes. While the policy has not been finalized, keeping the community informed will help make the proposed policy a success.

“I haven’t heard of a new proposal being enacted on campus,” Jacob Henson, junior theology major, said.

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 Commentary Editor Sydney Alfaro (spring 2017) Features Editor Megann Vera 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.

Once the proposal has been put into action, non-smoker students will find the new policy to be useful.

“Limiting tobacco use on campus will not affect the majority of students in a negative way,” Henson said. “The opportunity is still at hand for those who do [use tobacco], but this is a respectful proposal to non-smokers.”

Amairany Franco, junior biology major, also agrees that the new policy makes sense.

She highlights how the current smoking 50 feet away from a building practice is often not followed, posing health risks.

“With space [on campus] being so limited, it’s hard to maintain that 50-foot smoke area consistent,” Franco said. “It’s a hazard for those getting the second hand effect, which is often the case with the tight squeeze.”

This proposal is still making its way through all of the campus checks and balances. The proposal outlines the specific dangers of tobacco use and the strictly enforced criteria that are going to be included in the new campus policy. The campus will be notified about the policy changes before the closing of the semester if the bill is passed for this coming spring semester.

This new tobacco policy, while likely irritating to some, will in the end be beneficial to those who are allergic to, or do not wish to be exposed to it. It is a statistically proven fact that tobacco use is detrimental to one’s health and this new policy will help ensure the health and safety of the student body at St. Mary’s.

Alexis

Zepeda JUNIOR, ENGLISH

Though smoking is no longer the norm in the United States, many Americans still do smoke. St. Mary’s currently allows smoking outside campus-wide, so long as the smoker is at least 50 feet from a building’s entrance. However, that policy may see a dramatic change in the coming semesters. If approved, tobacco use on campus will be limited next spring. Tobacco use will only be allowed in six designated area—something that could pose safety problems if people leave campus to smoke. It may also interfere with an individuals’ personal freedom.

Although the campus is aiming to make the university campus a cleaner and more welcoming, some students do not like the idea.

“Honestly, I understand wanting to watch people’s health, but if students want to smoke they will, regardless of the policy,” Billy Rodriguez, senior psychology major, said. I think this is just the university looking out for their own interests.”

Though not everybody chooses to smoke, individuals should still have the choice to do so if they wish, without potentially sacrificing their own safety.

Since the goal is to eventually get rid of even those six designated spots over time to make the campus completely tobacco free, future members of the St. Mary’s

community would be forced to go offcampus to use tobacco. Dr. Samadhi Metta Bexar, McNair Scholars Program assistant director, thinks a total ban is extreme.

“Having students run across the street to have a smoke and run back across seems more hazardous than posting proper signage and installing more ash trays,” Bexar said.

Those who are unable to quit smoking will eventually have to take unnecessary risks. It is especially dangerous for individuals who live on campus and may want to smoke during the evening because it is not well lit outside of campus gates, and students may be vulnerable to dangerous situations off campus.

Though smoking is known to cause health problems, it is also known to help individuals relax.

Some students prefer to smoke a cigarette after a stressful test or lecture, but this new rule will prohibit them from doing so.

In addition to this preference, smoking is also a habit. Habits are not easily broken, so quitting may not be an immediate action.

Being forced to quit, or not being able to smoke within the campus gates could possibly create a more stressful environment for students and faculty.

While St. Mary’s wants to make this transition in stages, the total ban on tobacco takes away the free choice of adults who prefer to smoke. A better step might be to try posting more signs and designating more smoking areas so that it does not bother non-smokers. This can help accommodate the smokers, but without setting such a drastic resolution into motion.

Peaceful protest unites community against greedy company Jasmin

Rivera SENIOR, HISTORY

The ongoing DAPL pipeline project has caused the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, other Native American tribes and people who support their cause to protest in North Dakota. The cause for controversy stems from the route’s threat to the clean water supply for the tribe, and that the route would run through sacred, ancient burial grounds. Students at St. Mary’s and many Americans are confronted with renewed concerns over the ability for corporations to use government force to violently oppose the rights of peaceful protesters aiming to protect their way of life.

The protest began after the Standing Rock Sioux tribe filed a lawsuit against the construction that was being done by Bakken and Energy Transfer Partners.

The construction involved the making of the Dakota Access Pipeline that would run from North Dakota to Illinois, facilitating the transportation of crude oil. Since the lawsuit did not stop the construction, rather only brought it to a halt, the tribe began to protest in attempts to completely stop the construction of the pipeline.

