Vol. 108 Issue No. 7 - 3/30/2020

Vol 108 | Issue 7 | March. 30, 2020 | San Antonio, Texas

Study abroad and international students face challenges amid COVID-19 SAMANTHA RUVALCABA NEWS EDITOR

In its second meeting with the World Health Organization held on Jan. 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a “Public Health Emergency of National Concern,” leading to travel restrictions and border shutdowns of countries with connections to China.

These travel restrictions, border closures, and lockdowns vastly increased after the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic that had reached over 110 countries and territories globally by March 11—halfway through spring break.

What followed for St. Mary’s students were a series of emails regarding 14-day self-quarantines for students, faculty, and staff that had traveled over the break, an extended spring break, and eventually the announcement that classes would resume online for the rest of the semester.

For many commuters and residents, this meant staying at home or returning to their homes earlier than anticipated. However, for the students traveling abroad and international students, factors such as travel restrictions and border closures have made it a challenge and even eliminated the option to return to their families.

Junior communication and international and global studies major, Sofia Soto, was spending her semester studying abroad in Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, when her time there was cut short due to the outbreak.

The Spanish government made its first announcement of closing its’ land borders on March 16. Days later, the Interior Ministry said the country would impose a 30-day restriction of entry for most foreigners at both air and seaports.

“Two days before they closed the borders, the universities in Madrid closed and the [St. Mary’s] university had a meeting with all international students and they told us they didn’t know what to expect next, it was unknown t o

them how serious cases would get, and classes would continue online for two weeks,” Soto said. “I was worried and as most students, I decided to leave for my safety on Thursday, the day before the borders ‘closed’ on Friday.”

Soto recalls the experience being a stressful one, but fortunately she was able

to return earlier with the help of study abroad coordinator, Raquel Urrutia, who maintained communication with her and the two other St. Mary’s students studying in Alcalá. With a month left in her

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program, she will be her classes online.

“This experience taught me to be flexible and adapt to my surroundings,” Soto said.

“Although my study abroad experience didn’t go as planned, it was a major learning experience I find peace in knowing I’m

home safe and healthy with my family.”

Students with study abroad programs planned for spring break, Maymester, and in the summer also received notification of their programs being canceled. Junior political science and international and global studies major, Valeria Varela, was getting ready to leave for her student exchange program at Doshisha University in Kyoto, Japan when she received an email about her program cancellation.

“I got notified that my program was going to be canceled through an email a couple of days before I was set to leave,” Varela said. “It felt like they yanked away this dream I’ve had for so long, this wonderful opportunity that I was so grateful to be able to have.”

Due to the amount of money that had already gone into the program, Varela decided to follow through with her study abroad plans. At the time, Japan had only closed its borders to people who had been in China, Italy, or Iran in the previous 14 days.

“Being away from home is rough on its own. I’ve never been away from my dad or my sister for this long this far away, but seeing how much panic there is back home, I worry more about my family and I’m making sure they follow the city rule and hope they stay home,” Varela said.

Students received notification on March 18 that residence halls would close on March 23, the same day online classes were set to begin. This development called for a quick turnaround in residents getting their belongings and moving back to their permanent place of residence.

Unfortunately, not every student resident had the option of returning home. Many international students had to find alternate places of residence because of the border closures in their home countries.

CONTINUED ON PG. 2

OPINION

LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

SPORTS

PG.3

PG.6

PG.7

PG.10

Trump responds to the COVID-19 pandemic

How to maintain a routine in quarantine

Different ideas to be socially distant

Student athletes react to abrupt season end

THE RATTLER

The Rattler will continue coverage of St. Mary’s online at stmurattlernews.com and @stmurattlernews on Twitter and Instagram

CHECK US OUT ONLINE! www.stmurattlernews.com

EDITOR: SAMANTHA RUVALCABA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | MARCH. 30, 2020

Fiesta Oyster Bake canceled due to COVID-19 SAMANTHA RUVALCABA NEWS EDITOR

The St. Mary’s Alumni Association has decided to cancel St. Mary’s largest Spring event, Fiesta Oyster Bake, following growing health concerns of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus .

Together, the Fiesta Oyster Bake Executive Committee, the Alumni Association, Board of Directors Executive Committee, university leadership, the Fiesta Commission, and the City of San Antonio had discussed postponing the event internally. The decision came on March 13, after Fiesta San Antonio Commission announced the postponement of Fiesta 2020 until November 5-15.

After taking a look at the new proposed Fiesta dates, the Alumni Association took several factors into consideration beginning with the potential access to the campus.

During that time in the fall, the campus will be filled with sporting events, the university will be getting ready for the annual Christmas tree lighting, and the Archdiocese of San Antonio will be having assembly—making it difficult for the campus to host an event as large as Oyster Bake.

Additionally, the association did not have confirmation from the bands on rescheduling for November at the time of the decision.

“It’s just a lot of stress that [postponing] puts on the campus, on the neighborhood; Trying to get confirmation from our volunteers if they were even available in November,” executive director of Fiesta

FROM “STUDY ABROAD”

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Sophomore biochemistry major, Andrea Cabrera, is from San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Cabrera usually goes home for the breaks but remained on campus for spring break. In a televised address on March 15, Honduran President, Juan Orlando Hernandez, announced full border closure with the exception of cargo.

“I was very heartbroken when I realized that our semester was going to be in an online format, but I was especially sad when I realized that I couldn’t be with my family in this time of crisis,” Cabrera said. “I couldn’t go home. Honduras was one of the first countries to close the borders in order to control the people who had been tested positive.”

Instead, Cabrera is residing with a friend in San Antonio. Junior finance and risk management major and international student Fernando Amans is in a similar situation that is keeping from returning to his family in Trujillo, Peru.

“When I first heard about the extended spring break, I tried to return to San Antonio as soon as possible. I did not think that this would be a bigger problem,” Amans said.

Peru announced the closure of its border for at least 16 days beginning March 16, just after declaring a state of emergency.

“I was worried because I was not able to go back to Peru because

Oyster Bake, Stephen Rosenauer said. “With all those different factors that were involved, we really kind of thought that the best decision was to cancel the oyster bake this year and then get everything ready to go in April 2021.”

Postponing the event would have also posed a greater risk of financial implications for the association. Hosting Oyster Bake in the fall would have called for a speedier turnaround to have the event up again in the spring.

The association is currently in the process of contacting all of the bands, vendors, and suppliers in hopes of having the money deposited for Oyster Bake 2020 rolled over

“

With all those different factors that were involved, we really kind of though that the best decision was to cancel the oyster bake this and then get everything ready to go in April 2021.”

Stephen Rosenauer

executive director of Fiesta Oyster Bake

to 2021. Rosenauer expressed his gratitude for the responsiveness and willingness of these partners in the utilization of these deposits.

“We’re very fortunate that we have very good relationships with the bands, the vendors and our suppliers and our sponsors as well too. Everybody is really pulling together to really limit the financial the frontiers were closed. However, I was confident that I would be okay because St. Mary’s was allowing international students to stay on campus,” Amans said.

Another Peruvian international student, senior psychology and Spanish major, Angel Velarde, would need to contact the Peruvian consulate and ask to be sent back on a plane of humanitarian service for people wishing to return. Fortunately, the university has allowed students with cases similar to Velarde’s to remain on campus.

“At first, I got scared because I was not sure where would I go until I read the email completely and realized that I would be allowed to stay if I would contact Residence Life and explain my situation.

They really helped me,” Velarde said.

T h e u n i v e r s i t y ’s closures and precautions and response to COVID-19 affected more than Velarde’s hous i ng situation. His job on campus as a Starbucks barista has been put on hold, leaving him without income. “ M y position was my main source of income.

Therefore, I was fully dependent on it because I do not get any funds besides my Graphic by Natalia Zuniga

2 NEWS

hardship and really gearing up for 2021,” Rosenauer said.

Rosenauer also addressed the concerns regarding the event cancellation’s impact on future scholarships for St. Mary’s students.

As the association’s largest fundraising event, Oyster Bake usually attracts 60,000 to 70,000 attendees, generating several hundred thousand dollars. Well before Rosenauer himself was a student at the university, the Alumni Association created a scholarship endowment fund for the university.

“Fortunately, because of the foresight years ago, and because of the success that we’ve had with our fundraising events over the year, that endowment fund was able to grow to about $8 million,” Rosenauer said.

“With that endowment fund, it’s able to generate scholarship funds each year. The Alumni Association will still be able to provide scholarship funds to those students this year.”

“The St. Mary’s University Alumni Association strives all year long, and especially through Fiesta Oyster Bake, to support the students and programs that define a St. Mary’s education,” said Chair of Fiesta Oyster Bake and University trustee, Michael J. Martinez in a release sent out by the association. “Although our decision to cancel our 2020 event may disappoint alumni, friends and fans, our commitment to Fiesta Oyster Bake remains strong. We look forward to welcoming our community back in April 2021.”

