Vol 110 Issue No. 02 - 09/30/2021

VICTORIA OLGUIN NEWS EDITOR CONTINUED ON PG. 2

Vol 110 | Issue 2 | Sept. 30, 2021 | San Antonio, Texas CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT& Local record store rocks the comunity PG.13 Women’s soccer joins the battle Vs. Cancer PG.15 OPINION Students enjoy outdoor classes PG. 6 SPANISH Business alumni reflect on past opportunities PG.10 SPORTS

LAW SCHOOL ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM:

Being the only law school available in San Antonio and South Texas since 1927, St. Mary’s University School of Law sought for innovative ways to continue to provide an effective education during the pandemic. The skills professors have developed have now prepared them to educate students in different educational formats, whether it would be in-person or online. This sparked the start of a new educational pathway for potential law students. Now, St. Mary’s University School of Law has announced the very first fully online Juris Doctorate Degree (J.D.) program approved by the American Bar Association (ABA), being the very first law school in the nation to do so. This is a great accomplishment, as being approved by the ABA requires meeting rigorous guidelines and evaluations. Although there have been previous online law programs in the nation, St. Mary’s Law has been the first to have received approval by the ABA. Therefore, St. Mary’s Law will now be able to provide a flexible and highquality law education to students all over the world from the comfort of their homes. The new four-year online program will successfully support the mission statement of St. Mary’s University, which includes

Fully online J.D. program is first in the nation approved by ABA

educating for adaptation and change. During the pandemic, many began to realize the importance of having access to virtual learning, and St. Mary’s is taking steps to adjust to the current times. To adapt to the changes, all St. Mary’s law faculty have received an online teaching certificate, ensuring that the online education provided will be held to the same quality standard as in-person education is. The online program will not replace the in-person program but instead will provide more opportunities for students. The program will continue to provide access to student services that in-person students also receive such as career counseling and academic advising. Additionally, online students will have opportunities to attend extracurricular in-person orientation and in-person professional developments once every other semester. Each online student will also receive coaching and custom bar schedules in preparation for the bar exam. Moreover, students will always have the option of taking an in-person course and will also have the choice of being part-time or full-time students. The start of this program has opened the door of opportunity for many students across the nation to afford a legal education

The Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s University. The publication follows the Canons of Responsible Journalism, the Associated Press Stylebook and the Student Publication Policy. The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the College Media Association and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

St. Mary’s Law is currently recruiting students for the online fall 2022 term for the limited spots that are available. To learn more about the program, contact the Law Admissions Ofce at law.stmarytx.edu or (210) 436-3011.

Peña believes the program can help students and their emotional well-being, not just during a pandemic, but also throughout their college journey.

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 infames; encourages, not discourages. We must be sensitive, not sensationalistic; reasonable, not ridiculous; balanced, not bitter.

Community is a big part of the St. Mary’s mission and the Student Counseling Center searched for ways to provide interactive therapy practices for students. Peña, who has extensive experience in counseling, believes group therapy is an efective form of therapy.“Having worked at various counseling centers, I know how helpful groups can be to students,” said Peña. Te benefts of group therapy are numerous and likely to help out the student population.“Groupcounseling is a form of therapy support that is best suited for common struggles such as relationship concerns, grief, loss and anxiety,” Peña continued.

Noticing the importance of mental health, the Student Counseling Center at St. Mary’s University searched for ways to address the issue. Now available, the Student Counseling Center presents the new Group Terapy Program where students will be able to attend group therapy sessions regarding pandemic adjustment, grief and anxiety. Te executive director of Student Health and Wellness Programs, Vanessa A. Peña, Ph.D., knows the importance of this program during a pandemic. “During the pandemic, many students have been unable to socialize which can cause feelings of inadequacy,” Peña said. “Group support ofers a safe space to practice skills and receive feedback from others. Groups can help form not just a sense of support, but a sense of community which is in line with our St. Mary’s mission.”

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“It is very helpful for students who are all struggling with the same concern to come together and learn from one another, with a mental health professional serving as [the] facilitator for this process.”

MeetingZOOMID:

The content published in the Rattler is the responsibility of each respective writer. The views expressed in the staff editorial refect the views of the majority of the editorial staff.

FROM “EDUCATION”

Student Psychological Services are available to all students on campus.|

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VICTORIA OLGUIN NEWS EDITOR

Groups ofer a space to process but also focus on building skills to manage their concerns,” Peña said. Peña and the Student Counseling Center are now welcoming all students at St. Mary’s University to join the program. Te group meetings will be ofered virtually through Zoom and in person on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-5 p.m. Students can contact the Student Counseling Center at (210) 436-3135 for more information on the group therapy programs or to schedule an individual appointment with a counselor.

Te beautiful St. Mary’s campus, once seemingly empty at the height of the pandemic, is now flled with a lively community of students, staf and administration. Students now walk throughout the university, professors teach in classrooms and events occur all around the university campus, making many feel like the normalcy they once knew is fnally returning. However, the quick adjustment from a quarantined life to one flled with interaction brought many mixed feelings amongst some individuals. Te pandemic had kept many isolated from their peers, ofen leaving students with feelings of anxiety, grief and loss.

“We hope that the groups can fll a void for those students that maybe don’t feel as connected and need ongoing support.

University introduces new therapy program for students without having to move to another location near the law school campus. Tis will allow students who are typically underrepresented in the law feld to access a law education while balancing their work and personal lives. Students at St. Mary’s are already considering applying to the program.“Iwould consider joining the program because since it’s online, there’s less stress and commitment to making it to an inperson class. Also, if the COVID-19 virus starts to get bad again, the class would not be afected,” freshman international and global studies major Flip Clayton said. Having online classes alleviates the worries of many students during a pandemic. It enables many to continue to work towards their goals without having to place a halt on their education. For Clayton, an online program would help him accomplish his goal of passing the bar exam. “ Tis program could help me accomplish my goal because since I am not stressing on making it to a classroom in person, I’d be able to put that time toward more studying and preparing for the bar exam,” Clayton explained.Manystudents found themselves having to work extra hours and take care of their families during the pandemic, which took up a lot of their time. Additionally, many students did not want to get exposed to the COVID-19 virus and therefore, paused their education. Finding transportation to class was one of the last things on the list of priorities for many students during the height of the pandemic. Tis created a situation where students had to choose between their education, work and personal lives.

Photo by Adrianna Mirabal.

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With the creation of the online J.D. program, students will be able to continue to work, take care of their families and avoid exposure to the virus, all while still being able to attend classes online. Furthermore, the online program will contain asynchronous and synchronous components that will allow students to complete work on their own time while also having opportunities to interact with other students and their professors. Te pandemic has proved that students can still learn online and accomplish their goals while balancing their work and personal lives, leaving students hopeful that the program will succeed.

“Group counseling can help alleviate some of the things we most frequently hear from our students as struggles, such as challenges adapting to college, loneliness, isolation, social anxiety or anxiety in general which is the most common reason that students seek counseling,” Peña explained. “Groups ofer a space to process but also focus on building skills to manage their concerns.”Being a student during a pandemic has caused a lot of stress for many in the St. Mary’s community. Te launch of the program gives Peña and the Student Counseling Center the hope of improving students’ emotional well-being during and afer the pandemic.

