Vol. 104, No. 8 - 09/21/2016

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Sept. 21, 2016

Vol 104

Issue 8

rattler the

A S T. M A R Y ’ S P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C E 1 9 2 4

New FAFSA deadline will benefit students CARMEN RUBY MORALES STAFF WRITER

The Free Application For Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available for students for the 2017–2018 school year starting Oct. 1, . The national deadline has also moved to March 1 for all students starting this year.

After advocating for some time on changing the deadline, FAFSA now integrates the prior-prior year income information to better serve the students applying for federal aid. This feature will allow students to use the income tax from two years prior — meaning this year students will be using forms from 2015.

FAFSA’s new strategy will eliminate the need for students to estimate his or her own income information — it also takes away the inconvenience of students having to wait and collect their parents’ tax information at the very last minute. The amount of time it takes to gather all of the tax information can also become stressful

THE PASTA MAN

ROCKS BOTH STAGE AND CAFE ENTERTAINMENT

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FEATURES

Community garden plants seeds of hope

COMMENTARY

FEATURES

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Most students do not realize it, but every day in the Diamond Back Cafe, a talented musician is serving them pasta.

Jesse Cano, also known as “the pasta man,” lives somewhat of a double life. During the day he is a pasta chef, but at night he is a part of a long-running San Antonio-based rock band, Four Count.

Jesse Cano has been playing guitar since he was 15 years old. He and his brother Danny Cano, the drummer of the band, founded Four Count nine years ago. The brothers have been playing together for almost thirty years and created Four Count

photo courtesy of bleacherreport.net

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COLIN KAEPERNICK SCANDAL

out of a love for music, which has always been a large part of their lives.

The brothers really enjoy being part of a band together and know that they can always count on each other.

“I’m very lucky to be working with my brother — it’s easy working with him,” Jesse Cano said.

The brothers are joined by Anna Rodriguez, the vocalist of the band.

Rodriguez is a well-known performer in San Antonio and headlines a show at Sea World and instructs part-time at the Woodlawn Theater. Rodriguez has been working with Four Count for almost two years and the band has formed a very strong bond.

“She has a great voice. She has a wide

range of what she wants to do and we work really well together,” Jesse Cano said. “We’re blessed to have her singing with us.”

The band is also sometimes joined by bassist Mike Lopez, also known as “Metal Mike.”

Jesse Cano describes Four Count as having somewhat of a “femme-rock” sound.

The band mostly performs cover songs.

“We’ve had original songs and it was fun, but it’s hard. After a while we just wanted to do cover music,“ Jesse Cano said.

The cohesion of the band is evident when they perform. Rodriguez brings a powerhouse vocal performance and an easy

SPORTS

The St. Mary’s Community has a new service opportunity that aims to help local disadvantaged families around the area.

The mission of the Community Garden is to give households on the west side of San Antonio fresh produce to serve to their families when they cannot provide it on their own.

The St. Mary’s campus is located in one of the poorest zip codes in the state of Texas according to MySA.com. This area has some of the lowest average annual income rates and a limited selection of healthy

MIRIAM ROBLES ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

ENTERTAINMENT

Jesse Cano, St. Mary’s pasta chef, also known as “The Pasta Man,” performs with his band, Four Count, Sept. 9 at ReTox Bar. | Photo by Marissa Holguin

SYDNEY ALFARO CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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MEET THE STMU DEMS

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NEW FALL TELEVISION

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GOLD RUSH OLYMPIC GAMES

2 NEWS

EDITOR: RICARDO REYES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

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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.

The new class rings arrived Friday, Sept. 16 and will be showcased at the ring sale occurring on Sept. 20 and Sept. 21 in the UC. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

FROM “COVER”

with FAFSA’s priority deadline.By implicating the prior-prior year, the process of applying and awarding aid will be easier for the Office of Financial Assistance.

Students will be able to get their financial aid awards directly from St. Mary’s almost a semester in advance before the next school year.

This change will leave enough time for students to look for other financial aid if it is needed.

The verification process will also be reduced because students will be using the same information that they did last year. Institutionally, the Office of Financial Assistance will now be able to begin the

decision process of awards starting on Dec. 1. This is earlier than the previous deadline of March 1, according to David Krause, director of financial assistance.

For the current St. Mary’s students who turn in their FAFSA prior to the deadline, their financial aid could be released as early as after spring break.

This will let students know their financial award information earlier than it was provided in the past, which may help students have an idea of the amount they are likely to still owe for the incoming school year — allowing them to plan accordingly.

Incoming freshmen will also have a better understanding of how their financial aid works and can plan for how much more they need in scholarships, grants and

loans to cover the cost of attendance. As for returning students, they will have an opportunity to work more with the Office of Financial Assistance. “[The change will] better educate the students on how to pay for their college education,” Krause said.

In October there will be a “FAFSA Day” where faculty and staff will help students get through the application process. The goal is to have a higher amount of students turn in their FAFSA as soon as possible; details for the event are to come.

The Office of Financial Assistance hopes to achieve this goal with the new changes, so they are sending alerts via email and gateway to make sure students are aware of any deadlines.

Faculty members receive tenure promotions SAMANTHA SALAZAR

STAFF WRITER

Tenure, something most college professors strive to attain at educational institutions across the country, is a promotion that some professors at St. Mary’s have recently received. When a faculty member receives tenure, it assures that his or her contract will be renewed every year, unless dismissed for cause. The application process is yearlong and begins each fall when eligible faculty members are invited to apply, with decisions coming at the end of the following spring term.

At St. Mary’s, professors are eligible to apply for tenure in their fourth, fifth or sixth year of employment at the university. Leona Pallansch, vice provost for academic affairs, described the requirements.

“When they apply for tenure, there are certain written expectations that faculty members have to meet in the areas of teaching, research and service,” Pallansch said.

As a part of the application process, the faculty member puts together a tenure package that contains evidence that proves they meet the expectations in those certain areas. Next, the application is put through a four-step review process starting with the Tenure Review Committee, which is made up of all the tenured faculty members in the school of the applicant.

The Tenure Review Committee reviews

the applicant’s materials and votes to support or not support the application.

Next, the dean reviews the application and passes it on to the provost who makes a recommendation to the president as to whether or not the faculty member should be awarded tenure. It is the president who ultimately makes the final decision.

Tenure is a significant aspect in the dynamic of the St. Mary’s community both academically and spiritually. Academically, tenure allows professors freedom and eliminates constraints regarding subject matter.

“It really is a very important feature, not just here at St. Mary’s, but at any university, that the existence of tenure allows assurance that the curriculum is going to be vibrant, it’s going to be comprehensive, it’s not going to be constrained through self-censorship or any type of censorship,” Pallansch said. Spiritually, tenure allows stability among faculty members as well as wisdom to accumulate.

“And they really enrich the faculty community because you don’t have the constant moving in and out of your faculty.

There really is a strong sense of community that develops among the faculty,” Pallansch said.

This June, 13 members of the St. Mary’s faculty were awarded promotion and/ or tenure. Faculty promotions to full professor with tenure were awarded to Amy Hardberger, J.D. and Ramona Lampley, J.D.,

both with the School of Law. Additionally, Ahmad Galaleldeen, Ph.D.; Melissa Karlin, Ph.D.; and David Turner, Ph.D., of the School of Science, Engineering and Technology, as well as Katherine Hampsten, Ph.D. and James Colin McQuillan, Ph.D., of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, were granted tenure and promotion to associate professor.

“In terms of life of a faculty member, it’s probably the most important point of their professional development and for new faculty members,” Pallansch said. “It’s always their goal to achieve tenure. It’s a very important milestone and it’s important to recognize.”