The protest is not only about one issue that the Native Americans are concerned about, instead a group of concerns that

directly impacts their community. The first part being that the pipeline would run through lands that the Sioux consider sacred. The Sioux tribe was not consulted about the construction of the pipeline; the tribe does not feel represented in the decision that was made pertaining the lands that have significant value for them.

Secondly, the pipeline is going to run below a major source of water and if something happens with the pipeline it can have negative and impactful consequences. A concern that, when held by the citizens of North Dakota, lead to the rerouting of the pipeline through tribal lands.

Dr. Grace Keyes, visiting assistant professor of sociology, understands the concerns of the Sioux tribe, other Native American tribes and the supporters of the protest.

“If a pipeline should break, it could contaminate drinking water for many people,” Keyes said. “Pipeline accidents do occur, as recently happened with the deadly explosion of the pipeline in the Southwest.

Native Americans, like all Americans, would like corporations to be more sensitive to how our natural resources are used and how people are impacted.”

Yes, the people who are protesting at Standing Rock have a right to protest for something that they hold dear, such as lands that are considered sacred. They are not protesting just because they feel like it, they are protesting because to them, and to many others, their reasons to protest are justified.

How would the local community react if the same company approached St. Mary’s and asked if they could build a pipeline that ran through the cemetery in which the Marianist brothers are buried in? People would fight for this not to take place, because that land is highly valued by the community who wishes to respect its ancestors of the community.

People would voice their opinion: Something equal to what people in North Dakota are doing — coming together to protest something that is a violation of community beliefs .

Students, faculty and the St. Mary’s community do not need to go to North Dakota to show support. They can support by checking in on Facebook and standing in solidarity with the affected community.

Students can become educated on the issue instead of seeing it as something that does not directly affect them and can open up the discussion to others.

Anything that spreads this topic to others and creates a conversation is showing support. It shows support for those who are fighting for something more than money.

This is an issue between a greedy corporation and a community that has lost their voice. Anyone and everyone can make that voice be heard.

This is an issue that no person should support. This is more than just a protest.

The destruction of part of a person’s identity should never be prioritized over the making of money — especially when it can also destroy the community’s safety.

COMMENTARY 7

NOV. 16, 2016 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

President-elect Trump strikes fear in students under the DACA policy Natalia

Zuniga

EVER CONSIDER BECOMING A MARIANIST BROTHER, PRIEST OR SISTER?

FRESHMAN, INTER. & GLOBAL STUDIES

To understand the fear of deportation, the voices of those going through the daily chance have to be heard. The concern of deportation is an issue that children, teenagers and adults have to face and live with every day. The fearful concerns about being deported has significantly increased with the recent win of president-elect Donald J. Trump. The concern of deportation affects many immigrants, including students on campus, who are allowed to attend St. Mary’s because of Obama’s administration and DACA executive order.

Trump’s win has left many undocumented immigrants in the U.S. fearful of being deported now more than ever, because of the crude promises that the president-elect has made during his campaign. The one thing that could affect a large number of immigrants would be the removal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). DACA is a policy that began in 2012, which allows students who come to the U.S. as children and have met eligibility qualifications to stay here and continue their studies and work.

If DACA were to be discontinued, thousands of students would have to end their education anywhere from high school to graduate school in the U.S. With the elimination of DACA, many students here at St. Mary’s would also have to withdrawal from the university, as is the case in many other

Brother José Julián Matos-Auffant, SM, says he was drawn to “teaching as a sacred calling and to religious life.”

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

BROTHERS – PRIESTS – SISTERS

marianist.com

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universities with such a diverse population.

Many of these students have worked their whole lives to attend college in hopes of creating a better future for themselves and now students fear that it was all for nothing.

“This is the only country that some of us remember [and] that some of us know,” Joida Tornes, freshman engineer science major, said. “A lot of us want to help, it’s just disappointing that other people don’t want to see us succeed.”

Many of the students here consider themselves American because it is the only country they have ever known since they came to the U.S. as a child. The U.S. has become the only home they have ever known. If they are deported, they are sent back to a country they do not consider home, a country some have no memories of.

A country that is foreign to them.

This election has brought many negative emotions forward because of the wrong and vulgar comments made during Trump’s campaign against immigrants. With him now on the road to office, fear has struck through most of the country. This goes beyond people being disappointed with the result of the election or “not getting their way” — Trump being elected has made many people fearful for all of the undocumented people here and across the country.

Many of these students that have fallen under this category are part of the St. Mary’s community. They are everyday students who work hard for their education. Many of these students live in fear and more than ever wish to keep their migratory status unknown.