“You’re [going to] be asked to speak when it comes to the trauma you’ve endured or what it meant growing up poor and Hispanic, but we need to raise our voices and say ‘Yes, maybe I’m frst gen. Yes, maybe I grew up low-income, but I also grew up with a loving community and I grew up with a rich culture and you’re not [going to] silence me when I want to celebrate myself and only allow me to amplify my voice when it’s about all the terrible things. I’m going to present my culture in a fair way that says: Here [are] the hard things we’ve gone through, and here’s all the wonderful things,’” said Swan. Each flm provided new historical knowledge to the audience in a creative manner. Even flmmakers, like Sanchez found themselves learning something new from other’s flms. “From this event I learned that there are so many untold stories from Latin America and the borderlands that [do] not get covered in typical history classes. It was incredibly informative to learn about personal experiences and untold stories,” Sanchez said. As a member of the Hispanic Student Union, Swan also enhanced her knowledge of her culture.

Students gather for Zaragoza, the new student orientation.| Photo Courtesy of @stmarysu. Jorge Martinez presenting his grito.

“ Tere’s a lot of us that don’t know a good level of English and I know that it’s hard to change your entire life from wherever you are, from a Hispanic country to America. Changing your life and changing your schedule, changing a lot of things is hard and I think simply translating will help a lot,” said Cornejo. Marian Hernandez-Fernandez is a freshman biology major and another international student who appreciates the translation of the new student orientation materials as well. Hernandez-Fernandez believes it has played a huge role in making her feel included at the university. She has also been able to incorporate her family into her college life because of the translations.“Ithinkit’s important to translate the orientation materials so that the university becomes more inclusive to all of the languages and all of the diferent cultures that exist within it. I also think it’s a good thing for our parents. Tat we can share the orientation materials with them and it’s in their language, as many of our parents don’t share the English language,” said Hernandez-Fernandez.Manyinternationalstudents experience homesickness when they are transitioning into a new environment. However, for international students like HernandezFernandez, translations help them feel at home.“Tere’s nothing like your frst language. You can’t compare any other language that you may learn. Seeing your language feels a little bit like home while you’re away from it,” said Hernandez-FernandezHernandez-Fernandez.mentioned that she hopes the new student orientation materials will continue to be translated for future international students. “I think it should continue to be translated just so that the university can cater to all the diferent languages that all the diferent people at St. Mary’s have. Tis will help them feel welcomed because I feel like that’s a nice welcoming thing that they can do. It will make us feel like we have found a place where we’re going to feel good and at home,” Hernandez-Fernandez said.Currently, the new student orientation and the enrollment management teams are both looking at what other areas of communication should be made available in Spanish as well. Tey will continue to add translations in all types of media that they use, with hopes to mold an inclusive environment for the St. Mary’s community today and in the future.

NEWS 3

Every year, St. Mary’s University welcomes international students onto its campus, all with diverse cultures, experiences and languages. Te adjustment from one country to another is not an easy one, and the new student orientation team, as well as enrollment management, has recognized this. It is for this reason that the new student orientation team decided to translate the new student orientation materials into Spanish, making the process of adjustment easier not just for students, but also for the families of students whose frst language is not English. Because St. Mary’s is known for its family spirit, Rosalind Alderman, Ph.D. emphasized the importance of making both students and their families feel included throughout the process of transitioning into a new environment.“Wedounderstand that a lot of our students come from households where English is not the primary language and the second most ofen used language is Spanish, so I think it just makes sense for the families of the students to be just [as] engaged as the students,” Alderman said. Alderman believes that this can only have benefts for students and families as they transition to college.

VICTORIA OLGUIN NEWS

Photo by Adrianna Mirabal

Te translation of new student orientation materials helped many international students like freshman biology major, José Gabriel Cornejo feel welcomed at the university.

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“As someone who’s a native Spanish speaker, I think it is more than just a goodwill gesture. It’s a way for us to continue to make families and partners. I just think it’s a part of what St. Mary’s is. Not to mention, obviously, that we are a Hispanic-Serving Institution and have been since the beginning and so it just allows us to continue to make those connections with families in that way,” Alderman continued.

Photo by Adrianna Mirabal

Orientation team promotes inclusivity by translating orientation materials

SEPT. 2021 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

VICTORIA OLGUIN NEWS EDITOR

Student organizations and MAS program partner to host Latinx flm festival

On Sept. 16, in the corner of the Commons area, students walked past the papel picado and into the dark Media Viewing Room. St. Mary’s students gathered to celebrate Latinx culture on this day, Mexican Independence Day, a meaningful day for Latinx students that celebrates the rise of Mexico against Spanish rule. To celebrate, the History Club, Hispanic Student Union and the Mexican American Studies Program collaborated and used their historical and flmmaking skills to research Latinx history in their communities. Tey then created flms that showcased their knowledge. As the lights dimmed and the room silenced, the flms began to roll. Students like senior history major, Claudia Sanchez, spent hours preparing their flm.

“ Tis event was special to me because I was able to screen my own flm that I created to an audience. It was extremely gratifying to see my flm played on a large screen and having the feedback of my peers on a piece of work I spent hours creating,” Sanchez said. Te flms not only showcased the struggles the Latinx community faces but the accomplishments as well. As the screen portrayed a fallen soldier, it also displayed festivities of victory. Students like Amanda Swan, junior communication studies major and a Hispanic Student Union member, believe the event successfully represented the Latinx community.

“As a student, I learned a lot of important Latin history that I’d never known about, so the Mariel boatlif that brought a lot of refugees here from Cuba,” Swan said. “ Tat was something that I personally now want to research and fnd out more about and knowing how many important rulebreakers, shakers and movers came out of that, just had a really big impact on me and I thought that was really amazing.”

Afer the showcase of flms, students competed in a grito contest. One by one, students volunteered to present their best grito for a cash prize. Te crowd cheered each presenter as they gave their best grito. “My favorite part of the event would defnitely have to be the grito competition. It was so much fun to see my own professor doing one in front of everyone,” Sanchez said.Te collaboration of the History Club, Hispanic Student Union and the Mexican American Studies Program helped make this event possible. Now, students like Sanchez and Swan hope to plan more events that celebrate Latinx culture within the History Club, the Hispanic Student Union and the Mexican American Studies Program. Currently, a mentorship program for underclassmen is being developed as well as a Latin culture night with live music and vendors and a community ofrenda for the St. Mary’s community. To learn more about the History Club, Hispanic Student Union, or the Mexican American Studies program, contact Bianca Rhae-Jacquez at bjacquez@mail.stmarytx.edu (History Club), Amanda Swan at aswan2@mail. stmarytx.edu (Hispanic Student Union), or Arturo Vega, Ph.D., at avega2@stmarytx. edu (Mexican American Studies Progam).

“It made me feel more comfortable. I know that when you’re in a new environment, you should feel safe or you should feel like you’re in a safe space. When I see and hear the Spanish language, I feel like I’m at home,” Cornejo said. Cornejo appreciates the translation of the new student orientation materials and believes it has helped a lot of his international friends as well.

Students view flms over Latinx culture.