The new Fiesta Oyster Bake dates are April 16 and 17 of 2021, with Baby Bake scheduled for March 27, 2021.

“

I was very heartbroken when I realized that our semester was going to be in an online format, but I was especially sad when I couldn’t be with my family in this time of crisis.”

Andrea Cabrera sophomore biochemistry major

scholarship,” Velarde said. “International students like me cannot have multiple jobs since immigration laws only let us to work maximum 20 hours per week. For me, it meant a negative impact on my education as well as on my financial situation.”

An email was sent out to student employees on March 20 from the office of human resources regarding continued employment. Students awarded federal work-study will continue to receive payment of their award without returning to campus for work, and student workers were asked to speak with their supervisors for further direction.

“Continued employment may depend on your ability to perform your current duties on an alternative work plan or deploy you to assist with other job responsibilities,” said executive director of human resources Janet Guadarrama.

“For now, I can hope that the situation will be better next semester so I can come back to my job. If not, I will not be able to pay school and finish my degree,” Velarde said. “I just hope for the best on the next couple of months.”

OPINION 3

EDITOR: VICTORIA SALDANA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | MARCH 30, 2020

Trump’s response to COVID-19: has it been appropriate?

Robert

Moncada

STAFF WRITER

With COVID-19 continuing to rise in the United States, President Donald Trump has taken swift actions to respond to the outbreak in the country. Earlier in the past month, President Trump designated Vice President Mike Pence to spearhead the country’s efforts alongside the Department of Health and Human Services to curb and cure this virus. Nonetheless, the president has reacted in the country’s best interests.

Through the combined efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services, the vice president’s leadership, and countless doctors and pharmacists, the U.S. is handling COVID-19 with a steady hand. As the country has now passed Italy and China in total number of confirmed cases, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has now issued testing centers across the country, with tests becoming more and more available in Texas in several counties.

Although the U.S. has been taking action, officials from the administration are warning to not take this virus lightly.

“I think it’s very important that we treat the American people like adults and explain to them that we don’t know where this will go, that we will see more cases, that we will see continued community spreading in the

EDITORIAL STAFF Editor-in-Chief Samantha Salazar Managing Editor Isabela Vazquez Copy Editor Louie Diaz Layout and Design Natalia Zuñiga Advertising Manager Demi Bestor Photo Editor Ivan Briones Web Editor Victoria Valle News Editor Samantha Ruvalcaba Lifestyle Editor Polina Protazanova Opinion Editor Victoria Saldana Entertainment Editor Jacob Henson Sports Editor Larry Rodrigiez Shea Faculty Adviser Camille Langston, Ph.D.

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

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

United States, as we’re seeing around the world,” said Alex Azar, Secretary of Health and Human Services, in a press briefing.

“But we have the most advanced public health system and surveillance system in the world. We are actively working on a vaccine.”

With schools across the country shut down, the country has entered into unchartered territory. The U.S. and the CDC are enforcing that citizens Stay Home and Stay Safe, while avoiding gatherings of 10 or more people. These efforts are being implemented by the administration to slow the spread of the virus any further. Through unity and combined efforts, the American people can overcome these trying times.

With President Trump signing the $2 trillion stimulus bill into law on March 27, furloughed working Americans will be able to receive their stimulus checks, and the economy will be given the boost it needs in order to stay alive, and not fall to a recession similar to the one in 2008.

“The President’s response, while vague, is exactly what the public needed to hear right now,” said Brooke Meads, senior political science major. “There’s a lot of people that are scared for their futures and their livelihood and reassurance from the highest office is what they needed to hear to get them through this difficult time.”

Reassurance and calmness, right now, are of the utmost importance for citizens of the U.S. With the executive branch advising not to panic, it is necessary to not instill fear in the American citizen.

In addition to this failure to take the pandemic seriously, the president also Saldana failed to properly prepare the U.S. for the OPINION EDITOR pandemic. Even if he truly did not believe the pandemic would reach the states a COVID-19 has been on the rise in the threat like this virus is still something to United States since January. The state of prepare for, just in case. Instead, Trump the virus in U.S. has progressed and gotten and his administration spent trillions on more serious but President Donald Trump national defense. has failed the U.S. by his lack of immediate “The American military has been and serious response. completely rebuilt under my administration In January and just last month, on Feb. 10 at a cost of $2.5 trillion,” Trump said in an President Trump was assuring the American address concerning military action public the virus would go away and against Iran in early January 2020. there was nothing to worry about.

He has the mind to be pragmatic “Looks like by April, you know, in and prepare, but he did not properly theory, when it gets a little warmer, prepare the American people for a it miraculously goes away,” President threat the military cannot fight. He Trump said at a campaign rally. was not pragmatic with developing However now as April approaches testing kits and declined the use of it has become apparent this virus the tests produced by the World is spreading fast in the U.S. The Health Organization.

The president had ample time administration was adamant and resources to have taken about waiting for kits produced preemptive measures but by the Center for Disease Control instead he criticized and watched and Prevention. This slow response China struggle to put measures has created a chain effect and now in place to protect its people. He many people cannot find tests in failed to look critically at his own their states, especially if they do administration’s handling of the Graphics by Ivan Briones not live in a virus hot spot like pandemic.

New York City and Washington D.C. “It really feels as if President Trump isn’t It really feels as if President taking the threat of COVID-19 seriously,” Kimberly Salazar, senior psychology Trump isn’t taking the threat of major said. “I wonder if the consequences COVID-19 seriously.” of the coronavirus would be as severe if Kimberly Salazar preparations were made earlier.”

Victoria

“

senior psychology major

Students should be reiumbursed for costs associated with closing campus Victoria

Saldana

OPINION EDITOR

Globally, most everyone has had to adjust their lives, businesses, and education plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

When students left for spring break, they certainly did not expect to be discouraged from returning to campus for the rest of the semester. But as COVID-19 has crept into the U.S., universities across the nation and state have decided it is best if students stay away from campus where large gatherings make it a paradise for the virus to spread.

Campuses across the country are closing down, but what about the thousands of dollars students pay every semester to live on campus; will it simply go to waste?

In an effort to slow the spread on campuses, universities have made classes online, closed campus amenities, and encouraged students to stay home. St. Mary’s has shut down amenities like the gym and other places for student activities, as well as limiting dining hall options. Other eating facilities like Chick-fil-a, Subway, and the POD are completely closed. All these steps have been made to protect students, staff, and faculty from the virus, but while protecting the students universities are also hurting the students if proper reimbursement are not distributed.

Universities have the safety of their students to consider, however it also important to consider the month of housing and meal plans that will go unused for students no longer on campus.

Students are doing the right thing by moving out of campus if they are able. They are protecting not only themselves but their friends, family, and community, but there should not be this steep of a loss. Students should be reimbursed a prorated amount dependent upon their room and board cost and the lost amount of time. If not this then at the very least, there should be a credit to their account next semester so that they pay less to make up for the loss time this semester— although this plan completely disregards graduating seniors. St. Mary’s has yet to make an announcement regarding potential

Graphic by Ivan Briones

reimbursements.

This pandemic has been hard on everyone—staff, professors, and students.

But of these, students are the most vulnerable of this pandemic; possibly losing their jobs could create financial ruin and keep them from continuing their education next semester if things do not get better.

In an effort to keep everyone afloat in this time of crisis the university must do what they can to lighten the financial burden this pandemic can have on students.