“

Joaida Tornes, Alejandra Otero and Sergio Castillo express concerns over the changes that might happen with the DACA policy | Photos by Natalia Zuniga

The Rattler is a publication that has been around since 1924 and has a long, rich standing. However, mistakes happen.

Corrections from Vol. 104 Issue 10: 1. Pg. 2 “Featured Photo” credits “SGA.” This should be credited to SATP. 2. Pg. 3 “Greek Life” article: 36 recruits is the normal recruitment number for the fall, not unusal.

3. Pg. 3 “Greek Life” article: “Sororites follow strict university policies.” These are not university policies, they are NPC affiliation policies.

SEE A MISTAKE? LET US KNOW! RATTLERNEWS@GMAIL.COM

This is the only country that some of us remember. That some of us know. It’s hard that someone may kick us out becasue we weren’t born here. Here on out my focus is purely on school and to find other ways to stay here legally.

I know my DACA permit expirers in three months and I don’t know what I’m going to do after if the president decides not to go through with the renewals of DACA.”

- Joaida Tornes freshman, engineering science

They [President Elect Donald J. Trump] are just ripping everything out of my hands, everything I worked for. I worked hard too through sleepless nights becasue of school, all just becasue I wanted to better myself, if not I wouldn’t be here. It just makes mad becasue I feel that others don’t take advanage of the privileges they have and those are privileges I have to work hard for.”

- Alejandra Otero freshman, forensic sci. / criminology

The election was discouraging, to actually find out there are so many people against you. I was sad watching Trump win. It feels like I am in the group of hatred because I honestly don’t know why, because it wasn’t my choice to be an immigrant, it wasn’t my choice. If I could back and do it the right way, I would.

I know what I’ve done and I know what I am capable of and I’m not going to let anything get in the way of it.”

- Sergio Castillo freshman, software engineering

2016 ELECTION D

BY BEXAR COUNTY

Voter Outcomes (by voter precinct) / Income demographics

Voter outcomes (by Percent speaks Spa

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY

REPUBLICAN MAJO

DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY

DEMOCRATIC MAJO

Bexar County, pictured above, was a Democrat-majority county this election. The areas that voted Republican were almost evenly split between income demographics by area.

However, lower-income communities outnumber those above the 50th percentile. The precincts covered in the color spectrum from red to yellow ( $0 - $65,000 per annum) voted Republican with far less frequency than those areas with incomes ranging from white to violet ( greater than $75,000 per annum) . Nearly all voter-precincts highlighted from light blue to violet were Republican-majority precincts. Also noted are the vast majority of rural precincts that voted for Trump; the downtown, city, and suburban precincts voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton.

This map shows the per households in a given voterpopulated by Spanish-speaking of blue) were frequently do majorities. Very few precincts blue voted Republican. Contra not dominated by Spanish overwhelmingly in favor of Pres

DEMOGRAPHICS

Y VOTER PRECINCTS

y voter precinct) / anish at home

ORITY

ORITY

rcentage of Spanish-speaking -precinct. Areas more densely g households (shown in shades ominated by Democrat-voting highlighted in darker hues of astingly, more rural populations h-speaking households voted sident Donald Trump.

Voter outcomes (by voter precinct) / Percent population that is white

REPUBLICAN MAJORITY DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY This map shows the percentage of households listed as “white� in a given voter-precinct. Almost all precincts populated by a white majority of 60 percent or greater (shown in shades of blue) voted for Trump. Very few precincts consisting of a nonwhite majority of greater than 70 percent voted in a majority for Trump.

Maps, voter data and demographics taken from City-Data.com and MySanAntonio.com

10 FEATURES

EDITOR: MEGANN VERA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | NOV. 16, 2016

Residents embrace the spirit of giving SYDNEY ALFARO STAFF WRITER

Students gather together in the Contreras lounge to await election results. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

Viewing party welcomes students to watch election results in community SAMANTHA SALAZAR STAFF WRITER

After a long and historic presidential campaign, election day finally came. On Nov. 8 the office of Student Activities and Transition Programs hosted an election viewing party that spanned the Pub, the Contreras Family Terrace and the Contreras student lounge in the library.

This event gave students an opportunity to experience the results of this election in a safe and informed environment in real-time.

Additionally, the election viewing party was a chance for first-time voting students to experience the election in the company of their peers.

Natalie Juarez, junior math major, attended the event because it gave her the opportunity to experience the occasion and discuss the election with students of different political beliefs. It was also an opportunity to watch it, given that she did not have a television in her apartment.