PROMOTIONS TO FULL PROFESSOR Necia Wolff, M.L.S. Vahid Emamian, Ph.D. Jeffrey Johnson, Ph.D. Wenbin Luo, Ph.D. Mike Martinez Jr., J.D. PROMOTIONS TO FULL PROFESSOR WITH TENURE Chad Pomeroy, J.D. PROMOTIONS TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Steven Nivin, Ph.D. Anna Lurie, Ph.D. Amy Hardberger, J.D. Ramona Lampley, J.D. TENURE AND PROMOTION TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

James Greenaway, Ph.D. Rick Sperling, Ph.D. List of all faculty recipients who were promoted.

NEWS 3

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IT grows port infrastructure RICARDO E. REYES NEWS EDITOR

St. Mary’s University continues to expand the quality of services offered to its students by the work being done by members of the Information Technology (IT) team to improve the Wi-Fi access on campus.

It is important to understand that there is a separation between wireless internet access and the Ethernet ports responsible for wired internet. Both of these are projects that are continuously improved by the IT department at multiple levels.

To improve wireless connectivity, the campus has added more than a hundred access points across campus during the past spring semester. It changed the total from 513 to 615 access points.

These access points are responsible for the Wi-Fi connectivity range and quality on campus. These additions include outdoor areas such as The Pub’s patio area, some of Alkek Plaza, and the Provisions On Demand store.

IT has done a consolidation of the five access controllers provided on campus. Two of these are responsible for the connectivity in the dorms while the others control the public and, non-residential areas. The separation allows for students to wander campus without losing internet connection.

Updates to the wired connectivity on campus include a raise of the bandwidth, which doubled from 500 MB circuit to a 1 GB circuit of coverage. This creates a more stable connection on campus with the many student users connected to the wired infrastructure throughout campus.

Both the wireless and wired internet services are extremely important for students on campus. The desire to improve these projects is reflected in the work being done by the IT department.

According to Joseph Longo, director of Information Technology infrastructure, these improvements are made possible by the student feedback provided in the annual student survey. The survey is published every spring semester and is taken into account by several university departments.

“The Student Survey is very important to me because the feedback we get in that, is what’s going to help me drive our strategic

plan for infrastructure to make sure we are supporting what we need to improve upon,” Longo said.

This philosophy is reflected in the smaller changes being made, such as the focus on improving connectivity in Chaminade Hall, which was a frequent complaint provided on the student survey.

The survey allowed the IT department to identify that Chaminade Hall was clearly in need of improvement, which the department was quick to provide.

Another improvement is the work done for students’ leisure activities such as online gaming and video streaming. Both of these are considered amenities to the modern college experience. Faster upload and download speeds are noticeable markers of the updates done for students to improve internet performance.

The improvement of internet access on campus is an on-going project for the IT department. Longo expresses a dedication from himself and the department to provide as much as possible for students and the St. Mary’s community.

Student feedback matters when it comes to creating change on campus. The department strives to provide a quality experience for the students. If there are ever any issues, students have access to the Technical Support Center located in the Charles L. Cotrell Learning Commons, which is on the first floor of the Louis J. Blume Library. Any feedback provided through the student surveys and work-order submissions are vital for the continued improvement of the campus’ internet access.

Campus access ports. | Photo By Julia Ewalefo

Necia Wolff, librarian, enjoys the comfort of the new Goelz Faculty Lounge. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

Faculty gains lounge space in Goelz PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The Goelz Faculty Lounge, previously known as the Goelz Conference Room, is now open on the second floor of the University Center located in room 216.

There has not been a designated faculty lounge on campus since late 2013 when the construction of Reinbolt Hall initiated.

During that time, all other offices and classrooms in the building had to relocate to other places around the university.

At that point, the old faculty lounge in UC 230 was repurposed to an office space for the vice president for mission and rector.

For about a year, Provost Aaron Tyler and the faculty senate have worked hard toward finding a new space on campus for the faculty.

“For the last eight years I have been a teacher and faculty member here at St. Mary’s and I always appreciated the opportunity to spend time with my colleagues,” Tyler said.

“With all of the remodeling that took place over at the university center, when that went away, as a faculty member I felt that void and missed those opportunities.”

The Goelz Faculty Lounge officially opened on Aug. 23 and operates during the same hours as the University Center. The lounge is not quite in its finished form because there are still some furniture pieces being ordered such as curtains and a coffee maker.

Right now the faculty senate is also trying to get access to the small kitchenette that is attached to the lounge and the president’s dining room.

“The old space, although it was larger, was not terribly inviting — it was a lot like a waiting room for a doctor’s office,” Robert Boyd Skipper, associate professor of philosophy and faculty senate president, said.

The new space has more of a living room

feel to it. The lounge seats 15 people, has five coffee stands, one high table, a bookshelf and several decorative paintings on the wall.

The lounge was placed in the university center so that it can serve all the schools in a central location.

“What we have now is nice because you have the opportunity to possibly meet people from across the campus that you would never see or you wouldn’t know,” Terri Boggess, chair of exercise and sport science department and vice president of the faculty senate, said. “So it’s just a different way to meet people who are essentially your colleagues.”

Though the new lounge is smaller, it provides the necessary opportunities for meetings, small group discussions and gatherings for the faculty.

Goelz used to be a conference room that could be reserved by any St. Mary’s affiliate.

The conference room once had a long table with 14 chairs around it.

The university center coordinators revoked their statements about the way that reserving space has been affected. Some student organizations used to use the space to meet regularly.

Though it has taken away one conference room in the university center, the new space has ultimately given faculty a place where they can enjoy time away from their offices and meet new people.

“I think that, really, as we celebrate the family spirit here at St. Mary’s and community, it is important that our faculty have and find opportunities to be in community with one another,” Tyler said.

“The lounge is a great opportunity to give our faculty a quiet and designated space to meet.”

After the faculty convocation on Friday, Sept. 9, all present members were invited to check out the space. Since it has opened, Skipper has gotten a lot of positive responses from faculty about the overall layout.

Annual Civic Engagement Week furthers community educational development VALERIA GARCIA CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The office of Civic Engagement hosted a week full of events from Monday, Sept. 12 through Sunday, Sept. 18 to help students grow in faith, leadership and service.

Some of the events hosted were the “Father Ferree, S.M. Film Series,” internship fairs, the “Dare to Listen” public radio, a blood drive and a constitution day.

As a Catholic and Marianist institution, the university promotes the Marianist charism and helps them to be engaged, active and responsive to current issues.

Clare Acosta-Matos, director of Civic Engagement, calls this week an “invitation” because it gives students a chance to become more aware of the world today.

The week offered a wide-range of the events for students with different passions and interests. This year Civic Engagement Week started with the “Father Ferree, S.M. Film Series,” which focuses on many themes

of social justice issues.

The week of events continued with an internship and volunteer fair on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

Multiple organizations visited campus to share their mission and make conversation with students. It gave the students a chance to learn about service opportunities that they could potentially partner with in the future.

There was also a postgraduate fair later on in the week to offer information to students about doing service after graduation in other states and countries.

The Texas Public Radio’s “Dare To Listen” campaign also made an appearance on campus Wednesday, Sept. 14 outside of the University Center. The campaign focuses on healthy dialogue and aims to get people talking and listening about certain issues.

The week concluded with a blood drive and a constitution day.

“Ultimately, the purpose of this week is to continue building on a culture of education

Mathew Keller (left) participates in the volunteer fair on Tuesday, Sept. 13 l Photo by Natalia Zuniga

and advocacy,” Acosta-Matos said. “Allowing students to understand what opportunities are available and help them discern their place and vocation.”

This week strives year-to-year to engage in honest dialogue, build relationships, show students multiple service options and to practice the Marianist characteristics.

The Civic Engagement office is now

located on the second floor of the University Center. The staff works hard all year to provide resources to students before, during and after Civic Engagement Week.