The Dean’s List for Fall 2019 Published: Spring 2020

UNDERGRADUATE LIST Greehey School of Business

Tanuja Singh, D.B.A., Dean HIGHEST HONORS

Jocelyn Alvarez Bibian Bianca Anchondo Alexander A. Avina Olivia Ryan Bachelet Marco Casanova Vanessa Noelle Chavez Guadalupe Delgado Charli Diane Delmonico Daniela Maria Duran

Anthony Thomas Millan Lauren Alia Mlouhi Montserrat Moreno Diego Matthew Gustavo Mullin

Alejandra Novoa

Magda Mayela Olivas Carmona

Kirsten Kay Payne Natalie J. Pena Ashley Marie Penshorn Mikayla Aiya Annelle Durham Valeria C. Perez Pierre Elbayeh Emily C. Pierson Janette Marie Emery Bojan Popovic Jakob Emmanuel Espinoza Ruben G. Ramon Victoria Garcia Taylor Elizabeth Rech Katarina Grace Garza Pedro Rivera Callan Joseph Gawlik William E. Rybicki Daniel Christopher Gill Enrrique Santa Cruz Patrick David Glenn Kierstin N. Sifuentes Miranda Lee Gonzales Lance Christopher Siler Jeremiah Joseph Gonzalez Kimberly Nicole Simmons Gabrielle Elyse Gonzalez Lori E. Sims Diana Isabel Gutierrez Villasenor Christopher Sullivan Sistrunk

Maroun J. Harb Marisa Sanchez Ibarra Salah Bassam Ismail Rylie Jean Kieny Shelina Markose Clarissa Garcia Martinez Gerry Jeremiah Medlin

Zane Christian Smith Ryan M. Smith

Miguel A. Terrazas Ramirez

Andrew J. Townsend Cecilio Trevino Christopher M. Vasquez Patrick Farley Vlieger

HIGH HONORS

Steven R. Blancas Madeline Ann Blevins David Andre Bogran Daniela Cardona Nadia Dezena Carrasco Alicia Beatrice Castellanos

Cody Caleb Miller Daniela Haydee Morales Rafael Adrian Morales Emmanuel Moreno Nadia Simone Jean Morrow Isabella Kavita Mulwani Matias Martin Castro Delfino Maria B. Navarro Ana Cravioto Herrero Sandrina Bleu Ramirez Allison M. Dauphine Azucena Rangel Olvera Laura Dicun Markus Alexander Reyes Lisa D. Dinh Perla Belen Del Carmen Bethany I. Duffy Reyna Mendoza Jose Rodrigo Fernandez Kaitlyne Ruby Roberson Marco Antonio Flores Katherine M. Rodriguez Sarah Anne Foguth Yulissa A. Salazar Alexander Randall Gee Edith Santos Sevilla Colby Alexander Nicholas Guillory Enrique Benjamin Segovia Jonier Gutierrez Arellano Mauricio Soto Zainab Ali Huwaidi Matthew Joseph Swartz Rinnu Joy Carlos Andres Tami Bryce Emory Laursen Arianna Michelle Thielen Avery Bay Looney Jacob Aaron Toranzo Gabriel E. Lopez Cordero Jett Torres Marc Anthony Maciel Alejandra Danielle Tovar Alexandria Rose Martinez Audrey Renee Uribe Ava Danielle Martinez Cristopher Fertitta Valdez Rudy J.a. Martinez Alex Valdez Lauren Nicole Martinez Alejandro Valdivia Dashia Lorenza Miles Cordelia Villalpando de la Garza Evia Keaton Gene Milford

HONORS

Juan Aguilar Mauricio Albo Arlayah Re-len Alderete Maria Jose Alvarez Fernando Alberto Amans Jonathan Anguiano Juan Antonio Arceo Josselyn Arrieta-Meraz Emily Marie Ayala Alexa Gabrielle Baca

Andrew Falconi Olivia J. Faulkner Timothy Anton Feist Marlon Joel Flores Jessica Pauline Flores Pedro Angel Fuentes Emily Ann Gallegos Maria Andrea Garcia Kayla Anahi Garcia Robert Diego Garcia Vaca Luisa Ximena Barbagelatta Grau Alexia Garcia-Aspe Matthew Bennett Taylor Nicole Germain John Paul Bogran Luis Salvador Godoy Avila Cassidy Maye Brawley Gabriel Gonzalez Bari Del Christian Clarissa Gonzalez Danielle Renee Costly Jose R. Guerrero Nathaniel Joseph Diaz Jennifer Lyanne Gutierrez Julio C. Espinoza Victoria N. Helmers Alejandra Estrada Bianca M. Hernandez

Lauryn N. Hyde Haleigh D. Jordan Anabel Faith Korrodi Colten J. Kraus Megan Elizabeth Krippel Bruno Rodrigo Lezama Zoraid Ines Mahomar Doan Mai Brisa Marina Marcelino Hernandez

Ricardo Alberto Medina Matthew Timothy Merrill Marco A. Montes de Oca Aylin A. Montes de Oca Bruno L. Montesdeoca Adan Alejandro Morales Richard Joseph Morales Princess Morgan Anthony J. Moulton Eric M. Mudgett

Joseph M. Napier Angelica Renee Rabago Miranda Nicole Ramos Judy Alicia Reyes Patricia M. Reynolds Alessandra Rivera Fernanda I. Sandoval Mendoza

Zyania Sofia Seijas Teodoro Alexis Soto Charles J. Spradling Karla Elizabeth Tobias Andrew Khoa Tran Amanda N. Uribe Mark Joseph Vaporean Natalie K. Varnell Sierra Isabella Vera Lesli Vidal Gerardo Villarreal

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Leona Pallansch, Ph.D., Interim Dean

HIGHEST HONORS

Greyson Lee Addicott Maya Leonor Aguirre Jazlynn N. Ajel Miranda K. Alamilla Samar Saaban Alshehri Chelsea Ariana Alvarez Basil Hayyaph Amri Omar Zachariah Baki Caroline Clarene Barnes Nicolas B. Basaldu Marie Noelle Baumgartner Sarah Racquel Bernal Floridell Cachuela Berry Araceli Milan Bononcini Angie Cecilia Bravo

Kelly Elizabeth Leary Tiffany Kari Licon Saira Michelle Locke Enrique Valentin Lozano Jezel J. Luna Allison Lee Magera Maria Aurora Mancha Andrea Marin Nunez De Arce

Amara Maritza Martinez Lesley Michelle Martinez Anthony H. Martinez Byron A. Martinez Cassandra Leigh Mccann Pablo D. Medina Kayla Angelina Mendez Rhiannon Elizabeth Broussard Alejandra Mendez Sequoia N. Callahan Claryse Alexa Mendoza Amilynn Nicole Campa Michael Cuenod Mengler Rebecca J. Campos Alison Arlette Morales-Aguilar Sebastian Carnero Marisol G. Moreno Elisha Carrillo Diana Munoz Stephanie Aglaee Cerda Miranda Hoyt Narvaez Angela Cervantes Catherine Amanda Navarijo Maria Belen Cervera Davis Nickle Jose Francisco Chaman Annissa Marcelino Noblejas Raul Antonio Colunga Any Ojeda Alamilla Megan Marie Copeland Renee Nicole Padilla Blake Adam Corliss Maria Guadalupe Partida Angela Perez Sierra Monique Coronado Celeste A. Perez Gonzalez Francisco Gabriel Cruzado Marcus Simon Plataniotis Azucena Cuevas Laura Sofia Ponce Christopher David Dancy Polina Protozanova Victoria Isabella Davis Vanessa Quetzeri Sarah Daniela Diaz Miguel Angel Ramirez Phoebe Bryce Dickinson-Land Eden Victoria Ramos Alexis M. Dillon Madeleine L. Reeves Christopher Francis Dunn Jamira Gabrielle Richardson Maria Dolores Esquivel Noah Steven Riehle Ryan J. Estes Etiem Geovana Rivera Gonzales Catherine Mercedes Flores Anthony Louis Robledo Natalia Flores Ysenia Adria Rodriguez Thomas Daniel Fraire Emily Marie Rodriguez Grace Catherine Frey Ana Citlalli Rojas Joseph Richard Furman Giuliana A. Roman Eva Fernanda Garcia Sofia Natalia Ruescas Arieana Monique Garcia Thalia Blanca Ruiz Vanessa Nicole Garza Victoria Anais Salazar Eric Jordan Grant Samantha B. Salazar Samantha Michelle Guajardo Irene Rene Sandoval Elizabeth A. Guardiola Ana Paula Saravia Francesca Lucia Guglielmo Gabriela Verenis Serrato Mikaela Rachel Hartmann Angeles Ivonne Silva Ariel Celeste Hernandez Stephen Andrew Talik Yamel Claryssa Herrera Nicholas Ivan Tapia Omar Herrera-Miramontes Alice Louise Thane Christopher L. Hohman Madison T. Ticas Antonio B. Holverstott Isabella Adonia Torres Gregory Ryan Huerta Cristianna Alexis Tovar Brandon Ichavez Aimee A. Trevino Emily Teresa Jensen Glory F.E. Turnbull Staci Nicole Johns Victoria M. Valle Samantha Renee Lara Victoria Natalie Camille Valtierra