“I think it’s really cool, it brings people together.” Juarez said.

Gina Guel, sophomore computer science major, was also in attendance among the students in the student lounge.

Guel believed that events like the election viewing party are beneficial because they give access to students who may not

otherwise have these opportunities.

The Pub, decorated in red, white and blue stars and banners, was a full house.

All the television screens were on CNN, which reported the live results. The same scenario could be found outside on the Contreras Family Terrace with students huddling together due to the rainy weather in the name of American politics.

As the night progressed and more states were being projected, the crowd grew larger. The atmosphere in the Pub was boisterous with each new state being called with an eruption of mixed emotions.

John Paul Coronado, junior speech communications major, was in attendance at the Pub and stressed the importance of performing his civic duties as an American.

“I believe as a millennial and as an American, it’s your right and privilege and everyone should vote,” Coronado said.

In regard to the night’s events, Coronado believes it was beneficial for St. Mary’s because it was an opportunity for anyone of any major to unite through something as monumental as a presidential election.

Regardless of the results, the election viewing party was an opportunity for students to come together and experience the final chapter of this long and polarized presidential election.

Resident Assistant Anne Ojo, junior biology major, lead students in creating care packages for the homeless on Wednesday, Nov. 2. This program gave students a chance to help the less fortunate before the holiday season. A program similar to this took place last year, but this year Ojo wanted to help it grow.

“Last year we did 100 [packages], so we tried to increase it to a good size this year making 300,” Ojo said.

Resident assistants are asked to facilitate programs rooted in the characteristics of a Marianist education, one of which is social justice and peace. Ojo’s program reflected this characteristic and the mission of service by bringing the campus together to serve those in need in the community.

The supplies donated were given by various registered student organizations around campus including the Pre-Med Society, American Red Cross Campus Club, Tri-Beta and the Pre-Dental Society. The care packages included a bottle of Gatorade, various snacks such as applesauce and crackers, a pack of wet wipes and a pair of socks.

This event embodied the spirit that, for many, precedes the holiday season.

It was important to Ojo and the other resident assistants around campus because it gets students thinking of others during the busy holiday season.

“As busy students, sometimes we don’t have the opportunity to think about the

trials others may be going through or the help they may need,” Ojo said.

Serving the community is nothing new to the students on campus and this event is just another one of the many opportunities for those who love volunteering for the community to help others.

While the assembling of the packages was scheduled to be a two-hour program, the enthusiastic volunteers were able to assemble all 300 care packages in about 10 minutes, according to Watende Johnson, residence hall director at The Village. The care packages were assembled quickly due to the “grab-and-go” type of assembly line used.

Each student would start at one end of the horseshoe shaped table with a plastic bag in hand, then go to every station with a different product until they reached the end of the line to seal it and drop it into the cardboard boxes.

They were then packaged and given to Haven for Hope, the non profit responsible for distributing the care packages around the community.

“Getting them done so quickly wasn’t the plan,” Ojo explains, “but in the end, it was okay because [the packages] were all made and donated.”

Residence Life is planning on facilitating more events throughout the remainder of the semester and Ojo hopes to see the program continue in the future.

Other holiday programs that Residence Life will offer include making Thanksgiving cards for the elderly and Christmas cards for patients at a local children’s hospital.

A look inside the care packages: Gatorade, a bag of chips and a pair of socks. | Photo by Sydney Alfaro

Graphic by Megann Vera and Daria Flowers

NOV. 16, 2016 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Theology professor brings new perspective MIRIAM ROBLES ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Although Dr. Sara Ronis, assistant professor of theology, has only been part of the theology department at St. Mary’s for this past semester, she has already made huge impressions on the faculty and students.

Originally from Canada, Ronis completed her undergraduate degree at Brandeis University in Near Eastern and Judaic studies. She then went on to earn her masters of arts in religions from Columbia University. She earned a doctorate from Yale University in Judaism in late antiquity in the program in Judaic studies and the department of religious studies. She continued her academic career with a one-year post-doctorate program at Harvard University.

“I think that one of the things that fascinates me about theology is that it just seems to be everywhere and it can bring people together,” Ronis said.

In the classroom, however, she is known for her interesting and new take on the

Old Testament. Ronis brings something new to the way students study the Bible, her students will testify, and that is exactly her goal.

“I don’t know whether it’s because I am in a field where I am not the majority, but the types of research questions I’m most interested in are about people on the margins,” Ronis said.

As a Jewish woman, she is a minority in the field of theology, which may be why she has a different perspective. Ronis emphasizes proudly that while she may not be what “traditionally” comes to mind when thinking of a theologian, she provides a great model for students to show that theology is an ever-growing field, one with enough room to include everyone.