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“A lot of interactions beneft greatly from facial cues. Te best part is being able to be distant and outdoors without a mask in order to communicate better and more personally with the rest of the class,” EstradaOutdoorcontinued.classes aren’t always the best option though, especially for classes that are more lecture-based. Some classes, like those held in lecture halls, require more controlled environments for learning. Classes that aren’t as interactive or classes that require presentations or videos certainly would not beneft from being outside. “I wouldn’t see the necessity of an outside class if it were a lecture-focused course, where it’d not be essential to have masks of to better the learning objectives,” EstradaWhilesaid.some classes might not beneft from being outdoors, those that have taken place outside for most of the semester are going well. Most students who have participated in outdoor classes are simply excited to have the opportunity to interact with their fellow peers without needing to wear a mask, provided they are vaccinated.

“My experience with outdoor classes has been largely positive,” junior international and global studies major Alexander Johnson said. “I would say that I defnitely prefer them over indoor classes.”

“I feel like outdoor classes are a huge beneft to courses that would require faceto-face interactions or any physicality to the course,” John Estrada, senior communication studies major, said. “Like in my improv class where we work of each other’s body language as well as verbal language or even an interviewing class where we’d require the same thing.”

Even if students go to each of these places on the weekend, the hours aren’t as long as they used to be, which leaves some students without a place to eat breakfast or dinner. Students should not feel the need to limit their food intake because of a schedule.

Students should not have to look elsewhere for something as simple and essential as food.Tedining dollars are advertised as being able to be used at St. Mary’s dining options on campus, yet students are not able to use them on the weekends. It is also worth noting that even if some students go of campus, there are other students who cannot. Some students don’t have cars to bring back groceries or food in, while others don’t have the fnances to buy food at restaurants on the weekends. Buying groceries would involve having a place to store it, like a fridge, which is a luxury some students can’t aford or do not have access to. Students across campus have collectively felt the impact of the changes to the campus dining options. All of the trouble students have to go through just to get food on the weekends is unnecessary if they have a meal plan and dining dollars that are supposed to provide access to dining options on campus.

Jonathan Seabrook, a sophomore business management major said, “options are scarce.” Euris Morales, a senior criminal justice major, agreed, saying that, “the weekend food options are so limited.”

Blanca Cardenas, another senior criminal justice major stated, “Students that live on campus do not have many options over the weekend as the only other option apart from the cafe is Chick-fl-A and that is onlyCardenasSaturday.”raised the question, “so what about Sundays and those who can’t go to the cafe and do not have a car to go of campus?” St. Mary’s University is conveniently located less than a mile away from Walmart and multiple fast-food restaurants including Wingstop and McDonald’s. On the surface, this doesn’t seem to be an issue because of the stores and restaurants nearby, but it is.

OPINION EDITOR: SEANA BARCLAY | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 30, 20216 Outdoor classes

While the university has seen many changes this semester, it’s reassuring to see another small step towards normalcy as the university continues to make strides in the right direction. provide sense of normalcy for Adrianna Mireles, DMA, in Pecan Photo by Adrianna Mirabal

and the wind ensemble practice

Grove.|

Mirabal Matthew

students during pandemic Campus residents displeased by lack of available food options on weekends JENNIFER SALDANA CONTRIBUTING WRITER SEANA BARCLAY OPINION EDITOR Campus Chick-fl-A in the University Center closed after regular hours.| Photo by

During a semester full of adjustments, professors have been working toward making this semester as comfortable for students as possible. Given the university’s mask requirements and vaccine recommendations, some professors have taken to the great outdoors for their classes, allowing their vaccinated students the option to not wear their masks. From classes taught in the amphitheatre behind the Subway to the music rehearsals in Pecan Grove, the St. Mary’s campus has seen more outdoor activity than usual this year. “I’ve always tried to hold some classes outdoors,” Drama professor George Kendall said. “I’ve held outdoor classes where I previouslyOverall,taught.”theoutdoor classes have been perceived positively by students. Many students enjoy the outdoors and the ability to not wear a mask if vaccinated. Similarly, many students have beneftted from being able to have face-to-face interactions with classmates and professors provided they follow university policy regarding masks.

Like most universities, St. Mary’s University has always ofered multiple dining options on campus for its students. Te university has a total of six dining options, the main dining option being the Diamondback Cafe. Te two other main options are Chick-fl-A and Subway. Other smaller dining options include the P.O.D. Market, Starbucks and Te Pub. However, in the past year, there have been massive changes to the dining options on campus which have recently begun to negatively afectLaststudents.year,students had dining options throughout the entire day. It didn’t matter if it was 9 a.m. or 9 p.m., students had multiple dining options no matter the time of day. Tis is not the case anymore. One thing that has remained similar to pre-pandemic life is the cafeteria being open the longest. However, this is a problem for a part of the students living on campus; that being those students who have fve-day meal plans. Te cafeteria is open on the weekends, but the students on the fve-day meal plans can’t eat there unless they are paying for it from the three hundred dining dollars they receive.Tat leaves the students to eat at either Chick-fl-A, Subway or Starbucks. Having three options seems like students are being provided variety, but the current schedules tell another story. On the weekend, Starbucks isn’t open on Saturdays and is only open on Sundays. Chick-fl-A follows the practice of the national chain and doesn’t open on Sundays, so it’s only open on Saturdays. Subway, a once-reliable option, is now completely closed on the weekends. Tat alone limits students’ options signifcantly.

People should also keep Starbucks’ menu in mind. Starbucks is not a restaurant like the other dining options on campus. Te menu does include paninis and sandwiches, but the cofee chain’s menu is not made to be relied on for meals the way actual restaurants are.

“Another thing that I like about outdoor classes is simply being outside on the lovely St. Mary’s campus,” said Johnson. “I fnd that I am actually able to concentrate better [outside] than when I am in a confned“Studentsclassroom.”enjoybeing outdoors for class,” Kendall said. “ Tey mention liking the fresh air, the change of venue from a traditional classroom and the ability to engage with the course material in a deeper way.”

“One of the things that I like the most about outdoor classes is that students have the option to not wear a mask, as long as they are vaccinated,” Johnson said. “ Te masks, while necessary to protect our safety, can be quite annoying and uncomfortable to have on during every“[Outdoorclass.” classes] provide a little piece of normalcy to this crazy time,” Rachel Huron, senior communication studies major, said. Tere are still challenges with hosting classes outdoors. Tere are only a handful of spots around campus like the amphitheatre and Pecan Grove that make for a suitable classroom. Tere is also the issue of Texas’ sometimes extreme weather especially during the late summer and early autumn periods when the heat index is at its“I’dhighest.say[achallenge of outdoor classes is] defnitely the weather, whether that be the season itself or unforeseen circumstances such as the hot Texas sun causing unwanted sweat or sunburn or unexpected rain showers halting the class,” said Estrada. But beyond these challenges, some students are simply excited for the change in scenery outdoor classes allow for.

“I was here during the summer so I actually witnessed them taking out the fooring and doing work on the building over the summer,” said senior public history major Claudia Sanchez. “ Te project to remove the foors was done incredibly hastily and I was not surprised that it was not done in time by move-in.” Te long delay in the foor’s completion caused doubts as to if the project would be completed at all given the fact residents had already moved into the dorm prior to the repairs being completed.