Carlos Roberto Vazquez Shalini Venkat Victoria A. Villanueva

Ian Marshall Warner Elijah A. Wheeler Thiffany Lilian Yeupell

HIGH HONORS

Angelica Aguilar Amal Albarrak

Margaret Patrice Maguire Sarah Ashlea Mares Savannah Alexandria Alcazar Jessalyn A. Martinez Allison N. Alvarez Alicia Martinez Celeste C. Apsey Ian C. Mayfield Paola Dahe Arellano Eryn Jimmy Mejorado Maxx Anthony Arizmendi Karol Viviana Miranda Luis Fernando Arroyos Luis A. Morales Yecenia Arteaga Diego Xavier Moreno Frances Marie Bendele David Moreno Haley Nicole Bradfute Christopher Daniel Mullenax Zoe A. Brigman Timothy Brian O’Dekirk Brittney Lauren Carden Maria Isabela Onofre Brandi Cheung Wendy C. Ornelas Saul Contreras Martin Abigail Kurtis Page Edelia Corona Julia Bailey Patrick Aleea M. Costilla Kayla Nicole Patton Catherine Joyce Cruz Courtney Jean Pena Ezequiel De La Fuente Elizabeth Dalaiah Perez Parker Alexander De Leon Colin John Platz Rory Danae De Los Santos Wilzave Quiles Guzman Diamond Danielle Estrada Valeria Edith Rivera Kristy Rose Feather Maria Guadalupe Rivera Lyzette Flores Gabriella Marie Rivera Kacey Y. Fujino Marina Rodriguez Sara Yael Funes Jennifer Rodriguez Paul Anthony Garza Meghan Elizabeth Godinez Larry Edmund Rodriguez-Shea Denzel Gustavo Rubio Gomez Ana Paula Gonzalez Kimberly A. Salazar Gabriella Gonzalez Samantha Geree Schulte Geoffrey Gutierrez Madison Rozelle Schultz Alicia August Guzman Sydney Paige Hardeman Cassie Elizabeth Hawley Matthew S. Hernandez Jeri A. Hernandez Yuhui Huang Rebekah A. Hubacek Gabriella Ioannou Luis C. Jaen Amerika L. Jayme Kathleen Jane Karp Dorian Christian Keller Cherice Ilana Leach Paulina Lejarza

Franchizca K. Scipio-Brown

Jacob Vincent Silva Jasmine Rose Sims Sofia Lore Soto Alexia Torres Sarah Daniela Uhlig Samantha Judith Valverde Erin Victoria Vento Leah A. Whitaker John Douglas Wittenberg Mitchell Reese Yocham Isabella Young Aneesa Manar Zubair

HONORS

Natalie Aguilar Nathan Sebrant Alba Victoria K. Aldridge Eva Noelle Alpar Megan M. Angelo Andrew Arizola Bailey Aaron Babineaux Jonathan B. Balderas Seana Maria Barclay Jared Wayne Barry Alin C. Bocardo Felix

Alyssa Brianne Estrada Sabrina I. Evans Michelle R. Falcon Cian Foley Brianna Renee Ford Zaraly Zennedt Frasquillo Bejarano

Shanita A. Frazier Andres Sebastian Garcia Ileana Marie Garcia Crystal Garza Alejandra Gayosso Otero Cynthia Marie Bonham-Miller Thalia Mia Gonzalez Todd Devin Brauckmiller Pedro Gonzalez Aboyte Dalton R. Brooks Kassandra R. Guillen Caroline Madison Bush Benjamin Case Harper Indira C. Cardenas Elizabeth Monik Hernandez Abigale Louise Carney Justin D. Holden Summer Rae Casarez Jason Cody Hoosier Vanessa Marie Castanon Grace Dianne Ibarra Eliane Castorena Emily Esmeralda Infante Marina Salety Castro Antoinette Sharee Johnson Margaret A. Cavazos Mostafa Thamer Kamal Susana Lizet Cisneros Lindsey M. Kaufman Joshua Arlin Collins Anthony Bryan Klutho Robert Colorado Cameron Ann Koerner Adrian Michael Cook Hannah R. Kristynik Mariah Katheryn Cox Jordan Cecile Kupczynski Deni Jose Lima Cresto Darrien F. Landin-Perez Abigail Grace Csengery Michael R. Lazcano Kathleen Kate Cuevas James Michael Leal Karina Olivia Davis Carla M. Leal-Willett Jessica Emily Day Kisha Joy Liscano Regina De la Parra Erin M. Longford Mario Alberto De Leon Kayla Rae Lopez Frida L. De Paolo Carmen C. Lopez Rosario Eric Delgado Heather Angelica Lucente Jose L. Diaz Destiny Lucero Tyler Dewayne Dick Sarah Elizabeth Lugo John L. Domingue Daniel Malacara Haley Allison Duplessis Jessica Marquez-Munoz

Marcelino A. Martinez Maralicia Martinez Angelica Martinez Avery Hunter Mascorro Indhira Alegandra Mata Averie Alexandra Mendez Joella Dejanira Methola Adrianna Eliza Mirabal Robert James Moncada Juliana Sophia Montoya Kaitlynn R. Moody Rebecca K. Muller Karina Isabel Nanez Auroara-Juhl Nikkels Laura Lee Olivarez Isaai Ortega Virianny Italy Ortiz Breanna Nicolle Ortiz Nicole Monserrat Ortiz Edward Vincent Padilla Eriq Matthew Padilla Natalie Padilla Isaac Palacio Johnny Ryan Panatex Mcclain Papini Jose Victor Peralta Breanna Nicole Perry Jazmin R. Pizana Paul Henry Pruski Nydia Gabriela Ramirez Alicia Samantha Ramos

McKaylah Reyna Noah Beck Ritter Citlalli Rivera Rosa I. Robledo Martinez Alexandra Nichole Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez Hailey R. Rodriguez Thalia Elexillanas Romo

Oceane Lauren Maeva Roux

Socorro C. Salazar Evian-loren Leilani Salgado Madelynn R. Salinas Helen Sifuentes Eaton Jared Simpliciano Danielle S. Slaughter Destinee A. Smith Christian R. Smith Christian Paul Stevens Ileana Guel Valdivia Daija Raelynn Vanegas Carolina M. Vasquez Angel Gabriel Velarde Valerie Ann Villalba Victoria Rose Von Heiland Douglas Weller Cameron James Wilson Benjamin Thomas Wittmaier

Miranda Leigh Yzaguirre Jaime Zaragoza Fernando Zubia

School of Science, Engineering, and Technology

Winston Erevelles, Ph.D., Dean HIGHEST HONORS

Mujeeb Asabi Adelekan Karina Alagoa Andrea Maresa Aldaz Jessie Jennelle Alfaro John M. Allen Shirish Amatya Komron Aminian Jocelyn Baca Isabelle Beatrice Bergman Maryam Borhamah Benjamin J. Boyle Marco Esteban Cabello Pamela E. Callahan Belia G. Camarena Steven Alfred Rudy Castillo Ankita Chabra Adrianna Christi Cruz Kaylyn Michelle Daniel Hoang Hai Dinh Ana Elise Dornbusch Roberto Enriquez Vargas Jade Gisele Evenstad David Abraham Feagins Jose Luis Figueroa Amanda Figueroa Midori Rae Flores James Flynn Cole Weston Frazier Alejandra A. Garcia Tori Nichole Gardner Danielle R. Garza Reagan Wilson Gately Kenneth P. Gilley Jake Andrew Gleinser Claudio Gomez Ascencio Lorelie Hope Gonzalez Brianna Alexis Guillen Carmela Nadine Hartness Kristina Elise Heerdegen Sterling Michael Henarie Hannah Marie Hennon Alexander David Horwath Janae Hughes Vinh Kiem Huynh Evelin Saji Joseph Pragyan K C

Sanaa Abid

Nathaniel Steven Liendo Alexander Manibusan Oscar Jaime S. Martinez Sonora Dawn Mata Alexandra L. Mclennan Makayla R. Medrano Aleacia Therese Maude Messiah

Diana Moreno-Gutierrez Jack Elias Ojile Stephen Andrew Oliva Brayan A. Olmos

Nixon Rodrigo Pastor Guzman

Andrew David Perez Juan Luis Pinedo Joshua Paul Pridemore

Andrea Isabel Quijano Kraljevic

Taylor Renee Ramirez Mariah Carol Ramos Alicia Reyes Salvador Rodriguez Gomez Nicolas Alberto Romero Elijah M. Romero Carlos A. Rosales Moran Gabriela Sherin Rubannelsonkumar Cherubina Sibyl Rubannelsonkumar

Adamari Yasmin Sanchez Clinton Sherdon Schaar Scott Wayne Siler Abigail Marie Slaughter Andrea T. Smith Adriana Smith Ignacio Torres Arpi Pous Khoa D. Tran Timothy M. Tran Kimberly H. Tse Jesus Valencia Thomas Sam Varghese Emily Ann Velazquez Natalie E. Villarreal Evelin Villegas Paxton Lee Walker James Charl Weatherhead Ian James Wells Allison Taylor Woods Jordyn Anne Wray

HIGH HONORS

Aidan Nathaniel Brockman

Abdullah Khalid Alabdulhadi Richard Hoang Bui

Jose M. Antelo Savannah Elaine Berger Loren Easton Blackburn

Cheyenne Alexandra Cannon Anuar Jesus Daccarett Perdomo

Sabrina F. Doyon

Shafqat Fahmid Ehsan Paul P. Elbayeh Rita Edgard Estephan Sheynna Lilian Felix Roberto Alejandro Figueroa Soto