She feels this is especially true for groups that were once marginalized, but also use religious texts as models for their lives and experiences.

To Ronis, one of the most important things is growing as a professor. Her students seem to appreciate her dedication to them and her commitment to growing as

a professor.

“I think [what makes a good professor] is a willingness to try … and learn from mistakes,” Ronis said. “I think being a good professor is a process.”

Ronis, who has always had a passion for teaching, is also enthusiastic about her new home at St. Mary’s. She is particularly excited to be teaching here because of its commitment, not just to the education of the students, but the betterment of the students in general.

“I’m always having conversations with my colleagues about ways to improve our pedagogy,” Ronis said. “There’s a real culture of love of teaching and respect for the student.”

In the classroom, Ronis is well-liked because of her dedication to her students and her unique perspective, something that makes studying a more than twothousand-year-old text new and exciting.

Most importantly, Ronis is understanding and dedicated to her students; something marked by her commitment to change and development depending on what her

FEATURES 11

Courtesy of Sara Ronis

students give as feedback.

Her teaching style is also noted by her acceptance and excitement about her students. This influences the way she conducts her classes. For example, her openness and accommodation about allowing students to bring their children to class is a very helpful component for the students who need it. Overall, Ronis is an enthusiastic professor who is an exciting addition to the theology department, as well as to the St. Mary’s community.

RattlerQtr_Jones_Oct2016_Layout 1 10/21/16 12:47 PM Page 1

EVER CONSIDER BECOMING A MARIANIST BROTHER, PRIEST OR SISTER? Father Bob Jones, SM, knew ministry was his calling.

“I wouldn’t trade this life for anything,” he says.

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

marianist.com

Graphic by Megann Vera

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: MIRIAM ROBLES | @STMURATTLERNEWS | NOV. 16, 2016

Movie Review

3.5 out of 5 Rattlers

What “Doctor Strange” can’t cure MARISSA HOLGUIN STAFF WRITER

Source from NBC

Former student finds his voice on the stage PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From being a local singer and guitarist, to landing a spot on the world’s largest musical platform, Pociano Seoane made it all the way to the Knockout Rounds on NBC’s The Voice season 11.

Seoane was a student at St. Mary’s for two semesters (2009–10) and majored in accounting. He received a full-ride scholarship to St. Mary’s through the Greehey Scholars program. However, during his time at St. Mary’s he realized that accounting was not his passion, instead deciding to pursue his love for music.

“My time there [at St. Mary’s] was awesome,” Seoane said. “But come my second semester, I kind of noticed that the only classes I wanted to attend were jazz band and concert band. All I wanted to do was music.”

During his time at St. Mary’s he would play for hours at the Treadaway courtyard with his friends. He would also attend the Open Mic Nights on campus to play

Seoane enjoyed his time at St. Mary’s, where he pursued his music.| Courtesy of Pociano Seoane

Seoane in 2013 at St. Mary’s, encourages artists to pursue music. | Photo by Rachel Grahmamn

his music.

“St. Mary’s was where I got my start in playing out [in public],” Seoane said. “I never really played for anybody [before St. Mary’s]. St. Mary’s definitely gave me the opportunity to show my talent.”

Seoane has been playing music since the sixth grade. He first started playing the saxophone and then picked up a guitar and started singing during his senior year at John Marshall High School. Seoane kept practicing after his time at St. Mary’s, which has helped lead him to a spot on The Voice.

Seoane’s audition was a leap of faith, something he just tried out to see how far he could go. This year, The Voice’s open call auditions were held near Houston, so Seoane decided to give it a shot.

Seoane describes The Voice experience as very positive, eye-opening and life changing.

“Everybody there, the staff, the coaches, the mentors... They were all so positive and kind hearted,” Seoane said. “You could

really tell that they wanted everybody to succeed …it wasn’t just a show to them.”

After making it through the open call auditions, Seoane went on to the televised portion of the show where over 17 million people watched him perform “Home,” by Phillip Phillips during the Blind Auditions. Seoane got two chairs turned and chose Adam Levine as his coach. He proceeded through the Battle Rounds, but didn’t make it past the Knockout Rounds.

Going into The Voice, Seoane knew that he wanted to have Levine as his coach.

“The time that I got to spend with Adam was quality for sure,” Seoane said. “One of the reasons why I wanted Adam was because he said something that really touched base with me. It felt really good to hear him [ask], ‘what does music make you feel like? Does it make you feel good? Close your eyes, listen to it, how do you feel?’ … That really got to me.”