“It is very humbling and beautiful to see that we have a student population who yearns to know more on how to walk with others and how to serve others,” AcostaMatos said.

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6 COMMENTARY

EDITOR: SOFIA ZANETTA | @STMURATTLERNEWS

College students struggle to cultivate long-lasting bonds KATIA REGUERO / SOFIA ZANETTA JUNIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS / SENIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

One risks an awkward silence after exposing intimate details to an acquaintance for the first time. If the recipient refuses to return his or her own details, the friendship never flourishes from an acquaintance.

Reciprocity is key when it comes to having and maintaining a long-lasting friendship.

St. Mary’s students may suffer from the inability to establish quality bonds while in college, as do many other college students across the country.

“The transition from acquaintanceship to friendship is typically characterized by an increase in both the breadth and depth of self-disclosure,” Beverly Fehr, University

of Winnipeg sociologist and author of Friendship Processes, said. “In the early stages of friendship, this tends to be a gradual, reciprocal process. One person takes the risk of disclosing personal information and then ‘tests’ whether the other reciprocates.”

Hectic courses and employment schedules can become difficult obstacles for students to overcome in order to truly bond with peers. Unorganized time management leaves little to no room for one-on-one quality time with other students.

The result can be a sense of loneliness and deprivation from experiences regarding peers after graduation.

The monotony of the routine cycle of going to class, doing homework, working and/ or participating on athletic teams, merits occasional free time that many students use to go out and party.

Partying is fun and entertaining for

those who partake; however, the quality of the socialization can be questionable.

A profound connection will not likely form at a bar or a frat party unless it was already present. How much of an in-depth conversation can one have over blasting music and alcohol and still remember it the next morning?

Students should engage in extracurricular activities that highlight their selfidentifications. Students’ initiative to pursue their interests, goals, values and beliefs will result them in meeting other like-minded peers.

Herein, quality bonds can be formed and thus the friendship prospers. According to Psychology Today, hefty helpings of emotional expressiveness and unconditional support are ingredients here, followed by acceptance, loyalty and trust)…(if anything, it’s giving and not receiving that makes

friendship more valuable.

It was the American statesman and inventor Ben Franklin who first observed the paradox, now called the Ben Franklin Effect: “He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another than he whom you yourself have obliged.”

College is a unique and wonderful opportunity to meet new people, as well as grow as conscious individuals. Having a few friendships of substance can truly help drive and shape college students’ lives. The networking that comes with it may also have great benefits in the future for students.

St. Mary’s students should make time to discover their likes and dislikes in order to better self-identify and grow with likeminded individuals. Students should also take advantage of the opportunities to continue in establishing quality bonds while they can.

Source from rila-ng.com

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Duration of 2016 elections jade US citizens Sofia

Zanetta SENIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

WWW.STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

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.

Watching a presidential campaign is like watching a long, suspenseful movie; one only wants to skip to the more important parts. American citizens have become jaded from listening to too much political banter.

In the U.K., an election can take as little as one month to complete. In France, the national election campaign takes four months. Japan limits their campaigns to 12 days. The U.S. presidential election process starts in January and ends in November, which is 10 months later.

The 2016 elections seem to feel longer than any other election cycles in history. The campaigns have consumed news media sources, shifting the focus of U.S. citizens from other relevant and important information.

According to NPR, from the day Ted Cruz announced his running for president in March of 2015 until Election Day in November, 596 days will have passed.

In other countries the government is more in charge of elections, they hold the power over the rules and logistics. They can even set laws in place regarding duration and limitations.

Mass media coverage is one of the most potent factors driving the elections’ length. Instantaneous coverage online as well as various cable channels see rise in viewership, giving them the best ratings outside of war coverage, according to sources on NPR. Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, points out that the problem is more in content than quantity.

“The amount of coverage isn’t as much of a problem as the kind of coverage,” Jamieson. saidAfter so much time it becomes hard not

to listen to whose speech is better, who has which financial advisers, who is spending what kind of money on what, instead of what policies each person wants to employ as well as what they stand for. According to Seeker, in other countries such as Gemany, France and the U.K., candidates’ airtime is subsidized.

The US History Online states, “As campaigns become more expensive across the country, candidates, government officials and outside agencies have called for limits on where money can come from. The intent of these limits would be to return power to the Electorate and take it out of the hands of

Special Interest Groups. Others believe that to limit campaign contributions in any way would take away the first amendment rights of individuals and groups to express their opinion on issues and candidates.”

Longer campaigns mean more money in politics. There is a greater sense of freedom, opportunity and competition involved in such lengthy campaigns; however, a balance in the days could help the public understand what each candidate stands for rather than become overwhelmed and hide from politics as a whole, no longer wanting to be a part of the process that impacts them monumentally.

Graphic by Sam Ramos

COMMENTARY 7

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Hooking up gears students toward anguish Jasmin

Rivera SENIOR, HISTORY

Source from Pinterest/ MK

Recent high school graduates across the nation have either expectations or a mediafueled idea of what college will be like. Some of the expectations are created through the portrayal of the youth in Hollywood’s films, where college is all about parties, hooking up and having a good time. However, college can be a place where one can be sexually awakened in the absence of an emotional connection, what is, in essence, a hookup.

In July, ABC news released an article about a study that was conducted on hookup occurrences. According to the article, “hook up culture” is a defining characteristic of college campuses.

It was estimated that for roughly 90 percent of women, the college experience involved a hookup. So, why is it that hookups have become such a defining aspect of the college experience?

One factor is that people are becoming more open and accepting of sexuality. There is no longer a barrier that deems sex as a negative act. It is seen as something that

everyone engages in.

The problem with this new mindset is that the connections people are making are revolving solely around physical attraction.

Although, there is nothing wrong with that, a negative effect of this mindset causes difficulty in creating connections that are meaningful such as emotional connections.

It is true that most relationships begin with a physical attraction and develop from there, but sexual relationships have the upper hand when it comes to relationships. That is because people are looking for physical satisfaction, not emotional fulfillment. It has become easier for people to find a sex partner than to find someone that they can share an emotional connection with.

That is where the effects of sexual satisfaction conflict with emotional satisfaction. Now, sex is the primary form of affection that people look for, both for males and for females. Many people do not look for emotional connections; something that is becoming the new norm.

Relationships are no longer being formed.

People are no longer invested in a long-term relationships or commitment. The extent of one’s commitment is minimalized to a single act.

Hookup culture has changed the way that people form relationships. Not all relationships are the same, but because of hookups and using sex as a primary form of affection, relationships themselves have changed. A couple might be emotionally compatible, but not sexually fulfilled.

This can create tension between the couple because sex has become such a prevalent part of what one associates a relationship with. This can lead the couple to break up or opt for an alternate and modern form of dating, such as an open relationship.

Hookups have negatively impacted the way that people connect. Yes, physical attractions are important and even though that might sound shallow, it is the base of what being attractive is to someone.

That said, relying just on sexuality could leave people feeling unfulfilled subconsciously. Becoming used to hooking up is not bad; it is a bad thing when it is the only form of affection and relationship that someone is capable of having.

Hookups in colleges are normal, but that does not mean that it is the healthiest form of intimacy. Sex is just one part of forming a bond, and people are forgetting that sex is not the only way to do so.

Colin Kaepernick, stands for country morals or disrespects national anthem PAIGE GANDARA VALDERAS / SOFIA ZANETTA SENIOR, ART EDUCATION / SENIOR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, sat near the edge of the football field as the rest of the stadium stood in salute during the national anthem. The game took place Aug. 29 against Green Bay Packers.

Kaepernick’s reason for sitting out was in protest against what he deems as unjustified wrongdoings against African Americans and other minorities in the U.S. “I am not going to stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color,” said, Kaepernick during an interview with NFL media.