Alice M. Gallegos Tanya Helbig

Cristina Abigail Ramos Natalie Michelle Rankin Justene Renae Reyes Roberto Rodriguez Gerard Tine Roebuck Enrique Cristian Saavedra

Martin Estanislao Ibarreche Chavez Annabelle Nana Arkowua Sackey

Michaela Leigh Jeanis Sofhia Cristina Lopez Luke David Lussier Jake Anthony Mares Ethan McDonald Kenya V. Medina Teresa Tina Mai Nguyen Joyeuse Nishimwe

Jack Kingsley Francis Nunnington

Adrian Ornelas Jacob Israel Pesina Madison H. Pridemore

Eileen Salas Hector Octavio Sandoval Mitzy Anahi Soria Cydney Patricia Stephens Haven G. Tillmon Eduardo Torres Arpi Pous Durlin Uridan Valle Antonio Daniel Vasquez Juan Carlos Villa Cecilia Zurchin

HONORS

Mia Angelica Aguilar Maggie Amador Faris Adrian Andonie Adrian Richard Ballesteros Gabriela Marie Benavides Andrea Milenia Benavides Bianca Thalia Benavidez Vilma Sofia Caballero Joshua D. Castro Taylor N. Cedillo Cerise Lily Cisneros Chloe Ann Crichton Kimberly Jazmine Cuellar

Mya J. Culiver Alejandro Dardon Diana Lycel Donnel Giovanni Etienne Doria Madison Faye Downing Kathryn Clare Drees Adam J. Eimer Rebeca Escobar Catherine Maria Etter Emmanuel Soto Ewuzie Sarah Michelle Flores Daniela Frausto Giselle M. Garcia

Dominique G. Garcia Hector Abraham Garcia Adriana Garnica Sienna Guerra Cristina Izellah Gutierrez Madelyn Elizabeth Hall John August Hannan Karalissa Rose Hranitzky Nathan David Hudson Cody Ray Hurley Octaviano Zechariah Huron Jared Magdiel Jaroszewski

Ty Anthony Jungman Zachary Austin Kobs Kourtney S. Kottmann D’Andree Edith Lara Michael Francis Leary Aaron J. Lozano Juan Luna Glaser

Tanzania Burkenya Mackey

Hailey Marie Martinez Ashley N. Martinez Ryan Parker McGowen Katerina Lane Mclennan Thomas Antonio Medrano

Adolfo Mendiola Antonia M. Merta Nathan Glenn Mills

Alejandra Montano Romero

Alex Montes Gianna Marie Morales Nicholas A. Munoz Naomi M. Narro Brian O. Ortiz Luis E. Oyervides Ashley Christine Perez Samantha Perez

Briley Skye Perkins Baptiste Thomas Pousset Crystalrose Quintero Kimberly Rae Ramirez Jeremy Ramirez Ramsey L. Ramos Arthur Isaac Rendon Jolynn Rodriguez Anthony Sadler Alexis Salazar Gabriela G. Sandoval Breanna Lynn Sellers Hailey Elise Stewart Amanda Huong Tran Joel Eberto Trejo Dat Ly Trinh Amelia I. Tristan Trang Luu Diem Truong Sarana L. Tse Samman Tyata Angela Vallejo Jose Luis Vera-Cruz Derek Villalobos Amanda Villarreal Victoria R. Villasenor Vivian Thai Vu Nicole E. Webb Hannah Phyllis Wilson Ruby Elizabeth Wynn Aaron S. Yamazi Marcelo A. Zamora

GRADUATE LIST Greehey School of Business Cynthia Lucia Avila Jeremy Scott Barnes Matthew Scott Cabral Kristen Elena Cuellar Rick Guadalupe Cuellar Valeria Garza Meghan E. Geraci

Maria Regina Gonzalez Christopher Hassan Lionel Leonardo Lopez Brianna Serros Catalina Margarita Valdes Moreno

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Nicole M. Acosta Shelby Suzanne Adelsen Suzanna Lydia Anthony Aletta Averill Veronica Gail Bou Onk Micah Chapman Ana E. Cortez Stephanie Leigh Ann Cowan

Andrew Deregla Erica Danielle Esparza Sandra Figueroa Yadira P. Flores Brianna Ashly Garcia Rebecca L. Gerstner

Kinzee Jo Goehring Jacob A. Gomez Joseph Gottsch Denise Flores Guillen Jarmila Gupta Madison Habet Sergio Lorenzo Hernandez Mulero

Daniel Michael Jernigan Raju Jeron Madeline Rae Johnson Madison Mackenzie Karasek

Shaima Khalaf Carolyn Leigh King Kimberly Vaio Knopf

Forest Leraine Lebaron Nicholas Lund Rachel Lyles Nina Isabelle Martinez Rosemarie Mayhan Grant Scott Mobley Linda Grimaldo Morissette

Amanda Nicole Mouton Mark Adam Nerio Anil George Palakkal Yu Gyoung Park Samantha Jo Pearson Jason Phillips Briana Marie Puente Lane Riggs Angelica Robledo Louisa Marie Rodriguez Cynthia Rodriguez

Patrick Rolwes Kristal Danielle Salinas Kathryn Joan Shaw-Meadow

LaRae Annette Sleeter Scott Michael Sleeter Rita Stearns Amanda Marie Stegink Crystal Thomas Benjamin Victor Tolleson Samantha Shine Trabucco Edgar Velazquez Reynald Sales Vettiyazheeckal Pathrose Carrie Ruth Villarreal Theodore Adrian Villasenorloya

Ronnie Wilson Darien Joseph Wolliston

School of Science, Engineering and Technology Baraa Braik Aljahdali Alex S. Artola Nathalie Ayala Santana Salome Andres Briseno

Jose Angel Molina Ronald Jerit Perkins Scott Curtis Raymond

Dhananjaya Kumar Kosuri Jorge R. Rodriguez Tobar

6 LIFESTYLE

EDITOR: POLINA PROTOZANOVA | @STMURATTLERNEWS | MARCH 30, 2020

Tips and tricks to establish normalcy while in quarantine POLINA PROTOZANOVA LIFESTYLE EDITOR

COVID-19 has led many schools and universities across the country to transition their academics to an online format, St. Mary’s is no exception. Taking into account the recent social distancing and quarantine rules advised by the federal government, it is difficult to imagine how students are going about their academic life. Here are a few simple changes every student should try to make work-at-home life feel more normal.

Plan out the day. Staying at home 24/7 might feel like extra break time, but days will be just as busy as throughout previous semesters. Even if some professors opt regular class meetings for video lectures, there is no reason to sleep in until 1 p.m.

Scheduling is vital in such a self-paced environment as an online school. If a class doesn’t have Zoom lectures, aim to complete respective assignments throughout its “normal” time; this way students can eliminate new free time gaps in their schedule and be more productive without much effort.

Set up a work-appropriate environment. Now, not every home can be transitioned to a full-time office or a library, but a “work-appropriate environment” starts with students themselves. Staying in pajamas all day probably won’t establish a productive mood; there is no need in dressing business casual while listening to a lecture on a living room sofa, but a pair of jeans and a nice shirt will certainly

make anyone feel more proactive. Further, doing homework on the bed might feel relaxing but isn’t such a good idea in practice. A Harvard University study shows that dedicating separate spaces for different activities, such as work and relaxation, creates stronger mental associations with respective locations and, as a result, makes people do a better job at each one of them.

As it turns out, restricting the bed to just relaxing makes people fall asleep easier.

Make checking email a habit. If email was important before transitioning to an online format, now it is absolutely essential.

When every university announcement is made through Outlook, students practically have no other choice but to get email-savvy.

To succeed in this transition, students don’t need a computer science degree, simply

downloading the Outlook app will suffice.

Turn on notifications, make good use of the “calendar” option, check spam, or maybe even create an email signature.

Explore Canvas. At least for the next two months, Canvas will likely become students’ new classroom. Becoming acquainted with it further than the “Dashboard” and “Courses” options can be a good idea. Take advantage of learning low, high, and mean grades on a specific assignment through the “Grades” tab; keep up with all the recent course updates through the “Assignments” tab or connect it with the Outlook app to receive all updates through email. Ultimately, simply downloading the Canvas app through the Apple store or GooglePlay would be the best first step.

Don’t skip on exercise. Staying home all

Graphic by Victoria Valle

day to stay healthy and therefore eliminating all exercise even sounds ridiculous. Not all physical activity requires expensive gym utilities: whether it be a “Just Dance” game with siblings or yoga, there is no excuse not to exercise while at home. Make physical activity a part of the daily schedule.

According to the European Journal of Social Psychology, morning exercise provides more energy than a cup of coffee, reduces stress, and improves sleeping habits.