Though Seoane’s time on The Voice may be over, it has opened up many other doors for him. It has made him even more motivated to keep making music. Seoane plans to release some original music soon and is even considering playing at St. Mary’s sometime in the near future.

Seoane with his biggest, little motivation, his son. | Courtesy of Pociano Seoane

Making a film centered on a relatively unknown character in the Marvel universe was an interesting choice that left many people skeptical of whether or not the film would be a success. While Doctor Strange was not one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Universe, “Doctor Strange” became a film that was actually not that different from the usual Marvel fair.

The film revolves around its namesake, Dr. Strange who is a rich, city-dwelling, white man who suffers a tragic accident that changes his life; something that allows him to realize the world does not revolve around himself. If it sounds familiar, it is because there is a parallel story in the “Iron Man” franchise where a “genius billionaire, playboy, philanthropist” catches on to the idea of selflessness.

“Doctor Strange” stars Benedict Cumberbatch, known for roles in “Sherlock Holmes” and “Star Trek: Into Darkness,” as the titular character. The esteemed Dr. Stephen Strange undergoes training to save the universe from ultimate destruction.

His comparable back-story diminishes the quality of the character, something hard for audiences to overlook.

While its plot is not too original, the movie had plenty of visually pleasing effects.

Marvel has not won an Oscar for any film’s visual effects, but still is known for its intense graphics in its movies. Likewise, “Doctor Strange” definitely exceeds cinematic expectations.

The cinematography alone was astounding. Cumberbatch fits well into his role as Dr. Strange, but that was not the case for many other roles. Many viewers are criticizing the casting of white actors to portray characters originally depicted as Tibetan in the comics.

Ultimately, if a movie is set in a specific region there is premise for characters to be a specific race, something that should be respected. There are quite a few white male superhero protagonists in the Marvel cinematic universe and “Doctor Strange” was the perfect opportunity to change that, but instead, for some reason, the directors decided otherwise.

Visually appealing and reminiscent of “Iron Man,” the newest Marvel hero to make a big screen debut is exciting. However, since the movie is nothing more than a filler character fallen to the Hollywood standards of white-washing and overpowered computer generated imagery.

ENTERTAINMENT 13

NOV. 16, 2016 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

The cast and crew of “Our Lady of the Tortilla”from left to right: Elia Soto, Danielle Lopez, Karla Sotelo, Marco Flores, Baily Rider, Carmen Ruby Morales, Gabriel Reyes, Jessica Brower. Second Row: David Wilkins, Ari Eldridge, Emmanuel Cantu, Jasmine Perez and Alan Vargas. | Photo by Bernadette Brady

Theater department continues to change JOSHUA MADRID STAFF WRITER

Coming off the positive reception from the Oct. 27 production of Luis Santeiro’s “Our Lady of the Tortilla,” the St. Mary’s Theatre department looks to keep the

momentum growing. The production, featuring St. Mary’s talent, opened to much fanfare.

Bernadette Brady, associate professor of drama and head of the drama department, described the audience’s positive feedback.

Many people found the production to be well-performed and capturing the humor of

the script.

“The audience reception with the performances were very, very good,” Brady said. “A lot of laughter and people telling me that they recognized members of their families in the characters in the show.”

While audience reception was positive, Brady wishes the average show night had a higher attendance rate.

“We had a seating capacity of 120 in the space,” Brady said. “The most we ever had was close to 70, maybe. The lowest we had was 13. That was on a Sunday matinée.

Sometimes that’s to be expected for a Sunday matinée.”

The show’s performers came from various backgrounds and majors. However, that did not stop them from becoming friends during the rehearsal time nor determine the passion on-stage, as described by the cast members.

“The play has brought seven strangers together who have formed a unique bond, almost as if we are family,” Carmen Ruby Morales, sophomore English communication arts major who was also on the cast, said.

One big objective for the department moving forward is to once again have an actual theater space in the form of a black box theater. Since the theater in Reinbolt has been closed, they have not had a permanent place to perform.

“It’s been almost six years now since we’ve been without Reinbolt Theater,” Brady said. “It was a legitimate move we had to do

obviously because of the safety concerns of the building.”

In 2011, a marble altar was installed into Assumption Chapel. The weight of the altar caused safety concerns for the theatre auditorium located below.

This caused the department to lose their indoor space and resort to converting various locations on campus for many of their recent productions. Fundraising projects have been started to get the finances ready for the construction.