“I think it was important for the fooring to be replaced because I believe there were health issues with the previous one, but the repairs should have been done way earlier than they were,” SanchezWhilesaid.there were health concerns with regards to the original fooring in Chaminade Hall, residents felt as though the situation could have been addressed in a more timely manner prior to the start of the semester. However, maintenance was clear that the project was delayed due in part to the pandemic and its efects on manufacturing and product availability.

It has become apparent that lately parking is a lot more difcult to fnd on campus. With in-person classes in full swing, there is an issue with fnding spots during the morning rush, with many students still adjusting to on-campus parking. With this issue comes parking violations, frustrated students and citations. Being on a smaller campus does give students more opportune places to park but commuters have more difculty fnding suitable spaces in the morning. “Parking is only slightly difcult because there are more people in-person and lots get crowded,” says Sonora Mata, a junior computer science major who is a commuter student.Tereturn to a full-sized campus has lef students to re-strategize their parking routines. Lots C, D, H and T are the main areas for commuter students to park. Many also park near Treadaway Hall and the University Police Department (UPD).

there is knowledge of active complaints from faculty, UPD is lef to be proactive about the matter, resulting in citations. Once citations are given, there is a visible change in parking habits. “We do not get revenue from parking tickets. [Each citation fee] goes back to [the] general funds of the University and goes back into scholarships for students. We prefer not to write tickets. We prefer people park where they’re supposed to park,” Ott commented.Temost common time of day where there seems to be difculty locating parking is in the “Dependingmorning.on the time, it can be a little difcult, mainly mornings 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.,” MataUnfortunatelycommented.there are not many things that can resolve this issue besides maybe getting to campus earlier.

Chief of University Police, David Ott, was able to give insights about how to prevent parking violations on campus. “I don’t want to blame it on COVID, but [many students] are parking wherever they want to,” Ott said.

“I honestly thought the frst foor was gonna be cardboard all semester,” senior mathematics major Jorge Martinez said. “I fgured since a lot of students are in and out of Chaminade that maintenance would never have the time to replace the foor.”

“I believe that it’s important for students to understand that maybeuniversitysaid.atofprobablymaintenancehasalotworkordersallonce,”Sanchez“However,theshouldlookinto hiring more workers or creating a better system.”Given the current situation maintenance faces with material availability and other pandemic-related problems, it’s no surprise that work order response times have been slower than normal.

At the end of the day, students simply want the amenities they’re paying for to be taken care of properly throughout the“Perhaps,semester. then, understanding from both sides could lead to a better system so that students are happy with the amenities they are paying for that the university should be providing,” Sanchez said. Despite the unique circumstances surrounding this semester, the university’s attempts at making campus life as normal as possible have not gone unnoticed by the student body. While the Chaminade Hall situation has been resolved, students still have concerns regarding the length at which maintenance issues are being completed.

UPD is aware of the parking situation.

OPINIONSEPT. 30, 2021 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 7 In-person semester met with parking issues on campus Editor-in-Chief Demi Bestor Managing Editor Larry Rodriguez-Shea Copy Editor Elizabeth Perez Layout and Design Sara Regassa Advertising Manager Megan Angelo Multimedia Editor Adrianna Mirabal Web Editor Briana Bailey News Editor Victoria Olguin Spanish Editor Maria Jose Valiente Opinion Editor Seana Barclay Culture and Entertainment Editor Jacob A. Henson Sports Editor Didier Cadena Faculty Adviser Kathe Lehman-Meyer EDITORIAL STAFF The Rattler welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should not exceed 500 words and must include writer’s name, classifcation, 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 rattlernews@gmail.com.email LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY

It’s important moving forward that these matters are treated with swifness and transparency so that another situation like that in Chaminade Hall can be avoided in the future.

“I want to educate the kids. It makes our job easier, less parking tickets and parking appeals,” Ott said. Many students are still awaiting their permanent parking passes. “ Tere is no reason you shouldn’t have a parking pass, unless you don’t have access to a printer—we can assist you if you communicate with us,” OttHopefully,advised. students can avoid parking violations to prevent others from parking in diferent lots. Visit the St. Mary’s ofcial website and go to the map under the about section. T available and who they are available to for the number of days and times per week. Tis is a great resource for students with cars to be more mindful of appropriate parking areas on campus. While perspectives and parking behaviors vary, everyone can agree that parking can still be a pain at times. It’s important to follow parking regulations set forth by the university so that everyone has an easier time during the semester.

In a semester as uniquely challenging as this one, it comes as no surprise that certain aspects of campus life are not back to how they used to be. Unfortunately, this problem has extended itself to maintenance issues and work orders. When the semester began, frst-foor residents of Chaminade Hall were shocked to return to campus to fnd cardboard fooring in place of the actual foor.

Students have been misusing some lots to park their vehicles. “Lot V, Lot B and Lot J are most rampant with parking violations,” said Ott. “Faculty and staf complain about students parking in theirOncelot.”

Students, however, were understanding of the situation in Chaminade Hall despite the slow repair time.

“ Te repairs needed in Chaminade Hall were underway weeks prior to move-in weekend,” Director of Facilities, Edward Dusha said. “Unfortunately, a delay in material availability caused by the pandemic resulted in an extended completion date for the project,” for the delay is understandable, it’s still unfair to students who pay to live in oncampus housing, especially to those who’s only option is to live in residence halls. Beyond the fooring situation in Chaminade Hall, work orders in general have been slow-going across campus. Many students have had to wait for days longer than usual for seemingly small issues to be fxed.“I have some friends who went weeks without access to their restroom because of how long maintenance was taking and that’s simply unfair,” said Sanchez. Maintenance, however, is aware of the slower wait times regarding work orders and other maintenance issues across campus. Because we are still living through a pandemic, it’s important to keep in mind that the university’s return to normalcy is still a slow-going process and unfortunately, on-campus maintenance will continue to ected going forward in this academic year. However, students would like some moreordersregardingtransparencyworkandtheir

SEANA BARCLAY OPINION EDITOR MEGAN ANGELO ADVERTISING MANAGER Long response times for work orders causes concern for campus residents Full student parking lot located outside Perigueux dorm in the Village.| Photo by Adrianna Mirabal Graphic by Adrianna Mirabal

Dusha also shared that work order times vary depending on how long they take to be completed and the severity of the issue.

“Based on the type of work order received, response time could be from same-day service up to 10 days,” Dusha said. “Nonurgent work requests are usually processed between three to fve days.”

TOPIC 2: ADULTHOOD Stuff You Should Know

A decade and still in the making! Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant have been uncovering the truth behind topics hidden in plain sight. From science to conspiracy theories, it’s a fun way to raise your awareness of various subjects. Mixing education with humor, this iHeartMedia podcast is for all of you curious souls out there.

[SOFT MUSIC PLAYING IN THE [JINGLESBACKGROUND]AND SOUND EFFECTS] aspects of a student’s life, from health to productivity, this 15-minute podcast is a must-listen for every college student.

TOPIC 3: STAYING INFORMED

Tiny Leaps, Big Changes

International Podcasts Every College

TOPIC 1: STUDENT 5-MINUTE CRAFTS

You’re Wrong About You think you know? Think again! Hitting you with hard facts, Journalists Michael Hobbes and Sarah Marshall will have you question whether anything you know is actually real. By using investigative journalism techniques, the real nature of events comes to light, leaving you with lots to think about. Things are never what they appear to be!