Explore long-forgotten hobbies. With a little bit more time and space on students’ hands, it can feel quite reminiscent to open a box or two with childhood memories. Take these couple of months to reconnect with old interests and discover new passions. This can serve as a starting point to spend quality time with family: catch up with parents over a DIY trial or talk over old grudges with siblings while assembling a puzzle.

“As a Marianist community we are called to adapt and change, and I believe that I am being challenged to grow in this area of concentration,” said Suzzana Marbach, freshman biology major. “With going online, I am being challenged to take my accountability up a notch.

Whether being more interactive with every professor every day, or checking up on upcoming assignments that I may have missed putting in my planner. It’s a process that we will all have to get used to including the teachers.”

Treasure this unique semester and spend it bettering oneself as a student and a person.

How COVID-19 has affected food supplies across the nation POLINA PROTOZANOVA LIFESTYLE EDITOR

COVID-19 has negatively affected many parts of human life—from the national economy to students’ academic life. However, a considerable part of the mass hysteria isn’t a direct result of the virus, but rather the aftermath of society’s negligence towards one another. This, of course, includes the nationwide grocery store supplies panic.

The pandemic pushed many families to empty their local grocery stores in fears of food insecurity throughout the quarantine.

Now, purchasing food in bulk might sound reasonable to those, wanting to protect their families; however, there are several reasons students should understand why hoarding groceries creates more bad than good.

“There is plenty of food in the country,” said Julie Anna Potts, Chief Executive of the North American Meat Institute.

Indeed, the surface image of empty produce shelves and endless lines is deceiving—the shortages were caused by a massive influx of panicking customers within a similar period of time. The actual reason behind empty stores is time. Because

of the unusually high demand, stores simply didn’t have enough hours and working hands to transfer the supplies from storages to shelves.

Those regularly struggling to feed their families are even more overwhelmed right now. They don’t have enough resources to buy in bulk and, what’s worse, now they can’t even afford to purchase single items as they have been all cleared. Instead of regular $1 pasta, there is only organic, buckwheat gluten-free $7 option now—and $6 does make a difference for many. The Department of Homeland Security recommends families

to stock up for a maximum of two weeks.

On a more positive note, to take students’ minds off the stressful news, The Rattler picked the perfect at-home desert—an upside-down apple-caramel cake.

Because of the shortage of such important cake ingredients as flour, eggs, and sugar the end product turned out to be completely different from the original cake. However, this upside-down cake recipe only shows that even in such strange and panicky times as this quarantine, it is possible to bake delicious cakes.

Upside-Down Apple-Caramel Cake Ingredients by the Rattler: Cake part: 2 cups of vanilla cake mix (in case there is no flour and sugar at the store), one-fourth cup of apple sauce (in case there are no eggs), one-fourth cup of oil (substitute with butter, yogurt, or any other oil if needed), half a cup of water Sauce part: 1 cup of butter, 1 cup of brown sugar (use any other sugar if nesseccary), 4 apples of choice

Steps: 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit 2. Cut 4 apples into medium-thin slices 3. Mix all of the cake ingredients together 4. Grease a 9-inch cake pan (small variations in size are okay) 5. Melt 1 cup of butter in a pan on medium heat 6. When the butter is melted, mix in 1 cup of brown sugar 7. Constantly stir until the mixture boils 8. Spread the butter-sugar mixture all throughout the cake pan 9. Line apples in a desired pattern 10.Spread the cake batter on top of lined apples 11. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until the cake passes the toothpick test 12. Let the cake rest for 10-15 minutes 13. Flip the pan using a plate 14. Enjoy!

Photo

by Po

lina P

rotoz a

Graphic by Samantha Salazar

nova

ENTERTAINMENT 7

MARCH 30 , 2020 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Ideas on how to maintain social distance during the pandemic JACOB A. HENSON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

With social distancing mandates in effect, here are 10 ways to keep your sanity.

As always, stay safe and healthy, Rattlers.

1. Read Sure, school is still in session meaning class reading assignments are too. However, quarantine and shelter-in-place policies may be the perfect time to pick up that

Graphics by Victoria Valle

unfinished book. Maybe start a new one?

If hardbacks and paperbacks won’t cut it, invest in an e-reader or audiobooks even.

Tired of the couch and bed? Take reading

outside—nature may help with unnecessary distractions.

2. Recipes/take-out This may also be the right time for athome culinary school. Has there ever been a recipe that’s been waiting to be cooked?

Maybe it’s curry chicken with lentils and basmati rice. Or perhaps it’s garlic pesto salmon with steamed broccoli and red potatoes. If cooking takes too long, make sure to support local restaurants by ordering take out.

3. Games/puzzles Ever heard of solitaire? It’s a card game for one. No additional players needed.

Better yet, for playing with friends during quarantine, download “Words with Friends 2,” “TriviaCrack,” “QuizUp,” or “Uno” & “Friends.” Or, if an activity is needed for a few hours piece together that 4,000-piece generic landscape puzzle, or any puzzle for that being said.

4. Handy work Then again, board games can only keep one busy until…well, boredom. So, why not fix that toilet leak? Buy some WD-40 and rid every in-home door of squeaks and cracks.

This would also be the primetime to assemble that furniture ordered from Amazon. Let’s be real, it’s sitting in the corner of the room anyway. In all seriousness find something broken and go out on a limb and YouTube a solution. Anyone has the potential to be handy, just proceed with caution.

5. Organize photos Ever taken forever to find that one photo to show to a friend? Well, now there is no excuse to not find it next time: make designated photo albums. Maybe start with this: Favorites, Hilarious, Friends, Family, and then of course, Hidden, for

those numerous cat photos saved from the internet. Maybe replace that 11-year-old photo hanging on the wall with a more current one? Amazon, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS will print those 5x7s and 8x10.

6. “Google Arts and Culture” Take virtual art and culture tours of museums around the world. Ever wonder how astronauts go to the restroom in space?

The National Air and Space Museum has a 360-degree video that can show exactly how it’s done, without the graphic images of course. Instead of quirky space questions, maybe take a virtual trip to the Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Either way, Google Arts and Culture has neat work to explore. Visit artsandculture.google.com.

7. Create a new playlist The Winter 2019 playlist that was last made is due for an upgrade. Spring is here.

Gather some fresh tracks, maybe 40 songs at minimum. Think of it this way: kill some time and have killer jams to listen to in the meantime. Give “Me Voy Pa’l Pueblo” by Mapache or “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa a listen.

8. Sign-up for a free course Perhaps one more course should be added to the semester? It’s sounds crazy, but colleges across the nation, including the eight Ivy League schools—like Harvard and Yale are offering approximately 450 classes online ranging from science, math, health, art, theology, business, engineering, and more. Interested in taking a fourweek course called Judaism Through Its Scriptures? Or an eight-week course called Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety? Visit www.coursera.org to explore these options and more.

9. Learn a new language

If a college course is too formal, try one of the many language apps out there to learn a new language. Duolingo is a popular one and currently has 28 languages to choose from. Babbel, Busuu, Memrise, HelloTalk, and Tandem are other apps to look into to. ¿Tú comprende espanol? Si no, descargar Duolingo y empieza hoy.

10. Netflix Finally, if none of these options are of interest, there’s always Netflix—television shows and movies. With social distancing enforced, try the Netflix Party downloadable extension through Google Chrome’s browser. Once installed, watch Netflix remotely, in sync with friends, with group chat on the side. Visit www.netflixparty.com to get the party started.

A rundown of events for the postponed Fiesta celebrations JACOB A. HENSON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Fiesta is postponed until Nov. 5-15, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking place right after Halloween and Día de los Muertos celebrations, here’s what to expect from some of the 132 listed events during the 11-day celebration.

Oct. 30 (currently a tentative date) – Alamo Heights Night The 34th Annual Alamo Heights Night will feature food from over 100 San Antonio’s popular restaurants and caterers. Prior to the official start of fiesta this event will take place on the University of the Incarnate Word’s campus. Similar to St. Mary’s Oyster Bake, indulge in Texas barbecue, fajitas, gumbo, turkey legs, gyros, chocolate dipped strawberries, funnel cakes, raspas, and more. Live entertainment on various stages and a carnival will also take place. Admission is $15 for adults, and $5 for ages 12-17. Admission is free for University of the Incarnate Word students.

Nov. 5 – Fiesta at Hemisfair Taking place at Hemisfair Park, Fiesta Fiesta will officially kickoff the 11-day celebration. All are welcome to come and enjoy live music, exchange fiesta medals, shop local art and crafts, and bring kids to this family-friendly atmosphere. Admission is free to the public.

Nov. 5-13 – Fiesta Carnival On the same night as Fiesta at Hemisfair, the largest carnival during San Antonio Fiesta will open up at the Alamodome. Come

enjoy glittering lights, thrills and chills, exciting rides, and of course an assortment of foods. Admission is free.