Kaepernick does not support racism and inequality in the U.S. Though his form of expression was based on his beliefs, he received backlash for his actions and was ultimately deemed as disrespectful by many.

The way that Kaepernick responded during the national anthem is, however, protected by the first amendment and freedom of speech. Unfortunately the U.S. has become a country torn by opposing views on many issues, both sides refusing to come to a consensus.

Racism has had a firm grip on the U.S. even before it was a country, dating back to the colonization period. The climax of blatant racial discrimination met an opposing force in the 1960’s with the Civil Rights Movement. Since then, racism has met a firm and intolerable disapproval from modern society. This is an issue that Kaepernick is fully aware of thus

DO YOU THINK KAEPERNICK IS WRONG? WHY OR WHY NOT?

making his decision to not stand for the national anthem.

Chip Kelly, the niners coach, told NFL reporters that, “it is his right as a citizen. It’s not my right to tell him not to do something.”

Overall, U.S. citizens have the right to protest peacefully. The amount of unease in the country gradually gets worse and it uncovers more problems. Some people disagree entirely to Kapernick’s actions, while other people, including the 49ers, have supported and even donated to help raise awareness of racial inequality and hatred in American society.

Groups such as Black Lives Matter have also made a stand on the issue of racism. It has become all too common that minorities and people of color are not treated as equals in this country.

Racism has sadly brought bigger issues that are being overlooked such as bodies being found on the streets and people are getting paid leave for shooting innocent peoples, according to Kaepernick.

The people of the U.S. are the reflection of the values the nation holds sacred. Many people who speak out “in defense of the American flag” have long forgotten the true values of freedom and democracy. Twitter feeds refer to Kapernick as “Disgraceful,” “should be hung” and “part of the Muslim Brotherhood” all of which are uncalled for.

The amount of racism in the U.S. has improved over decades, but it has proven to not be enough. Being able to express concerns over these issues should be respected, especially with Kaepernick’s recent decisions.

Jesse Ventura former 38th governor of Minnesota, said, “That’s why I served my country. So that one has freedom to protest.”

Daria

Flowers

SOPHOMORE, MARKETING

The football season has just begun; however, eyes are glued to the sidelines instead of the field, specifically on Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers quarterback. His decision to abstain from standing during the national anthem has upset many U.S. citizens.

According to NFL Insider, Kaepernick shared his reasoning behind the decision stating he felt it was wrong to, “stand up and show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color...we have a lot of people that are oppressed. We have a lot of people that aren’t treated equally, that aren’t given equal opportunities.”

Kenny Vacarro, NFL safety for the New Orleans Saints, shared his opinion on Kaepernick’s controversial act and said, “I respect his decision to stand up for how he feels, but I don’t think you do it in that manner.

I think you stand up for the national anthem.

It’s bigger than just what’s going on around our country. You’ve got people fighting for our lives, fighting for our country every day. And I think there’s other ways that you can handle it.”

Kaepernick’s form of protest has opened the eyes of several people to the severity of racial oppression, but many who are against him agree that it is not the right place and time to

express his feelings on the matter. Kaepernick does have a valid point in raising awareness for police brutality, oppression against minorities and equality. While he is also allowed to exercise his right to freedom of speech, many say that instead of making a scene, Kaepernick could challenge his feelings in a less offensive manner off the field by raising awareness and directly giving back to the affected community.

In regard to NFL guidelines, “players are encouraged, but not required to, stand during the playing of the National Anthem.

As a whole, when the the National Anthem is recited, it allows listeners to become united as one, reflect on the great liberties bestowed upon us and honor those who fought for the freedom today. Kaepernick choosing not to do so is interpreted as extremely disrespectful to those who have fought, are fighting and have died defending, the country. In addition, while it is understood that Kaepernick wants to make a change in society, the fact that his actions were deemed disrespectful by many makes it difficult for many people to comprehend what the change in society desires.

While the racial divide in this country is growing larger than ever, Americans have the chance to be the voices and lending hands that bring everyone back together. Someone like Kaepernick, who is as big of a star on the field, finally had the opportunity to be an even bigger star off of the field, but ultimately expressed his beliefs in an offensive way to many.

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SGA 2016

Student leaders gear up for a n

St. Mary’s University Student Government Association group photo with names listed in order from left to right. top row: Riley Elder, Crystal Gonzales, Natalia Zuniga, Rosa Martinez, Mari Shana Le, Alex Mendoza, Francisco Olivas Carmona, Jonier Gutierrez, Josefina Flores, bottom row: Julissa Cantu, Cassidy Moss, Luis Zaragoza, Geovanie Ordonez, Barbara Falcon-Me

PRES IDE N T

Geovanie Ordonez, senior political science and international relations majors, is the president for the St. Mary’s Student Government Association. “I want to create an atmosphere where members of the SGA are empowered to make the changes students call for,” Ordonez said.

V I CE P RE SID E NT

Luis Zaragoza, senior industrial engineering major, is the vice president for the St. Mary’s Student Government Association.

“I hope to continue to assist members to have a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities,” Zaragoza said.

6:

“ “ “ “ “

[We] will work toward the development of a campus environment that promotes frequent faculty and student interactions.”

new year

Josefina Flores Chair, Student Life

We would like to increase our school spirit. All the students at St.Mary’s should be honored to be a rattler.”

Jonier Gutierrez Chair, Spirit and Traditions

I find it to be of the utmost importance to offer assistance to the student body’s academic experience.”

Julissa Cantu Chair, Academic Affairs

We want students to come back with the same enthusiasm they started with each and every year.”

Alec Mendoza Chair, Enrollment Management

We want to ensure that students are expressing their needs and they are receiving the help they need.”

Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian Chair, House of Representatives

ilyn Saenz, Karime Abboud, Alondra Garza, Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian, Aimee Trevino, endoza, Jacob Richardson, Jorge Manzanares. | Photo by Christopher Repka

F I NANC E

Cassidy Moss, junior accounting major, is vice president of finance for the St. Mary’s Student Government Association. “As a business major, I have the ability to recognize the benefits of effectively and efficiently using funds,” Moss said.

I N T E R NAL

Barbara Falcon-Mendoza, junior political science major, is the vice president of internal affairs for the St. Mary’s Student Government Association. “I want to restructure and re-brand the St. Mary’s University Student Government Association to be more inclusive and action driven,” Falcon-Mendoza said.

10 FEATURES FROM “COVER”

food options to live off of. The percent of people living in poverty in the area is 21.9 percent.

The students and faculty who reshaped the Community Garden are hoping to give families who do not have access to nutritious food an affordable options.

The plots that are being turned into the Community Garden were originally run by Marianist brother Chaz Lorenz.

Evelynn J. Mitchell, associate professor of environmental science, is the faculty member who restructured the project. “[Chaz] felt it was his calling to raise food for the needy and we hope to continue that legacy,” Mitchell said.

Also helping restructure the program is Brian Buchmeyer, director of the Marianist Leadership Program; and Denise Ma, senior environmental science major.

With their collective support and ideas, they strive to make the project grow throughout the campus and the greater community.

The funding for the Community Garden came from a community-based research grant. Without the grant, they could not have bought the supplies and resources needed to get the garden up and running.

“This grant program is designed to help faculty work with a graduate student in community-based research programs,” Mitchell said.

The Community Garden is located not

EDITOR: MEGANN VERA | @STMURATTLERNEWS

too far from campus, just down 36th street behind the St. Mary’s Center for Legal and Social Justice. It is maintained by various organizations on campus.

An organization “adopts a plot,” which means that the members take on at least two tasks a week. Examples include activities such as weeding the adopted plot, watering the whole garden and harvesting the crops from the plot.