Source: tlbc.co Source: iheart.com

about.comyourewrong

INTRO

Source: comSource:

A self-help podcast hosted by Gregg Clunis. Clunis talks about the everyday life routine of getting things done and minor changes a person needs to make for self-betterment: The Domino Efect, if you will. Narrowed down to a single statement of advice that afects diferent

Hello and welcome to International Podcast Day, a celebration that recognizes the power of podcasts internationally. I am your host, Sara Regassa, Layout and Design Editor, and today we’re going to talk about podcasts every college student must listen to. Stay tuned for a special announcement at the end.

SPONSOR MESSAGE

TOPIC 5: SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

This episode is brought to you by The Rattler Newspaper, a monthly student-run newspaper publication at St. Mary’s University since 1919. It is a platform where students express their opinions and make their voices heard. Get the latest news on student clubs, on-campus activities, academic afairs and more from The Rattler. Thanks for reading this segment. I hope you enjoyed my list of podcasts college students must listen to. As always, head over to www.stmurattlernews.com to view our previous issues and check out all the links and resources in the advertisement section. That’s all for this episode folks. See you next time! [DOOR OPENS] [INDISTINCT CHATTER] and getting out of student loan debts; you get to learn the how-to’s of all of that and so much more right here. about the university, The St. Mary’s Sip is a podcast every college student must listen to. Buckle up for a real college experience. Source: thecollegeinvestor.

TOPIC 4: FINANCE

The College Investor Audio Show

The name says it all! This daily podcast tells stories from the blog “The College Investor.” Let’s be honest, this is the one we are all looking for. The “Millennial Money Expert,” Robert Farrington, teaches students financial literacy essentials to not just survive, but to thrive. Imagine growing your wealth, minimizing costs

By Demi Bestor

The St. Mary’s Sip

That’s right; The Rattler Newspaper is ofcially launching its own podcast. Hosted by our very own Demi Bestor and Megan Angelo, the podcast will center on St. Mary’s campus life and everything it has to ofer. From highlighting student and staf achievement to little-known facts

International Podcast Day:

Student Must Listen To

SPANISH EDITOR: MARÍA JOSÉ VALIENTE | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 30, 202110 Ex-alumnas latinas comparten como DSP las ayudo en el mundo de negocios VICTORIA OLGUIN / MARÍA JOSÉ VALIENTE VIVIAN URRUTIA / MARÍA JOSÉ VALIENTE

Este evento es especial para mi porque tuve la oportunidad para proyectar mi propia pelic ula que cree para una audiencia en particular.” Claudia Sanchez Estudiante Cuarto año Hisoria En el 16 de septiembre, en la esquina de la libraría, estudiantes pasaban el papel picado hasta el cuarto de Sala de Visualización de Media oscuro. Estudiantes de St. Mary’s se juntaron para celebrar Cultura Latinx en este día, el día de Independencia de Mexico, un día muy importante para estudiantes Latinx que celebra el ascenso de México contra el dominio español. Para celebrar, el Club de Historia, Unión de Estudiantes Hispanos y el Programa de Estudios Mexicanoamericanos colaboraron y usaron sus habilidades históricas y cinematográficas para investigar la historia Latinx en sus comunidades. Luego crearon películas que mostraron su conocimiento. Mientras las luces oscurecían y la gente se silenciaba, la película comenzó. Estudiantes como Claudia Sánchez, que está estudiando historia en su cuarto año, dura horas preparando su película.

Las películas no solo mostraron las luchas que enfrenta la comunidad latina, sino también los logros. La pantalla retrató a un soldado caído, junto con festividades de victoria. Estudiantes como Amanda Swan, estudiante de segundo año de estudios de comunicación y miembro de la Unión de Estudiantes Hispanos, creen que el evento exitosamente representó la comunidad Latinx.“Sete pedirá que hables cuando se trata del trauma que has sufrido o lo que significó crecer pobre e hispano, pero necesitamos levantar la voz y decir ‘Sí, tal vez soy de primera generación. Sí, tal vez crecí con bajos ingresos, pero también crecí con una comunidad amorosa y crecí con una cultura rica y no me vas a silenciar cuando quiero celebrarme y solo me permites amplificar mi voz cuando se trata de todas las cosas terribles. Voy a presentar mi cultura en una manera justa que dice: Aquí [hay] cosas difíciles que hemos pasado, y aquí están todas las cosas maravillosas,’” dijo Swan. Cada película proporcionó nuevos conocimientos históricos a la audiencia de una manera creativa. Incluso cineastas, como Sánchez, se encontraron aprendiendo algo nuevo de películas de otros. Como miembro de la Unión de Estudiantes Hispanos, Swan también mejoró su conocimiento de su cultura.“Como estudiante, aprendí mucha historia Latina importante que nunca había conocido, como el Mariel que trajo a muchos refugiados aquí desde Cuba,” dijo Swan. “Eso fue algo que personalmente ahora quiero investigar y averiguar más y saber cuántos rompedores de reglas, agitadores y promotores importantes salieron de eso, simplemente tuvo un gran impacto en mí y pensé que era realmente increíble.” Después de la exhibición de películas, los estudiantes compitieron en un concurso de gritos. Uno por uno, estudiantes se ofrecieron como voluntarios para presentar sus apuestas por un premio en efectivo. La multitud celebraron a cada presentador mientras daban su mejor grito. “Mi parte favorita del evento definitivamente tendría que ser la competencia de gritos. Fue muy divertido ver a mi propio profesor haciendo uno frente a todos,” dijo Sánchez. La colaboración del Club de Historia, la Unión de Estudiantes Hispanos y el Programa de Estudios Mexicanoamericanos ayudó a hacer posible este evento. Ahora, estudiantes como Sánchez y Swan esperan planear más eventos que celebran la cultura Latinx de Estudiantes Hispanos y el Programa de Estudios Mexicanoamericanos. Actualmente, se está desarrollando un programa de tutoría adentro de la universidad para estudiantes de las clase s mas bajas para poder ayudarlos a cumplir sus distintos suenos y sus distintas metas. Así como una noche de cultura latina con música en vivo y vendedores y una ofrenda comunitaria para la comunidad de St. Mary’s. Y otros futuros eventos que seran similares al anterior. Este programa tiene como meta ayudar a la communidad y brindar valores a todos sus jovenes., y sin embargo unirlos como familia. Tambien se les da una voz a aquellos que sienten que no la han tenido a lo largo de sus vidas. Cualquier estudiante o trabajador de St. Mary’s que este interesado para obtener más información sobre el Club de Historia, aserca de proximos eventos, siguientes actividades y la Unión de Estudiantes Hispanos o el programa de Estudios Mexicanoamericanos, sientase en su autroidad y comuníquese atreaves de los respectivos medios de loa colaboradores con Bianca Rhae-Jacquez en bjacquez@mail. stmarytx.edu (Club de historia), Amanda Swan en aswan2@mail.stmarytx.edu (Union Hispana de Estudiantes), o Arturo Vega, Ph. D. en avega2@mial.stmarytx.edu (Programa de estudios Mexicanoamericanos).

