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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. 106 | Issue 3 | October 18, 2017 | San Antonio, Texas
NEWS
PG. 3
Founders Hall shifts to house sophomores OPINION
SAMANTHA SALAZAR NEWS EDITOR
PG. 6 The Young Conservatives table banner that sparked controversy. | Photo by Steal Adcock
The Young Conservatives, a registered student organization (RSO), has recently come under fire after hosting a controversial table in the University Center. The table, which displayed a large Trump banner, was highly criticized on social media by students who believed that the table violated university policy against campaigning. Although the backlash was widespread, the Young Conservatives’ table in the UC followed RSO rules and regulations, for the most part. In order for any RSO to have a table
in the UC, the organization must first go through RattlerTracks and be approved for the space. The Young Conservatives’ table had been approved for the sole purpose of recruiting members for their organization. However, after hearing about incidents involving students getting angry at the organization, Dr. Sherri King, director of student life, took a look at the table and realized this was not the case. “I went down there, I looked at the table and realized there were some problems here because there was
nothing on the table that identified it as being Young Conservatives … [A]ll the material[s] there were from various outside agencies or organizations,” King said. The university’s RSO office policy states that RSOs are allowed to have tables in the UC only for the stated purpose and only as long as this purpose is identified. Therefore after putting up a sign with the organization’s name, the group was then in compliance with the policy. However, for students on social media, this was not the CONTINUED ON PG. 2
VOLLEYBALL TRAINING ENDS IN TWO STAFF SUSPENSIONS MIRIAM ROBLES MANAGING EDITOR
Volleyball coach Callaway Logan and physical trainer Henry Briscoe have both been put on administrative leave by the athletics department as of the week of Sept. 24. There is currently an internal investigation in place regarding both staff members. The investigation unfolded when concerned parents of the volleyball team contacted the administration regarding injuries supposedly acquired by team members during a particularly intense training session. According to various sources and social media, Logan had instructed
Briscoe to run the volleyball team through an incredibly grueling physical training as punishment after an unsupervised night out. This training resulted in some of the girls getting injured, which sparked controversy among parents, especially after pictures of said injuries emerged on social media. The athletics department did not comment regarding the nature of the suspension nor the investigation, and the information gathered from the volleyball team is based on personal accounts and social media. Athletics Director Liz Dalton offered the following statement, “St. Mary’s University and the Department of Athletics [are] investigating an incident that occurred during a team workout on Monday, Sept. 18.
As is customary in an investigation of this nature, the university has suspended two staff members through the conclusion of the investigation. The university is taking all precautions to address this matter and plans to act with deliberate speed in this investigation, which is under the supervision of the Office of the President. St. Mary’s and the athletics department are committed to providing a positive educational environment for our students, including their experience as a member of one of our athletic teams. I would like to assure you that my foremost responsibility and concern as the Director of Athletics is the well-being of our studentathletes.”
Freedom of speech debate hits the football field
LIFESTYLE
PG. 10 Carefully helping those with mental issues
SPORTS
PG. 15
Softball coach Donna Fields receives award