Organizations can choose to send their harvested produce to a variety of non-profits such as the San Antonio Food Bank.

Throughout this process, participants learn basic farming techniques including planting, composting, weeding, watering and harvesting. Students and volunteers will receive service hours for their organization when they are on-site completing the weekly tasks they’ve taken on.

Mitchell has high hopes for the Community Garden.

“I hope that in five years’ time, we will have families from the community farming their own plots, and hopefully establish a second set of plots on campus,” Mitchell said.

The organizing committee has many plans set to get the community involved this semester such as crafts and harvest celebrations. The Community Garden is a great way for those at St. Mary’s to carry out the mission of the university.

Students are taught to focus on engaging in one’s community and helping those

Christina Carrion, senior exercise and sport science major, works on tilling the soil of her group’s plot.

Tilling, turning the soil, is one skill students learn working in the garden. | Photo by Megann Vera

who need it most. This project is a great opportunity to fulfill that purpose and to learn something new about nutrition and agriculture while aiding those who really need it.

For more information on how to get

involved with the St. Mary’s Community Garden, the direct contact is with Mitchell in Garni Hall room 202; Buchmeyer in the Student Life Office on the second floor of the University Center; and Ma at dma@mail.stmarytx.edu.

Organization promotes political engagement among student population MARISSA HOLGUIN STAFF WRITER

Revived from previous years, the St. Mary’s College Democrats, also known as the “StMU Dems,” have been thriving the past year.

Gabrien Gregory, sophomore political science major, reestablished the organization in fall 2015. He attributes an equal amount of success to its dedicated members and Daniel Reyes, sophomore political science major, who serves as the vice president.

The purpose of the StMU Dems goes beyond simply educating members on community, state and national politics as the group also focuses on building experience from volunteering and internships.

Potential employers will be looking for graduates who have done internships and have volunteer experience. StMU

Dems helps students find these kind of opportunities in the San Antonio area.

“The Dems are different,” Gregory said.

“We’re less restricted in our operations, there are no prerequisites to join us and you build connections with different community members. You get out of it what you take.”

While most other registered student organizations are usually confined to the St. Mary’s campus, the StMU Dems go offcampus for most things, including meetings.

Politics unfold on a daily basis and reflect on our campus life. As a private Marianist university, St. Mary’s has the right to abide by a sense of nonpartisanship. The StMU Dems respect that right, but still want to give students a place to express their political views.

The biggest misconception surrounding the StMU Dems is the idea that the group sits around only talking about

political issues.

The truth is that the organization goes out and seek opportunities to improve the campus and the surrounding community through civic engagement.

The group also participates in events for the national democratic party. On Saturday, Sept. 10, the group went to the San Antonio campaign offices of the presidential nominee Hillary Clinton to make phone calls to residents in Texas and Florida, urging them to vote in the upcoming election.

“Students should understand that this is an important election year that can affect our community right outside these gates,” Reyes said.

Reyes encourages students to get involved and join the StMU Dems.

Arturo Vega, chair of the political science department, believes that all liberal arts universities should have organizations

like the StMU Dems that facilitate spirited debates over conflicts, politics, ethics and values.

“Organizations like the college democrats only add to the viability of a campus environment,” Vega said.

Vega encourages participation in these kinds of organizations because they help promote acceptance of opposing views, or “agreeing to disagree.” Vega also strongly encourages other political groups to form campus organizations.

“Really the call should go out for the progressives and the populists, the socialists and the anarchists, even the Federal Society, to equally organize and to enter the arena with their competing views and thoughts,” Vega said.

Meetings are held biweekly at Sabina’s Coffee House, on Thursdays; the next one is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22 at 8 p.m.

The StMU Dems meet with Honorable Angelica Jimenez (fourth from the left) and Honorable Catherine Torres-Stahl (fifth from the left) to discuss women in politics at their first meeting of the semester.

They also had the chance to meet with Javier Salazar, who is running for San Antonio sheriff. Pictured from left to right: Daniel Reyes, Salazar, Edward Cuevas, Jimenez, Maximilliano Lerma, Torres-Stahl, Rosie Alvarado (judicial candidate), Shamaya Mohammed, Eyerusalem Debebe, Honorable Irene Rios, Samire Adam, Thomas Suarez, Alec Mendoza, Gabrien Gregory. | Photo by Marissa Holguin

FEATURES 11

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Artist transforms bus stop into artwork MEGANN VERA FEATURES EDITOR

Twyla Arthur, former adjunct professor of art, creates beautiful, functional sculptures around San Antonio by using tile and other found objects in a method of art called assemblage. Her latest piece is a bench at a VIA bus stop on South Alamo Street across from the Blue Star Contemporary Art Complex.

James Lifshutz, owner of Blue Star, commissioned the bench. This is the second bench that Lifshutz commissioned Arthur to create; the first was a memorial bench to honor Lifshutz’s father, Bernard Lifshutz.

Bernard Lifshutz was a member of the board for the Southwest School of Art. That bench is located on the San Antonio River near the school.

The most recent bench is located across the street from the art museum in the Blue Star development area. Fabrication of the bench began in the winter of 2015. Arthur started her work in mid-January and finished in mid-February.

“These things just take a long time to happen,” Arthur said.

The curved shape of the bench caused the project to take longer. Arthur worked with a tile setter to matte the small pebbles onto

the surface of the bench. She even used pebbles to spell out a Picasso quote on the bench: “art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”

“It’s a great public message to remind us of the importance of art,” Arthur said.

“Also, I can’t think of too much more that’s about the dust of everyday life than a bus stop on the street.”

Arthur received a BA in sociology from Central University, now called University of Central Oklahoma, where she also completed a minor in arts. She has a MFA in sculpture from Mills College in Oakland, California. Between her time as an undergrad and graduate student, Arthur had traveled and taken many art and photography classes at various community colleges.

Arthur was first a painter and worked as an artist in residence at numerous public and private schools around the country.

Now she focuses her art on sculpture and assemblage, using tile and other found objects to create pieces such as fountains and furniture.

“I tried to do several things that were more practical [but] that just didn’t work for me,” Arthur said.

The 2015–2016 academic school year was her first year as a college professor.

Bus routes 11, 51 and 54 make stops at the 1383 S. Alamo Street stop. | Courtesy of Twyla Arthur

Graphic by Megann Vera

Residents collaborate in community LOUISE DIAZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the fall of 2014, the Residence Life office designed a new program within the residence halls called Living Learning Communities (LLC). The program has been expanded since then, including the year-old Political Science Living Learning Community (POLLC), located in Founders Hall.

When the LLC programs first started, there were six communities: the Marianist Leadership Program, honors, biology, psychology, Rattlers Have Heart and the Rowdy Rattlers.

“The living community is the opportunity for first year political science freshmen to live and take classes together,” Gisell Orozco, junior political science major, said.

POLLC is the newest living learning community, and has been one of the most active since it started last year.

Orozco described the creation of the POLLC as a way to help bring people of the same major together. Not only are the students living together, but they are also building relationships outside of their regular meetings and activities. POLLC has really created a family atmosphere all on its own. “[It was] an astonishing thing for us to do,” Orozco said. “It brought the political science majors together and we’re really excited to continue this journey.”

The purpose of POLLC is to get the students engaged within the St. Mary’s community. It is also a chance for the students to excel in academics. The current students are living with their peers, but are also being mentored by last years’ POLLC students. The LLC has also provided a spark in their social and service life.

Since it is a political science organization, POLLC focuses on civic engagement.

Voting was one way to get people civically involved, which is why POLLC has held voter registration events. They aim to

bring awareness to the students about the importance of voting, especially with the 2016 presidential election right around the corner.

Like most other organizations here at St. Mary’s, POLLC is big on service.