“Este evento es especial para mí porque tuve la oportunidad para proyectar mi propia película que cree para una audiencia en particular. Fue extremadamente gratificante ver mi película reproducida en una pantalla grande y tener los comentarios de mis compañeros sobre un trabajo que pasé horas creando”, dijo Sánchez.

Se celebra el día de independencia Mexicano con un festival cinematografico Delta Sigma Pi (DSP) es una fraternidad nacional de negocios para mujeres y hombres que se estan especializando en una carrera de negocios. DSP es una de las muchas fraternidades que estan disponibles en St. Mary’s University. Delta Sigma Pi ha apoyado a los estudiantes internacionales de esta universidad, incluyendo a Ana Paula Saravia y Ting King Yong que estaran relatando su experiencia siendo miembros de esta Saravia,fraternidad.dePerú, se graduó el año pasado de St. Mary’s como estudiante internacional, pero se mantuvo orgullosamente siendo parte de su fraternidad. Saravia cuenta como DSP tuvo un gran impacto en su vida, diciendo, “Ser parte de Delta Sigma Pi me ayudó mucho a expandir mis habilidades, no solo académicas, sino también personales y profesionales. Pude hacer muchas conexiones que me dieron nuevas oportunidades laborales.” Saravia comparte los beneficios de haberse integrado y resalta como, “DSP fue crucial como estudiante internacional, ya que me ofreció oportunidades que no podría haber accedido de alguna otra forma.” Esto demuestra como DSP la beneficio al llegar a los Estados Unidos. DSP le brindo muchas oportunidades como viajes y una posición de liderazgo, ella explica cómo, “Todo esto mientras creaba un sistema de soporte a través de los otros miembros de DSP que siempre me apoyaron cuando era necesario.”

Ese sentimiento de apoyo entre los hermanos de Delta Sigma Pi fue muy importante para ella en la universidad y más adelante en su vida de negocios, “Lo bueno acerca de DSP es que el club está en muchas universidades a través de toda América, después de graduarme de StMU he tenido la oportunidad de conocer otras personas que también son parte de DSP, quienes se graduaron de otras universidades y que además comparten el mismo sentimiento de comunidad, servicio y pasión por aprender que yo.” Saravia narra como DSP la ayudo a sobresalir como estudiante y autosuperarse como persona con todos los obstáculos que tenía como ser una estudiante internacional en los Estados Unidos. Yong, también de Perú y estudiante internacional graduado de St. Mary’s University formo y sigue formando parte de la fraternidad Delta Sigma Pi. Yong relata que involucrarse en esa fraternidad le cambio la vida, “Unirse a DSP es probablemente una de las mejores decisiones e inversiones que he hecho en mi vida. ¿Por qué? Porque todo el compromiso, tiempo y esfuerzo que pongo en la fraternidad es triplemente devuelto en las ventajas y beneficios que la organización les brinda a todos sus miembros.” Felizmente ella les demuestra a los lectores los beneficios como estudiante de negocios al unirse a un club como DSP. Yong comparte lo que hizo a esta fraternidad destacar de las demás para ella, “Lo que más me gusto y la razón por la cual decidí unirme a esta fraternidad es que DSP no solo se trata de profesionalismo, sino también sobre crecimiento personal y sobre servir y devolver a nuestra comunidad.” Delta Sigma Pi la acompaño siempre en su camino, “Ya graduada, sabía que sería una deltasig siempre, pero no esperaba encontrarme con más deltasigs fuera de la universidad. Durante el verano de este año (2021), conocí a tres hermanos de DSP de otras universidades y, aun sin conocernos por mucho tiempo, sentíamos que había algo que nos conectaba, entablando amistades que se distingue de otras que tengo.” Es evidente que es difícil estudiar en los Estados Unidos siendo internacional ya que las oportunidades de trabajo son reducidas. En ocaciones los estudiantes no logran encontrar un trabajo viendose obligados a regresar a sus hogares. Sin embargo, es impactante la ayuda que reciben muchos estudiantes internacionales de estas fraternidades de negocios como los miembros de DSP. St. Mary’s ha hecho un trabajo increíble en ayudar a estos jóvenes ofreciendo muchos grupos y organizaciones las cuales los ayudan a involucrarse en el ambiente de negocios desde mas temprano dentro de los Estados Unidos y/o a crecer como personas responsables y personalmente con valores. Ademas esta fraternidad de negocios les brindo muchos valores y las ayudo personalmente. Un ejemplo es la cantidad de actividades en las cuales ellos participan para renforzar. Las chicas entrevistadas comparten como estan sumamente agradecidas por DSP.

“

Ana Paula Saravia.| Cortesia de Saravia Ting King Yong.| Cortesia de Yong Jorge Martinez canta su grito.| Foto por Adrianna Mirabal Estudiantes en la sala.| Foto por Adrianna Mirabal

Entrevista con Diane Bertrand, muy reconocida escritora Hispanoamericana

SPANISHSEPT. 30, 2021 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 11

Respetada y aclamada poeta del premio Tricentenario de San Antonio, y recientemente retirada profesora de St. Mary’s, Diane Bertrand, ha escrito varios libros bilingües a lo largo de su carrera, como “El Dilema de Trino, Mi Amigo Victor y Hay Un Nombre Para Este Sentimiento”. Nacida y criada en San Antonio, Texas, pero con una fuerte herencia hispana, Bertrand explica cómo siempre encontró la paz dentro de la escritura.

“He estado escribiendo desde que era una niña, pero me inspiré para escribir literatura latina durante la década de 1990, ya que mi profesor me animó a escribir para niños hispanos, ya que no había muchos textos en español durante ese tiempo,” dijo Bertand. Bertrand explica cómo se dio cuenta de que durante los años 1990 no había muchos textos originales en español, ya que muchos eran solo traducciones. Debido a eso decidió escribir libros bilingües, para niños pequeños y adolescentes que fueran auténticos para la experiencia latina. También mencionó cómo trata de representar a personas de diferentes orígenes culturales al escribir sus textos. “Por ejemplo, con el libro [‘Sip, Slurp, Soup, Soup / Caldo, Caldo, Caldo’], mi primer libro bilingüe, cuando salió, tuve personas con diferentes antecedentes culturales que se presentaron y dijeron ‘mi familia, somos alemanes’ o ‘somos de China y tenemos un caldo que también hacemos,’” dijoConBertand.este enfoque multicultural, el propósito de Bertrand es mostrar, a través de una lente hispana, que nuestras experiencias son similares, y que somos más similares que diferentes. Ella menciona cómo le encanta hacer esto a través de una variedad de géneros diferentes, como poesía, cuentos, novelas largas de ficción, libros ilustrados, etc. Para Bertrand llegar a su público es uno de los componentes más importantes de una pieza de escritura.

Futbolistas

“El elemento más importante de un texto o un libro, es que el autor sea capaz de enganchar y enviar un mensaje a su audiencia, si puedes tener una primera página muy fuerte y captar el interés de tus lectores, es cuando sabes que tienes una buena pieza de escritura”.