“Having a black box theater is going to be a game changer,” Hamilton-Brady said. “It’s not only going to be for us. It’s also going to be a great space because it is so flexible to have all kinds of events in it. We could do lectures or demonstrations, or even rent it out. That would bring in some income.

It’s a multi-purpose space and we’d be happy to provide the technical support for those events.”

For now, the conference room in AT&T has become the unofficial theatre.

The next production will be a play by Luigi Pirandello called “Six Characters in Search of an Author.” It is an absurdest meta-theatrical play.

Auditions for this production will be held in AT&T 108 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, and Thursday, Nov. 17.

The show is set to premiere from March 29 to April 8 next semester. The theater department is excited to keep growing and offering artists a place to perform. Theatre is a good way for artist to get out there.

RattlerQtr_Nicole_Layout 1 10/21/16 1:29 PM Page 1

EVER CONSIDER BECOMING A MARIANIST BROTHER, PRIEST OR SISTER? While working on a degree in Catholic school leadership, Sister Nicole Trahan, FMI, was drawn to the Marianists.

“Their mutuality and collaborative spirit fit with my values and way of looking at the world,” she says.

Her vocation has given her “a life filled with joy.”

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

marianist.com

Which president would you choose? Tweet us at @stmurattlernews | Graphic by Samantha Ramos

14 HEALTH & FITNESS

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | @STMURATTLERNEWS | NOV. 16, 2016

Nutrition and fitness gives health benefits, both essential DARIA FLOWERS STAFF WRITER

Nutrition and fitness both play a vital role in the overall well-being of a person.

Maintaining a solid fitness routine and sticking to a proper nutrition plan in college can be challenging. People tend to lean to one side more than the other. This then leads to a person concentrating in one area, but not the other. Balancing nutrition and fitness at the same time can be challenging, but is something to consider when wanting a healthier lifestyle.

The question that can pop up in college students’ minds who are interested in living a healthier lifestyle can be the challenging dilemma to choose between nutrition and fitness.

With a limited budget and 24/7 access to cheap, convenient fast food, many college students face challenges while trying to eat a nutritious meal. Learning how to make wise eating decisions is one of the most important things that college students can do for their health.

It is important that everyone gets a good balance of vegetables, fruit and

protein in their diet to ensure that they will have enough energy to tackle late night study sessions.

Eating a good breakfast is a vital part in having excellent nutrition. While many people might have grown up hearing “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” this is more than just an idiom — it is proven to help people focus and lead to better nutritional decisions throughout the day. According to the NPD Group, approximately 10 percent of Americans skip breakfast out of 31 million Americans

surveyed. If a student is one of those who falls into this category, a good first step would be waking up early enough to have breakfast before class.

Another way to improve nutrition is to limit sugar intake, reduce sodium consumption and drink more water.

According to the American Heart Association, the average American consumes approximately 3,400 mg of sodium and 76.7 grams of sugar on a daily basis, both higher than the recommended maximum daily intake. For the average college student, the

by Demarius Holmes

consumption of both sodium and sugar are even higher, as many college students tend to favor convenience that contain foods with higher levels of these substances.

For nutrition’s relation to fitness, establishing a fixed fitness routine wil help strengthen the heart, muscles and boost metabolism. Though having a good fitness is important, the fact is that one cannot exercise away a poor diet without leading to serious health issues. Regular exercise has been called the best medicine for heath and living a healthy lifestyle because of its various benefits to the body, both physical and mental.

The American Heart Association recommends at least thirty minutes of physical exercise a day five times a week. In addition, establishing a consistent routine of physical exercise has been shown to reduce anxiety, depression and mood swings.

Nutrition and fitness are both important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and can create improvements in health. The body works off of what it’s fed, and if it’s fed properly, there is a benefit from staying active.

Easy exercises to do during down time in a dormitory room DEMARIUS HOLMES SPORTS EDITOR

Plank jump-ins Plank jump-ins also known as burpees, are

a compound movement that target every major skeletal muscle. Make sure to keep a brisk pace and use proper form when performing this movement to achieve maximum results.

Bridges

Side bridges are a core movement that focuses mainly on the obliques, but also serves as a means to tone the abdominals.

Focus on keeping legs straight and keeping the core as tight as possible.

Squats

Squats serve several purposes contrary to popular belief they also serve as a stretch when performed with body weight. The target muscles for this exercise are the glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps muscles.

Focus on bending at the knees getting the thighs parallel to the ground and exploding up through the legs when coming up.

Source from Pinterest

Lunges

Lunges incorporate several muscles in the quads, but most importantly the hamstrings, focus on getting a really good stretch in the back of the thigh when performing this movement.