Members participate in Continuing the Heritage (CTH) and other events in hopes of growing bonds with the San Antonio community.

One monthly program that POLLC has is “Meet and Greet,” which is only one of many activities that they engage in. Each month a different professor goes out with the community to a restaurant. During this time, it allows the members of POLLC to meet their professors in a casual setting and have a free meal while they are at it.

“That [“Meet and Greet”] was probably one of the best things that I think everybody looked forward to every month, getting another professor and getting to go to a different restaurant to eat free food,” Daniel Reyes, sophomore political science major, said.

Reyes, an active member from last year, now serves as one of the mentors for the current POLLC members.

POLLC currently has fifteen members, but there is no limit to how many people can join. Most members live in Founders Hall and ultimately pertain to the freshman class, but the community is always open to members who are willing to serve.

Reyes has benefited from being apart of this community and hopes the same for the new class. Being a part of the community also means helping each other grow.

“At the end of the day, I think everybody in the living learning community is held up to higher standard, just because we get to live with each other and get to know one another,” Reyes said.

Gisell Orozco has been the coordinator of the POLLC for two years and is glad to see the impact that the organization has made on freshmen. Last year she was awarded the Community Coordinator of the Year Award for her dedication to the group.

To read the full article and get more information on how to ride the public bus, please visit: http://www.stmurattlernews.com/home/2016/09/16/need-a-ride | Graphic/Compiled by Paige Gandara-Valderas

12 ENTERTAINMENT

EDITOR: MIRIAM ROBLES/ @STMURATTLERNEWS

Jesse “Pasta Man” Cano rocks out on the stage with his band, Four Count, on Friday, Sept. 9 at the Retox Bar, a common haunt for San Antonio rock musicians and local artists. | Photo by Marissa Holguin

FROM “COVER”

charm to the stage. Her vocals are paired well with the Cano brothers’ years of experience and musical talent.

Four Count is comprised of four artists who are great individually, but are also amazing together as a group.

Even though their repertoire is mostly cover songs, Four Count still manages to sound unique.

As for how they manage to work

full-time and be so active as a band, the Cano brothers say it is somewhat of a balancing act.

“I love working here, everyone is so nice and then on the weekend, we can go out and play. It’s a lot of work, but we love to play,” Jesse Cano said.

When the two worlds mix, however, it can be pretty rewarding. “[When students come and watch us perform] it makes me so happy. It’s a little nerve-racking though,” Jesse

Cano said.

Looking to the future, the Cano brothers emphasize that they want to keep performing together as much as possible.

“I’m going to keep playing as much as I can. Hopefully Danny will keep playing with me,” Jesse Cano said.

Four Count is a wonderful part of the San Antonio rock community and the St. Mary’s community as well.

The band plans to continue leaving its mark on the San Antonio art scene and

hopefully become a bigger part of the St. Mary’ community as well.

“We would love to play here,” Jesse Cano said about the possibility of performing at St. Mary’s during this year’s Battle of the Bands.

Four Count is also trying to land some performances at the Pub. The goal of the band is to ultimately reach a wider San Antonio audience.

The next performance will be located at the Helix, on Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. They would love to see more students come out.

VMAs highlight female performers SAMANTHA SALAZAR STAFF WRITER

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) never fail to make headlines and this year was no exception. This year’s awards were held on Sunday, Aug. 28 and broadcasted live from the Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The ceremony highlights this year’s best videos in entertainment and was action packed with appearances and performances from Hollywood’s top celebrities.

Although the night was full of stars across the celebrity spectrum, powerful and talented women, including Beyonce, Rhianna, Britney Spears and many more, dominated this year’s awards show. From electrifying performances to big wins, the VMAs were filled with girl power.

Pop sensation Britney Spears made a triumphant return to the VMA stage with

Source from mtv.com

her first performance at the awards in a decade. The singer, who had reached iconic heights with her “Slave 4 U” performance that featured an anaconda with rapper G-Eazy.

Rhianna was also a dominating force that night, giving four different performances of her greatest hits from her single.

The singer also was presented with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, also known as the Lifetime Achievement Award. The honor, presented to artists who have become forerunners in the music industry, has been previously awarded to Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.

Additionally, songwriter and producer Alicia Keys captivated the audience with a poem in honor of the 53rd anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

Beyonce stole the show giving a 15-minute long performance of songs from her sixth studio album “Lemonade.”

The singer, nominated eleven times and took home more awards than anyone else that night. Her song, “Formation,” singlehandedly took home the “moonman” for Best Choreography, Best Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Pop Video and the biggest award of the night, Video of the Year.

Women were really at the forefront of pop music this year and it definitely showed during the awards.

This female empowerment making a presence in pop culture and influencing the VMAs is refreshing, especially since this is the awards stage where only a few years ago Miley Cyrus was criticized for her oversexualized, appropriated performance.

It now shows Beyonce making a giant female gender symbol on stage out of her dancers. As a result, the VMAs are going to prove that female empowerment is becoming trendy in pop culture.

This year’s awards made for a spectacular and entertaining show, from new and upcoming artists to those who are no stranger to the VMA stage.

Graphic by Miriam Robles

New “Spider-Man” promises diversity JASMIN RIVERA MANAGING EDITOR

Marvel teased its latest incarnation of Spider-Man in “Captain America: Civil War,” which featured a much younger Spider-Man played by British actor, Tom Holland. Since the reveal, many fans have speculated what Marvel will bring to the new film reboot, especially since there have been five “Spider-Man” films in the last ten years.

In order to set “Spider-Man: Homecoming” apart from the two previous adaptations, the directors of the film are striving toward new and fresh choices. Casting, specifically, has gone in a different direction with this adaptation in order to highlight the diversity of the New York City borough of Queens. Although it is not confirmed, there is speculation that the role of Mary Jane will be the part of the film that will be the most changed.

Rumors have pinned Zendaya Coleman, mainly known theatrically as just Zendaya, as the actress who will be portraying the character Mary Jane. Mary Jane’s character is traditionally known as a redhead with green eyes. Zendaya is a mixed-race, American actress who is most famous for her Disney Channel roles in “KC Undercover” and “Shake It Up.” The audiences’ reactions to this casting choice are mixed, especially on Twitter, which has been the main forum for discussion. Some believe that having Zendaya play Mary Jane is “blackwashing”

the character.

“Since Mary Jane is being played by a Black woman, can MLK be played by a White man in a [sic] next movie about him,” said twitter user @keksec_org.

Christine Flores, sophomore computer information systems major, thinks that having women of color represented in movies is a good move for Hollywood to be more inclusive. It may also be a great move from a financial perspective because people will be curious on how the character is portrayed by a new actress. Flores also mentioned that casting Zendaya is a good idea because the movie is a reboot, and fresh casting means it will be visually different than the five previous “Spider-Man” films.

Zendaya is known for being an advocate for equality and female empowerment. Julia Hernandez, senior philosophy major, likes the idea that there will possibly be a woman of color portraying a leading role in a big movie franchise. “[Zendaya] is a good person for the role just because it’s kind of different from the traditional Mary Jane and I think it’s important for girls to see that,” Hernandez said.

It is not confirmed that Zendaya will be playing Mary Jane, but there is a possibility that she will be playing a character from the comics named Michelle. There are a few theories when it comes to Zendaya’s role in Spider-Man, but the public will just have to wait to see if the leading lady that has traditionally been given to a white, greeneyed and red haired woman will change.

ENTERTAINMENT 13

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Binge-Worthy TV Shows coming this fall If you like . . .

If you like . . .

If you like . . .

If you like . . .

Then watch . . .

Then watch . . .

Then watch . . .

Then watch . . .