MARÍA JOSÉ VALIENTE EDITORA DE ESPAÑOL

Quería crear un libro auténti co de historias realistas por las que los adolescentes de hoy suelen pasar, para ayudarlos a comprender ciertas emociones nuevas que sienten,”

Diane Bertrand Autora Americana “

Libro Bilingüe para adolecentes.| cortesia de Bertrand

Foto

Diane Bertrand con uno de sus libros.| Foto cortesia de Bertrand

“Cuando los niños me escriben una carta y me dicen ‘realmente no me gusta leer, pero me encantó su libro’, esa sensación es mejor que ganar la lotería, eso para mí es la prueba de que mi libro ha hecho una conexión y un impacto para ellos”. Incluso agrega que los maestros también se han puesto en contacto con ella para expresar cómo sus libros les han ayudado a involucrar a los niños pequeños dentro del entorno del aula. Bertrand también agrega cómo sus trabajos son capaces de hacer una conexión para los niños pequeños con sus experiencias en el hogar. Haciendo que sus experiencias personales también sean valiosas, ya que están siendo representadas dentro de un libro. También menciona cómo quería mostrar algo positivo sobre los latinos y la cultura latina, porque muchas veces siente que están representados en un aspecto negativo. “Hay un nombre para este sentimiento”, es una de las obras más aclamadas de Bertrand. Esta colección bilingüe de historias cortas muestra diferentes escenarios de la vida real de varias situaciones que muchas personas enfrentan“Queríaregularmente.crearunlibro auténtico de historias realistas por las que los adolescentes de hoy suelen pasar, para ayudarlos a comprender ciertas emociones nuevas que sienten,” dijo Bertrand.

ESTEFANY COUTINO / MARÍA JOSÉ VALIENTE

hispanos relatan sus distintas historias al ser atletas universitarios

Esto no solo sirve como un refuerzo para la maduración de los adultos jóvenes, validando sus diferentes experiencias y sentimientos personales que tienden a obtener. Bertrand finaliza la entrevista mencionando cómo está agradecida de poder impactar a tantos niños y adultos jóvenes con sus diferentes textos. Ya que quiere representar a las minorías en sus textos. Mostrándoles que sus sentimientos, experiencias y diferentes culturas también están representados dentro de los medios de comunicación y el mundo, ya por ende no están solos. Y que llos en realidad tienen una voz y seran representados en la literatura.

Impactar a muchos de sus lectores es extremadamente importante para Bertrand, especialmente cuando se trata de niños pequeños, darles un rayo de esperanza. Es por eso que Bertrand es muy selectiva con el tono y qué personajes elige para sus historias, ya que quiere que todo eso represente el mensaje que quiere emitir. “Escribir es como trabajar con arcilla. Comienza como una pelota, y comienzas a construirlo, parece un jarrón, así que luego empiezo a darle forma para que se vea como un jarrón. Es lo mismo con mi trabajo, empiezo a darle forma y elijo, el tono, los personajes, y si va a ser un libro ilustrado, un poema o una novela,” dijo Bertand. Después de elegir todos los elementos de su pieza de escritura, Bertrand revisa todas sus historias, menciona cómo generalmente tiene tres o cuatro amigos cercanos quienes leen su trabajo y le proporcionan ediciones. Después de hacer esto varias veces, envía la copia final a sus editores y su trabajo se publica.Al ser una autora, ella menciona cómo su trabajo suele ser recibido con mucha positividad, pero siempre habrá ese par de comentarios negativos. Bertrand expresa que la forma en que trata con ellos es ignorando las críticas odiosas y simplemente sigue avanzando. Ella menciona cómo todo eso no es importante en comparación con la reacción y las cartas que recibe de los niños pequeños.

La pandemia afectó a todo el planeta de distintas maneras, no solo en la salud, libertad, economía y seguridad sino también a nuestros atletas, ya que tuvieron que adaptarse a la nueva normalidad en la cual tenían que seguir practicando y además prepararse para cuando se les fuera permitido seguir jugando. Cuatro estudiantes Hispanos internacionales han compartido como fueron impactados personalmente y en su carrera futbolística debido al COVID. Dani Gimena de España es un estudiante de segundo año de negocios internacionales. Al compartir su experiencia acerca del impacto de la pandemia Gimena dijo “COVID me ha afectado de diferentes maneras, no solo de manera negativa, sino también positiva. La peor parte fue cuando me estaba preparando para venir a los Estados Unidos. Cuando pensé que todo estaba preparado para mi vuelo a San Antonio, la embajada estadounidense en España cerró sus puertas sin saber cuándo volverían a abrir. Por lo tanto, durante el verano de 2020, no sabía cuándo podría obtener mi visa y volar a los Estados Unidos, o incluso si podría hacerlo ese semestre. Finalmente, pude volar un mes después de que se suponía que debía hacerlo.” Gimena además menciona como “una vez que llegué al campus, tuve que pasar por cuarentena durante 14 días ya que llegué de un país diferente. Sin embargo, incluso si me he perdido muchas cosas de la vida estudiantil y la vida del campus de un año “normal” en St. Mary’s Aunque es difícil encontrar algunas cosas positivas sobre COVID, tengo que admitir que, debido a ello, tuve una adaptación más fácil y cómoda a mi nueva vida en un nuevo país, y en un nuevo equipo. Digo esto porque normalmente, nada más llegar al campus, hay que empezar las clases presenciales y, en mi caso, estar preparado para empezar la temporada de fútbol con el equipo. Por lo tanto, debido al COVID, la temporada de fútbol se trasladó a la primavera, y pude usar el otoño para conocer a la gente del equipo y acostumbrarme al estilo de fútbol delRobertoequipo.”Ortiz de México es un estudiante de primer año quien estudia ciencias del ejercicio. Ortiz comparte con entusiasmo su experiencia al ser Hispano y atender a una prestigiosa escuela como St Mary’s, “Entrar a St. Mary ‘s fue un gran paso en mi vida, ya que me uní durante mi primer año para competir en el equipo de fútbol de St. Mary’s. Hay gente en el equipo de todo el mundo, pero, por supuesto, te unes y ya no los ves como compañeros de equipo, sino como hermanos. Mi etnia hispana me ha permitido conectarme con muchas personas de etnias similares. En estos momentos de pandemia mundial, es importante que nos mantengamos unidos y nos apoyemos unos a otros para evitar y sobrepasar aún más este terrible virus que nos ha impactado. Ser parte de una escuela tan prestigiosa y hermosa ha sido una bendición total. Ahora hay que poner de mi parte para salir adelante y luchar por esta escuela.” Alonso Rodriguez de España es un estudiante de último año de ciencias de la comunicación. Rodriguez habla sobre la ventaja que atrae al ser español y jugar fútbol: “En cierto modo el venir de España es una ventaja a nivel futbolístico porque otorgamos unas características diferentes a las que hay en el fútbol de Estados Unidos, y eso enriquece mucho al equipo ya que proporcionamos mucho más dinamismo. A pesar de ser español, todos los compañeros me acogieron bien desde el inicio, y pese a las dificultades por el COVID, el equipo lo ha hecho bien y, gracias a la NCAA, tenemos un año extra que voy a utilizar para estudiar el máster. Personalmente, no puedo estar más agradecido al trato que he recibido desde que llegué y a la gran experiencia que estoy viviendo en San Antonio. Nunca pensé que fuera a disfrutar tanto de como lo estoy haciendo”. COVID ha afectado globalmente a toda la población y a los estudiantes. En este caso en nuestros atletas, y no solo los futbolistas. Los entrevistados relatan sus historias, teniendo diferentes problemas, y experiencias. Ademas ellos demuestran cómo sus vidas, al igual que muchas otras personas, nunca serán iguales. Pero con mucho esfuerzo los futbolistas han podido acoplarse a la nueva normalidad y con mucha dedicación ellos siguen entrenando hasta dar su todo. Para así poder seguir representando con mucho exito, por las siguientes temporadas a la St. Mary’s University.