Nov. 6-15 – Fiesta de los Reyes at Market Square Come celebrate at the Historic Market Square featuring music from Tejano, cumbia, conjunto, and local rock bands. Classic fiesta foods staples will also be for sell at 30 food booths. Admission is free.

Nov. 6-8 – Taste of New Orleans Celebrating their 35th anniversary, come experience unique and exquisite Creole and Cajun dishes such as gumbo, crawfish, shrimp etouffee, red beans & rice, boudin, and more. Taking place at the Sunken Garden Theatre, experience music such as dixieland, smooth jazz, and zydeco. Sunken Gardens is ADA accessible. Admission is $15 and free for children 10 and under.

Nov. 7 – Fiesta Olé

Fiesta Olé is like stepping into the Pan American League’s bazaar, very similar to a Mexican market. Collections of artisan jewelry, artwork, clothing and more will be available to purchase. A luncheon will be served at noon, then when dessert is served, a fashion show titled, “Las Americas…Unidos Somos” will celebrate the culture of San Antonio.

Admission is $60. Parking is free.

Photo courtesy of Betsy Newman Photography

Nov. 7 – Deco Fiesta Taking place approximately nine minutes away from St. Mary’s, this event brings together local residents and even tourists to the historic Deco District. With several outdoor-like boutiques, musicians, performers, and diverse food and drink, this celebration promotes the vitality of the Deco District. There is a $5 suggested entrance donation. The event is also pet friendly.

Nov 8. – Chili Queens Chili Cook-Off Taking place at the Bonham Exchange, competitors put their best chili recipe to the test. All chili recipes must be represented by a queen, not of glamor, but instead of someone who redefines “tacky.” Drinks will also be served, so make sure to come out and vote for the best chili on Bonham’s dance floor. Admission is free; 18+ only.

Nov. 10-13 – A Night in Old San Antonio NIOSA is a four-night festival celebrated in the historic downtown La Villita. 200plus food and drink books, 14 live musical acts, and 15 themed areas celebrate the culture of San Antonio. Themes include: Mission Trail, Arneson Theatre, China Town, Clown Alley, French Quarter, Froggy Bottom, Frontier Town, Haymarket, International Walkway, Irish Flats, Main Street USA, Mexican Market, Sauerkraut Bend, South of the Border, and Villa España.

Entrance admission is $15, advance tickets are $12. Children under 12 are free when accompanied by an adult.

Nov. 13 – Battle of Flowers Parade Since 1891, with exceptions during the World Wars, The Battle of Flowers Parade pays tribute to the patriots of the Alamo, the victories of San Jacinto and Goliad, and celebrates the heritage of Texas. This is the second-largest day parade in the United States and is considered to be the founding event of Fiesta San Antonio. Tributes are made with fresh florals and decorative floats.

This year the theme is “Viva Las Flores!”

Admission is $16.50 to $35, depending on parade seating.

10 SPORTS

EDITOR: LARRY RODRIGUEZ-SHEA |@STMURATTLERNEWS | MARCH 30, 2020

Senior student athletes left disappointed after abrupt end to season LARRY RODRIGUEZ-SHEA SPORTS EDITOR

Shortly after spring break began the Lone Star Conference decided to end the spring season due to concerns raised by the spread of COVID-19. Soon thereafter St. Mary’s joined other campuses across the nation in shutting campus down and transitioning classes online. For some student-athletes, this would have been their last game of their college careers.

Before the cautionary measures were taken it seemed like canceling the season was extreme, but as cities began to enforce lockdowns and national events came to a halt there was simply no other choice. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until at least 2021 and the NBA season was also canceled. Athletes and sports fans all over the world have had to deal with the absence of sports from their life during this pandemic.

The sports that had their seasons canceled were softball, baseball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s and women’s golf. For many athletes, they dedicate years to perfecting and improving their skills in a certain sport. Senior athletes often feel it is their year to excel and earn the proper sendoff they have worked so hard for.

Baseball player Scott Short, senior finance major described the ordeal as heartbreaking for him and his teammates. The baseball team played their last game of the 2020 season on March 8, a 6-5 win against Texas

“

It’s heartbreaking ... I really feel for the seniors. They played their last game and we didn’t even know it.”

Scott Short senior finance major

St. Mary’s baseball players in the dugout at one of their last games before the cancellation of the season due to COVID-19.| Photo by Larry Rodriguez-Shea

A&M University–Kingsville.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Short said. “You work all year, summer, fall, and winter to prepare for the spring and in the middle of your season it’s all just canceled? I really feel for the seniors. They played their last game and we didn’t even know it.”

Men’s golf was performing very well placing in the top three of all but one tournament they competed in where they placed fourth. Men’s golf standout, Emilio Gonzalez, senior business management major, has been a large part of that success placing high in all but one tournament. For Gonzalez, he believes this year was his year and expected to compete in the national tournament. This cancellation is nothing

short of surprising for the senior.

“It’s very shocking to see our season come to an end just like this for several reasons,” Gonzalez said. “But mainly disappointing because we were on track to compete for a national championship in May. As it was my best chance to in the four years, I was at St. Mary’s.”

Student-athletes have had to adapt just like every other student. Going from a highly active lifestyle to now having lots of free time; they share in the complications of adjusting to online classes. These changes have not been easy for anyone and Gonzalez believes these changes are especially challenging for the student-athletes.

“Some problems of all student-athletes

of spring sports are facing is losing the opportunity compete in their sport,” Gonzalez said. “Also having to adapting to such a drastic change of having so much time on our hands and managing it to keep going to class online and doing everything virtually.”

Nationwide the situation continues to worsen, with San Antonio recently going into lockdown and cities across the state following suit. Questions continue to follow for athletes and the greater St. Mary’s community such as refunds, eligibility for athletes, graduation, questions about grading policies, and many other questions in this troubling time.

Student athletes hope for extended eligibilty after season cancellation LARRY RODRIGUEZ-SHEA SPORTS EDITOR

The NCAA plans to meet March 30 to discuss awarding another year of eligibility to students-athletes who had their seasons cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

St. Mary’s like most campuses across the nation has transitioned to online classes and the Lone Star Conference voted early to suspend the remainder of the spring season.

Many student-athletes hope that the NCAA will award another year of eligibility in the wake of COVID-19. Some players took to social media to show their support using hashtags like “#redshirtcoronayear” or reposting open letters from accounts of the same name. The NCAA has already voted to award another year of edibility to Division I and Division II athletes, but the vote on March 30, will determine what that looks like for spring and potentially winter athletes.

Some students were slated to begin their first season of competition. Most spring sports were either already in their seasons or were about to kick off conference play. For many athletes the pandemic and enforced lockdowns are frustrating.

Tennis player, Sebastian Azcui, freshman engineering management major, feels both sad and frustrated but thankful he got to

spend time with the seniors on the team.

He supports the red shirt movement as well.

Azcui is in self-quarantine due to having to go through so many airports flying back to his home country Bolivia.

“It is very sad and frustrating to end my first season like this,” Azcui said, “We practiced so much time, put a lot of effort and dedicated a lot of time to reach o u r

goals just to end the season short.”

The softball team had just begun conference play losing a close game to Lubbock Christian University 10-9 on March 8. Softball player, Nikkolette Hernandez, freshman business major, feels sad about the whole situation and hopes that the NCAA will award another year of eligibility to students. Like many other students have

expressed the transition to online learning and lack of face to face social interaction has been hard for Hernandez.

“It is such a horrible feeling getting our season taken away from us,” Hernandez said, “Softball was getting the season started we were forming such tight bonds so having that taken away is horrible. You make such great relationships and memories with your

Graphic by Victoria Valle

team, so I one hundred percent support getting a year back.”

For some the situation can only be described as heartbreaking due to all the work that went into prepping for this season.

Many first-year players were hoping to make a statement this season. Softball player, Alyssa Flores, freshman criminology major, feels as if the work they spent preparing this

season went to waste.

“As a spring sport athlete, having our season taken away due to the current circumstances is very heartbreaking,” Flores said. “For us, the fall and even a great deal of the summer is nothing but preparation for the spring. In a way, it feels like the countless hours of 6 a.m. workouts, team and individual practices went to waste because we weren’t able to showcase our skills as a team.”

Awarding another year of eligibility comes with some unforeseen costs.

Programs will have to award another year of scholarships, having lost out on a significant portion of their revenue.

The cancellation of the men’s basketball tournament means a huge loss in NCAA revenue. St. Mary’s will also be missing out on a significant portion of their revenue intake due to the cancellation of Fiesta events and Oyster Bake. An estimate by USA TODAY Sports’ suggests that some large Division I programs, like Auburn and Ohio State, would need to spend upwards of $300,000 for just their senior class.