The Netflix original series, directed and produced by Baz Luhrmann, explores the rise of hip-hop and rap during the late ’70s in New York City. The first season, which only has six episodes, is the perfect mix of humor, action, romance and an amazing score, which includes many original songs.

Created by rapper, actor and comedian Donald Glover, “Atlanta” follows a young burn out (Glover) who wants to manage his cousin’s upand-coming rapping career.

Much like Glover’s previous work, “Atlanta” is a funny, unique and has a somewhat surreal element to it.

One of the most anticipated shows of the fall, “American Horror Story” never fails to captivate audiences with its out-of-this-world horror. This season’s theme was shrouded in mystery all the way up to its premiere. With Lady Gaga starring as the leading lady, there will definitely be surprises.

A breakout CW show on its second season, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a musical comedy that follows a lawyer from New York who moves to California where her longtime ex-boyfriend just so happens to be. Full of drama, humor and original songs, the second season of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” promises to be just as good as the first.

Moulin Rouge

Louie

Jane the Virgin

Edward Cuevas, senior political science major, enjoys all that Sabina’s Coffee House has to offer and orders off their extensive and affordable menu before watching a performance. | Photo by Miriam Robles

New coffee house empowers local Latinx’s arts and culture MIRIAM ROBLES ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

An old two-story house in a neighborhood on the west side of San Antonio does not seem like a place to establish a new business, especially a coffee shop. Sabina’s Coffee House opened its doors to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 7 and is located on 2303 W. Commerce St. The coffee shop hopes to make an impact on the community by offering an atmosphere where people can come together.

Sabina’s Coffee House is a locally owned coffee shop and has an artsy spin. The remodeled two-story house offers a homey atmosphere to meet, talk and spend time with friends or people in the community.

The house gives off an artistic vibe and features autographed albums and movie posters, musical instruments and art by San

Antonio locals.

Students who have visited the locale also mentioned the inviting atmosphere. “[It’s] very homey and cozy. It gives me a great sense of community,” Edward Cuevas, senior political science major, said.

The menu includes homemade dishes made with fresh ingredients with heavy influences from the Latino culture. T he aim of Sabina’s is to provide good quality and healthy food for the neighboring community. This includes making everything by hand such as their salad dressing and even their tres leches cake.

“We also want to give our customers a place to feel at home, get a healthy meal,” MaryLou Castillo, owner of Sabina’s Coffee House, said.

The menu does incorporate a lot of healthy options without straying too much

from Latin roots such as vegetarian tacos, house salads and sandwiches made with local ingredients. All featured items are generally priced affordably.

Sabina’s Coffee House is more than just a regular coffee spot. The remodeled twostory house has also become a spot for Latinx arts and culture to come together. Sabina’s partners with Latinas Unidas Por El Arte (LUPE Arte), a nonprofit organization that promotes Latinx arts and culture through education, to give the Latinx community an area to express themselves.

Castillo, who is a member of LUPE Arte, emphasizes that her vision for the coffee shop was twofold.

“We believe Sabina’s will serve the artist and their artwork and at the same time provide food to all our audiences,” Castillo said.

That is exactly what the goal was when

opening Sabina’s; to have live music every weekend by local artists, as well as comedy nights, movie screenings, poetry nights and art exhibits in their large outdoor art venue.

Sabina’s Coffee House is a great addition to the local community, and not only because of the delicious food. Art expression in local culture and free spaces are becoming more and more rare. Sabina’s is setting itself up to be an important place on the west side where all types of people can be brought together by art and community.

Sabina’s is more than a coffee shop: it’s a place where students can gather and have fun at. With only 4.4 miles away from campus, students can go in groups to enjoy the inviting atmosphere that the coffee shop provides. Its hours are from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. everyday except for Sunday and Monday.

They are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays and are closed on Mondays.

14 HEALTH & FITNESS

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Detoxification contributes to mental health proficiency DARIA FLOWERS STAFF WRITER

As the semester proceeds and midterms are inching even closer, many students have become increasingly familiar with processed foods and increased caffeine levels. In times of stress, many people favor the convenience of junk food over continuing or establishing healthy eating habits.

Wings and fries on a Friday night at the Pub, a donut and coffee before an early morning class and midnight pizza parties in the residence halls are becoming all too common with students’ daily diets.

Over the past couple of years detox diets such as juice cleanses, fruit detoxes and slimming teas have become quite popular among people wanting to lose weight or simply obtain a healthier lifestyle.

According to a Suchee Patil, M.D. at Johns Hopkins University, a detox aids the body in the elimination of the buildup of toxins from the environment, what is consumed and chemicals that linger in the air that are harmful to the body.

While there are a variety of different cleanses and detoxes available for purchase on the market, including some that target specific areas of the body, the majority of them promise to do the same thing and are responsible for removing pollutants from the body.

Detox is broken down into two styles: a general detox and a targeted detox.

A general detox focuses on cleansing the body as a whole and a targeted detox allows the person who is detoxing to focus on the removal of toxins in a specific organ.

Whichever method is chosen, there are several physical and mental health benefits that can come from detoxing.

The most distinct benefits are better skin, weight loss, increase in energy, better mobility and overall improvement in health the immune system. The majority of these benefits are critical for college students’ success in being able to complete their studies.

While juicing can be unappealing to the ever-busy, hardworking college student, in order to get on the right track students can start by establishing a healthier lifestyle with a few simple steps such as drinking 8-10 glasses of water daily, making smarter food choices that incorporate all areas of the food pyramid, incorporating aerobic exercise, taking vitamins and establishing a healthy sleep pattern.

The main point to remember when considering a detox diet is that everything is good in moderation and that balance is key.

Detox can be done through fruits with high volumes of water. | Photo by Paige Gandara-Valderas

Dietary sanitation devotes additional support to fitness NICOLAS MCKAY STAFF WRITER

One of the most common food items in a college students’ dorm room are instant ramen noodles.

This package of cheap instant noodles has become synonymous with college life — precisely because they are cheap and easy to prepare.

Though the cafeteria at school offers a wide range of food choices, it does not stop bad diets from happening. Some of the factors that can affect diet are moderations, calorie intakes and overall self-control.

College students often do not have the time, money or resources to have healthy foods all the time. However, there are small changes people can make to help their diets.

One thing that can be done is to count calories. Mapping meals throughout the day can help people set realistic goals.

Many restaurants, including the cafe on campus, have nutritional information available for all menu items. Depending on the person’s age, size and goal, everyone should have a different calorie intake number per day.

Another option to help out with realistic goals is switching from sugared beverages to water. Drinking water will help clean out a persons’ system and will also help in the amount of calories taken in per day.

Sodas, especially, have a huge amount of sugar and can be stored as fat in the body.

While it can be hard to cut soda out of a diet, cutting back a little bit at a time can become easier to make the switch.

Gatorade and other sports drinks also have a high amount of sugar and have many electrolytes, which if they are not burned off, can increase a persons weight more rapidly

Graphic by Samantha Ramos

over time.

Sports drinks are best taken after workouts, if at all — they can still be harmful to a diet.

Another small trick is consuming more whole-wheat bread rather than the white breads that contain more starch. Wheat bread contains fewer carbs and provides more nutrients.

High carb foods such as pasta should also be cut into moderate portions.

One of the best ways to help any diet is to incorporate more fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are important to consume because they give more energy, taste good and have natural sugar that isn’t

as harmful as high-packed snacks such as candies or pastries.

Though starting a diet can be a hard transition, it has to start somewhere. It may be difficult to get into the swing of eating healthier, but it is possible with small changes.

Lean meat and fresh fish or seafood can also be a good start in finding new ways to eat. These options will help a person become healthier as opposed to eating fast foods and ramen noodles.

Although eating healthy is important, it is also vital to have cheat days. Giving rewards is a sense of knowing goals have been accomplished.