Leg raises

Leg raises are considered to be an accessory movement, this exercise focuses on the outer part of the quads (thighs), focus on feeling a contraction in the outer thigh.

Climbers

Climbers are a core exercise that focuses on the abs and obliques, it also works as a way to build aerobic attributes. When performing this movement, focus on feeling a burning sensation in the mid section, and make sure to keep a brisk pace in the alternation of the legs.

Punches

Punches or shadow-boxing are very inclusive of several muscle groups, but serves the purpose of toning both the arms and midsection. Focus on proper form and keeping the core tight and movements compact while still using full range of motion.

Push- ups

Push- ups target the chest and triceps muscles mainly. When performing this movement, be consistent with form, tighten core and keep back straight.

Flutter kicks

Flutter kicks work mainly two muscle groups. First one being abdominals, second being the inner thighs. Make sure that while doing this exercise to start with feet at least 6 inches off the ground, and to keep a steady pace all the way through to the end of the workout. This work out is a good way to get the muscles moving.

NOV. 16, 2016 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

SPORTS 15

A new year has a promising outlook for Rattler athletics DEMARIUS HOLMES SPORTS EDITOR

Fall sports are coming to an end and spring sports are officially starting up with the baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s basketball teams all preparing for the upcoming season. It will be interesting to see how all their hard work pays off.

The softball team will be picking up from an amazing season winning their conference and a regional championship. The baseball team will be picking up their season off of a Heartland Conference championship.

Men’s Basketball will be coming from a great season as well, winning the conference last season and hopefully going further this coming season. Women’s basketball is coming from a winning 18-10 season.

All these teams have the potential to do something really special with their fresh start this year, and all coaches have high hopes for their teams.

Graphic by Demarius Holmes

Heartland conference presents athletes with great honors DEMARIUS HOLMES SPORTS EDITOR

This semester is coming to an end, a cause for everyone to reflect on the progress that has been made, not only for the individual but also for St. Mary’s as a whole. The university is widely known in the community as a staple for academic excellence, including student athletes.

Recognizing that there are no boundaries around that excellence is very important; it is in every department, every classroom and every organization. The athletic organizations have named 146 Rattlers in the Heartland Conference spring honor roll from all teams.

All honor roll recipients come from every team that represents St. Mary’s and close to more than half of them were recognized. | Photos by Natalia Zuniga

Final standings for St. Mary’s fall sports season 2016-2017

Graphic by Demarius Holmes

16 HEALTH

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM | NOV. 16, 2016

Eight ways to relieve the stress of anxiety caused from elections

Graphic by Samantha Ramos

Be physically active

Go for a run every now and then to get your mind off things. Allow your mind to be de-cluttered through intense workouts. Not only will it help for your mental health, but it will maintain your physical health as well, which is always a winning situation.

Volunteer

If you want to see a change in your surrounding communities, be hands on.

Use organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and be a part of their mission. Be a mentor to underprivileged children and be a role model to someone who otherwise would not have such help.

Support Emily’s List

In order to get minorities and more women in office, it starts with local government.

Groups like this work to ensure this happens step by step. Giving them the assistance they need can prove worthy in due time.

Worried about Rid yourself from the reproductive rights?

Islam-ophobia

Volunteer or help at a womens health clinic. It is important for people to know that you are interested in helping; do something by helping to ease other’s pain.

Due to the misconception, most Americans have of this culture, alot of people do not completely understand. Try to understand a new culture and how it functions.

Support non- profit schools

Worried about our resources being used up? Donate!

While the education system continues to default, there are not enough people supporting the idea of a free education.

Become a part of the solution, do your part to make sure that issue gets solved by getting involved in your local community.

Donate to a food bank if you are one to be concerned about hunger and poverty.

There are many way to get involved locally such as the SA Food Bank. Know that you can make a difference.

ELECTION STRESS? TRY THESE! -DEMARIUS HOLMES SPORTS EDITOR

Pay for journalism

It costs money to keep a publication running. If you’re worried about freedom of press, then look into buying a subscription for yourself. Keeping up with the news is also an excellent way to stay up-to-date with the world around you.

Run for local office

If you’re concerned for the sake of our country, get your foot in the door and run for a school board or even a position on the city council. In a position like this, will give you a say so in the things that go on in your community, which carries alot of weight in the scheme of things.

Speak on it

Most people are already doing this.

Peacefully speak on the issues that you are concerned about, don’t be afraid to exercise your freedom of speech. It will only assist you in relieving yourself from anxiety that can build up in a person.