With so much uncertainty moving forward it may be hard for the needs of student-athletes to be met. As the pandemic continues to slow the economy, the students’ hopes for another year of eligibility may be met with financial uncertainty.

SPANISH 11

MARCH 30, 2020 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

Los estudiantes internacionales enfrentan desafíos gracias a COVID-19 SAMANTHA RUVALCABA EDITORA DE NOTICIAS

En su segunda reunión con la Organización Mundial de la Salud celebrada el 30 de enero, el Comité de Emergencia del Reglamento Sanitario Internacional declaró que el nuevo brote de coronavirus era una “Emergencia de Salud Pública de Preocupación Nacional”, lo que condujo a restricciones de viaje y cierre de fronteras de países con conexiones a China.

Estas restricciones de viaje, cierres de fronteras y bloqueos aumentaron enormemente después de que la Organización Mundial de la Salud declarara al COVID-19 una pandemia que había alcanzado más de 110 países y territorios a nivel mundial el 11 de marzo, a mediados de las vacaciones de primavera.

Lo que siguió para los estudiantes de St. Mary’s fue una serie de correos electrónicos con respecto a las cuarentenas automáticas de 14 días para estudiantes, profesores y personal que habían viajado durante el receso, un receso de primavera extendido y, finalmente, el anuncio de que las clases se reanudarían en línea por el resto del semestre Para muchos viajeros y residentes, esto significaba quedarse en casa o regresar a sus hogares antes de lo previsto. Sin embargo, para los estudiantes que viajan al extranjero y los estudiantes internacionales, factores como las restricciones de viaje y los cierres de fronteras lo han convertido en un desafío e incluso han eliminado la opción de regresar con sus familias.

La estudiante principal de comunicación y estudios internacionales y globales, Sofía Soto, pasaba su semestre estudiando en el extranjero en Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, cuando su tiempo allí fue interrumpido debido al brote. El gobierno español hizo su primer anuncio de cerrar sus fronteras terrestres el 16 de marzo. Días después, el Ministerio del Interior dijo que el país impondría una restricción de entrada de 30 días para la mayoría de los extranjeros en los puertos aéreos y marítimos.

“Dos días antes de que cerraran las fronteras, las universidades de Madrid cerraron y el [St. La universidad de Mary tuvo una reunión con todos los estudiantes internacionales y nos dijeron que no sabían qué esperar después, que no sabían qué tan graves serían los casos y que las clases continuarían en línea durante dos semanas “, dijo Soto. “Estaba preocupado y como la mayoría de los estudiantes, decidí irme por mi seguridad el jueves, el día antes de que las fronteras ‘cerraran’ el viernes”.

Soto recuerda que la experiencia fue estresante, pero afortunadamente pudo regresar antes con la ayuda de la coordinadora de estudios en el extranjero, Raquel Urrutia, quien mantuvo comunicación con ella y los otros dos estudiantes de St. Mary que estudiaban en Alcalá. Con un mes restante en su programa, ella continuará sus clases en línea.

“Esta experiencia me enseñó a ser flexible y adaptarme a mi entorno. Aunque mi experiencia de estudiar en el extranjero no salió como estaba planeado, fue una experiencia de aprendizaje importante

Encuentro paz al saber que estoy en casa sano y salvo con mi familia ”, dijo Soto.

Los estudiantes con programas de estudio en el extranjero planificados para las vacaciones de primavera, Maymester y en el verano también recibieron notificación de la cancelación de sus programas. La estudiante de ciencias políticas junior y estudios internacionales y globales, Valeria Varela, se estaba preparando para irse a su programa de intercambio de estudiantes en la Universidad Doshisha en Kyoto, Japón, cuando recibió un correo electrónico sobre la cancelación de su programa.

“Me notificaron que mi programa iba a ser cancelado a través de un

correo electrónico un par de días antes de irme”, dijo Varela. “Se sintió como si hubieran arrancado este sueño que he tenido durante tanto tiempo, esta maravillosa oportunidad que estaba tan agradecida de poder tener”.

Debido a la cantidad de dinero que ya se había destinado al programa, Varela decidió continuar con sus planes de estudio en el extranjero. En ese momento, Japón solo había cerrado sus fronteras a las personas que habían estado en China, Italia o Irán en los 14 días anteriores.

“Estar lejos de casa es difícil por sí solo.

Nunca he estado lejos de mi padre o mi hermana por tanto tiempo, pero al ver cuánto pánico hay en casa, me preocupo más por mi familia y me aseguro de que sigan la regla de la ciudad y espero que se queden. casa “, dijo Varela.

Los estudiantes recibieron una notificación el 18 de marzo de que las residencias cerrarían el 23 de marzo, el mismo día en que comenzarían las clases en línea. Este desarrollo requirió un cambio rápido para que los residentes obtengan sus pertenencias y regresen a su lugar de residencia permanente.

Desafortunadamente, no todos los estudiantes residentes tenían la opción

de regresar a casa. Muchos estudiantes internacionales tuvieron que encontrar lugares de residencia alternativos debido al cierre de fronteras en sus países de origen.

Estudiante de segundo año de bioquímica, Andrea Cabrera, es de San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Cabrera generalmente se va a casa para las vacaciones, pero permaneció en el campus durante las vacaciones de primavera. En un discurso televisado el 15 de marzo, el presidente hondureño, Juan Orlando Hernández, anunció el cierre total de la frontera con la excepción de la carga.

“Estaba muy desconsolado cuando me di cuenta de que nuestro semestre iba a estar en un formato e n

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línea, pero me s e n t í especialmente triste cuando me di cuenta de que no podía estar con mi familia en este momento de crisis”, dijo Cabrera.

“No pude ir a casa. Honduras fue uno de los primeros países en cerrar las fronteras para controlar a las personas que habían resultado positivas “.

En cambio, Cabrera reside con un amigo en San Antonio. El estudiante principal e internacional de finanzas y gestión de riesgos, Fernando Amans, se encuentra en una situación similar que le impide regresar con su familia en Trujillo, Perú.

“Cuando escuché por primera vez sobre las vacaciones de primavera extendidas, intenté regresar a San Antonio lo antes posible. No pensé que este sería un problema mayor “, dijo Amans.

Perú anunció el cierre de su frontera durante al menos 16 días a partir del 16 de marzo, justo después de declarar un estado de emergencia.

“Estaba preocupado porque no pude regresar a Perú porque las fronteras estaban cerradas. Sin embargo, estaba seguro de que estaría bien porque St. Mary’s estaba permitiendo que los estudiantes internacionales se quedaran en el campus”, dijo Amans. a Gr

Otro estudiante internacional peruano, psicólogo senior y mayor español, Angel Velarde, necesitaría contactar al consulado peruano y pedir que lo envíen de vuelta en un avión de servicio humanitario para las personas que desean regresar.

Afortunadamente, la universidad ha permitido que estudiantes con casos similares a los de Velarde permanezcan en el campus.

“Al principio, me asusté porque no estaba seguro de a dónde iría hasta que leí completamente el correo electrónico y me di cuenta de que me permitirían quedarme si contactaba a Residence Life y explicaba mi situación. Realmente me ayudaron”, dijo Velarde.

Los cierres y precauciones de la universidad y la respuesta al COVID-19 afectaron más que la situación de vivienda de Velarde. Su trabajo en el campus como barista de Starbucks se ha suspendido, dejándolo sin ingresos.

“Mi posición era mi principal fuente de ingresos. Por lo tanto, dependía totalmente de él porque no obtengo ningún fondo además de mi beca”, dijo Velarde. “Los estudiantes internacionales como yo no pueden tener múltiples trabajos ya que las leyes de inmigración solo nos permiten trabajar un máximo de 20 horas por semana. Para mí, significó un impacto negativo en mi educación, así como en mi situación financiera “.

Se envió un correo electrónico a los empleados estudiantes el 20 de marzo desde la Oficina de Recursos Humanos sobre el empleo continuo. Los estudiantes premiados con trabajo-estudio federal continuarán recibiendo el pago de su premio sin regresar al campus para trabajar, y se les pidió a los estudiantes trabajadores que hablaran con sus supervisores para obtener más instrucciones.

“El empleo continuo puede depender de su capacidad para realizar sus deberes actuales en un plan de trabajo alternativo o desplegarlo para ayudarlo con otras responsabilidades laborales”, dijo la directora ejecutiva de Recursos Humanos, Janet Guadarrama.

“Por ahora, puedo esperar que la situación mejore el próximo semestre para poder regresar a mi trabajo. Si no, no podré pagar la escuela y terminar mi carrera”, dijo Velarde. “Solo espero lo mejor en los próximos meses”.

ESTE ARTÍCULO FUE TRADUCIDO POR ISABELA VÁZQUEZ