HELPFUL RESOURCES www.healthweekly.com www.healthy-holistic-living. com www.livestrong.com www.didax.com

SPORTS 15

STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Womens soccer team enters fall season with heavy prestige DEMARIUS HOLMES SPORTS EDITOR

Last Wednesday marked the first Heartland Conference meeting for the Rattler Women’s Soccer team this year when they faced the Texas A&M International Dust Devils. The team made themselves known as a contender, defeating the Dust Devils 7-3 at the Sigma Beta Chi Field on Sept. 7.

At the start of the game, Roxy Cruz Santory, junior industrial engineering major, scored the first goal of the game in the fifth minute off a feed from Lisa Tomenendal, senior environmental science major. After the dust devils netted their first goal of the game, Tori Andrade, freshman biology major, broke the dry spell in the 30th minute with another goal for the Rattlers off a pass from Taylor Durham, junior business major.

Shortly after, the Rattlers went on to create a gap as Alexia Maldonado, freshman mechanical engineering major, made her first goal of the game. Maldonado would soon add another goal expanding the lead 4 - 1.

A penalty kick 45 minutes into the game completed by Durham gave the Rattlers a fairly comfortable 5-1 lead entering the half.

Expectedly, the Dust Devils went on

a scoring run in the second half, making two goals, but would suffer from a spike in intensity from the Rattlers, which prohibited them from scoring the remainder of the game.

Goals from Rachel Gurinsky, junior marketing major, and Lauren Mlouhi, freshman finance and risk management major, gave the Rattlers a total of seven goals for the evening, concluding Wednesday’s game with a big win for the entire campus.

This game credits the women’s soccer team with three wins, making them undefeated so far this season, with other wins against schools such as the University of the Southwest and Oklahoma Baptist.

This year’s team seems to be picking up right where they left off last year, with improvements in all the right places.

Coming from an overall 10-7 record, the Rattlers are well ahead of their predecessors, and will hopefully continue to stay in stride all season long.

It is only the beginning of the season and this team is very well balanced with experienced and new talented players.

Combine that with an ever-growing team of chemistry, this may be one of the most respected teams in the Heartland Conference — something to keep an eye on as the year goes on.

Lisa Tomenendal, senior environmental science major, runs ball to the goal. | Photo by Natalia Zuniga

First three games of season set up goals for future games PAIGE GANDARA-VALDERAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The St. Mary’s Men’s Soccer team has already experienced a wide variety of stats in just the first three games of the season.

The teams’ first play of the season against Oklahoma Baptist University on Friday, Sept. 2 was 3-0 with an overall victory.

More than half of the Men’s Soccer team is comprised of new recruits, but that hasn’t stopped them from working toward the common goal of winning by working together as an efficient team.

Some of the players who helped with the three goals against Oklahoma Baptist included Dan Johns, senior business communication major; Luis Sanchez, sophomore electrical engineering major; and Juan Sanchez, senior marketing major.

The second game of the season was the teams’ first home game on the Sigma Beta Chi field played against No. 21 Colorado Mesa on Friday, Sept. 9. The overall stats of the Rattlers’ first home game were a tie 1-1.

Patricio “Pato” Botello Faz, sophomore exercise and sport science major, scored the first goal of the home openers game. The Mustangs eventually struck back with their

MEN’S SOCCER GAMES

own goal in the 45th minute, ultimately leaving both teams tied. Botello’s goal was the first of the season.

“It was my first goal of the season, so it’s always the special one,” Botello Faz said. “I was excited especially because it was a big game and it helped us get the tie.”

Though the first game was a win and the second game was a tie, their third game against Fort Lewis on Sunday, Sept. 11 played on the Sigma Beta Chi field didn’t let the momentum continue.

Fort Lewis won 4-2 against the Rattlers, which led them to their first loss of the season.

Though the team had a mix of wins, ties and losses in the first three games, they plan to win the next games to come. One of their main goals is to win a regional and, hopefully national, championship.

With the new head Men’s Soccer coach, Matt Barnes, and a team with passionate players, there is no doubt that the team will pick themselves back up with team effort, practice and determination for the win. “You got to be a team player,” Botello Faz said.“We have to work for each other and we got to be a team.” The Men’s Soccer team will now be playing Heartland Conference teams from now on. Upcoming are listed games below.

St. Mary’s John-Michael Villarreal and Colorado Mesa’s Malik Mennana. | Photo by Julia Ewalefo

SEPT. 22, @ HOME VS EASTERN NEW MEXICO

OCT. 1, @ MIDWESTERN STATE

OCT. 13, @ HOME VS. TEXAS PERMIAN BASIN

SEPT. 24, @ HOME VS WEST TEXAS A&M

OCT. 6, @ DALLAS BAPTIST

OCT. 15, @ HOME VS. LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN

SEPT. 29, @ OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN

OCT. 8, @ TEXAS A&M INT.

OCT. 20, @ NEWMAN VS NEWMAN

16 SPORTS

EDITOR: DEMARIUS HOLMES | @STMURATTLERNEWS

Gold Rush dodge ball participants | Photos by Julia Ewalefo

2016 JASMIN RIVERA MANAGING EDITOR

As a celebration and welcoming of the fall sports season, Gold Rush was held on Thursday, Sept. 15. The event was scheduled on the date of the volleyball match between St. Mary’s and St. Edward’s University also known as the “Battle of the Saints.”

Other sports that are played during the fall semester are golf, soccer and tennis.

This year the athletics department held an Olympics themed Gold Rush. Gold Rush is still fairly new at St. Mary’s. The event has been a part of the campus for approximately three years as mentioned by Gloria Montalba, business manager for the athletics department.

Students, both athletes and otherwise, were allowed to sign up for the Olympics, creating teams with friends and organizations. In total there were 17 teams that participated in the Olympic games.

The university police department, Kappa Sigma, Students Educators Association for dynamic Leadership (S.E.A.L), St. Mary’s Cheerleaders and the softball team were a few that participated in the Olympics.

Some teams came up with their own team names such as Asia, the Raptors, the Flaming Hot Cheetos con Limon, Hamarabe Angels, the Squad, and Squidward and SpongeBob, which were the names chosen by the softball teams.

There were a total of eight games that the

teams participated in: dodge ball, shaving cream and cheese ball, a water balloon toss, the three-legged race, tic-tac-toe, a frisbee throw contest, logo draining and scooter relay.

Teams were excited to be able to participate in something that allowed them to have fun while showing school pride.

Christina Lopez, senior environment science education major, participated in the Olympics with S.E.A.L. “It’s a good thing to have them [athletics] have students involved not only within the organization but within the campus,” Lopez said. “I think it is very welcoming, even though we have athletic teams, but still it’s all in the name of Rattler fun,” Alyssa Mascot, sophomore exercise and sport science major, participated in the Olympics with the softball team. Although Mascot is a softball player, she was happy to participate in the event that opens up the season for fall sports.

“I think it’s a great way to start the year and to kick off all the events,” Mascot said.

Team Asia was created by international exchange students who are attending St. Mary’s this semester through the IEP program. Katsuki Emi, a foreign exchange student, mentioned that his favorite part of the event was the shaving cream and cheese ball contest because it was something funny and new.

After Gold Rush concluded, students were able to gather at the AACC to support

the volleyball team as they prepared to play against St. Edward’s University.

Although Gold Rush took place from 4 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., the fun continued throughout the volleyball game. The Olympics’ winners were announced at

the game.

At the end of the night St. Mary’s won the Battle of the Saints game, which was the first home game of the season. St. Mary’s won with 5-6 and 0-1 leaving St. Edward’s at 3-6 and 1-0.

There were various winners at this years Gold Rush Olympics by categories. | Photo by Janellie Mendez