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR: JACOB A. HENSON | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 30, 202112

The book club’s revival and what to expect in the coming year Been feeling the desire to read lately but just can’t find the time, motivation or friends to read with? Joining a book club could certainly help with this. The St. Mary’s University book club is looking for new members to join next semester, spring 2022. This is the perfect opportunity to read alongside other students and explore new genres. In preparation for next spring, the book club is inviting St. Mary’s students, faculty and staff to come out and enjoy a new book title next semester with them, growing in knowledge and social capital. The book club at St. Mary’s has been in existence since 2004 and was founded by Kathleen Maloney, Ph.D. who decided to initiate the club after finding that students were interested in reading together. Currently, Maloney is unavailable for the fall semester and the book club is on a hiatus. But not to worry, the organization is planning exciting things for the upcoming semester. This is the pefect opportunity for students to prepare their individual book list to share with everyone. “Josh” Doty, Ph.D. assistant professor of English, Literature and Language, anticipates the club will become full now that vaccinated students are able to gather in small groups again. In discussing the book club, Doty mentioned many great plans for the“St.future.Mary’s students would find in the book club an inclusive, welcoming place to gather and share their love for reading,” Doty stated. “It’s a wonderful way to read books that you wouldn’t otherwise.”

Just this past summer, the club read “The Dragons, the Giant, the Women” by Wayétu Moore. In short, the story is a two-part memoir told from Moore’s perspective. The first half discusses her Liberian childhood and separation from her mother in the midst of war. The second half highlights her adulthood in the United States in contrast to her previous experience in Liberia, learning powerful lessons of love and family. Ultimately, the club strives to be diverse in their book suggestions and are always willing to shift gears from one book to the next. New ideas for books and genres are of course always welcome. Yet to some students’ surprise, the club usually reads books that students wouldn’t normally think of, but in turn, become some of theirAsfavorites.forthissemester, Doty and the English department are working to recruit students to become members and officers for the book club. While the previous semesters have proven the club successful in members and discussions, Doty overall hopes the spring semester will bring more enthusiastic faces and bright ideas. The club neither charges dues for membership nor requires members to purchase books. All books are lent to the book club members at no cost and are provided by either the Blume Library or the San Antonio Public Library. The spring semester is just around the corner, and the book club is eager for fresh ideas . For further questions about joining the club, feel free to contact Benjamin “Josh” Doty at bdoty@stmarytx.edu.

SOPHIA KUSSEL CONTRIBUTING WRITER

SOPHIA ANNE MUÑOZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

paradise: sequel and nostalgia

Author Wayétu Moore’s book finds a warm embrace at St. Mary’s book club of Brittle Paper

| Courtesy

Hollywood

Benjamin “Josh” Doty, Ph.D., adviser to the book club.|

Photo courtesy of Katherine Meersman

Nightmares in in

This past August, Hollywood released a spectacular addition to the story of “Candyman” (2021), a screenplay written by the iconic Jordan Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta. Oh, and there was also Hugh Jackman’s return to the big screen, starring in a box office bomb, “Reminiscence.” Yes, it seems that this August, and admittedly, every other month too, the film industry is particularly focused on resurrecting their past legends from beyond the grave; movies and actors alike. (Poster courtesy of Universal Studios.)

For many devoted horror fans, the production news of a “Candyman” (2021) sequel led many to fear it would be another Hollywood-butchered classic horror movie. After all, don’t forget the horrific 2010 flop of a remake, “Nightmare on Elm Street” — which left many horror junkies with their own nightmares, but not in a good way. First, let’s examine “Candyman” (1992). Director Bernard Rose’s adaptation of Clive Barker’s story, “The Forbidden,” transformed Barker’s gothic literary work into an urban nightmare that spoke directly to the youth of the ‘90s. While Barker’s story thematically surrounded critiques of the contemporary British class system, much of the 1992 film takes place in Chicago’s Cabrini-Green’s public housing development, where racial and social disparity themes are presented in America’s inner cities. The movie follows Helen Lyle, an affluent, college-educated, white woman, maneuvering a grad school research project on America’s underprivileged housing projects. In turn, the audience views the unfolding horror through the perspective of a privileged outsider. Woven with the backstory of a community’s urban legend, the audience witnesses communal gentrification clouded by a white-gazed lens. This lens ultimately fails to present these social issues from the perspective of the housing project communities. Everything from sound mixing, to cinematography and most certainly to the impressive set construction, Rose’s 1992 masterpiece is mesmerizing to watch. Looking at “Candyman” (2021), this adaptation does not possess a unique charm, which might leave some fans of “Candyman” (1992) feeling a tad disappointed in theaters. Nevertheless, this does not mean Hollywood made horror fans live through yet another butchered movie. Rather, prospective moviegoers should set their expectations in advance.Oneofthe main things to note about the 2021 installment is that it pushes themes, such as those seen in the original, to the forefront of the movie and frankly executes them in a nuanced manner. The 2021 sequel puts more emphasis on racial injustice, whilst the 1992 movie gives racial injustice a backseat. This reimagining of “Candyman” (2021) is first and foremost a visual delight to watch. The camerawork, use of set pieces and shadow puppetry do wonders for setting the tone and creating a dynamic experience. Thankfully, horror junkies can find solace in that this movie has everything to offer visually. While one might find themselves missing the nostalgic and cheesy 90’s gore effects, the gore in “Candyman” (2021) will leave little to imagine and much to sicken. This is in some part due to the fantastic sound design throughout the movie. If a moviegoer thinks they won’t hear every slash, stab and squish, they are in for a surprise. These movies are different, but they share a soul, and are both fantastic horror movies. “Candyman” (2021) may not be as good as “Candyman” (1992), but it can certainly hold its own and is a good movie, unlike the film, “Reminiscence.” Four out of five rattlers. (Poster courtesy of Warner Bros Pictures.) This movie is fine. The cinematography is okay. The dialogue is unbearably boring. All in all, it is unremarkable, which is not an unusual characteristic attributed to Hugh Jackman’s acting filmography — one can only watch “X-Men” so many times. Without spoiling anything, the film is set in a futuristic version of Miami where, due to climate change, it is too hot to venture out during the daytime; so everything takes place at night. And just in case the audience thought this wasn’t going to be a moody noir, it actually is. After all, the first line of dialogue to hit the audience’s ears is, “The past can haunt a man…” Moving on though, Hugh Jackman takes on the role of Nick Bannister, a brooding investigator haunted by his mysterious and heartbreaking past. Essentially, Jackman is playing a hard-boiled enigma with a troubled past. How original, Jackman is certainly shaking things up with his return to acting. Anyway, the rest of the film speaks for itself — A Jackman character must do something with memories in every movie he is in, confronting the past, forgetting the past and now… living in the past. In short, Jackman is a private eye that jumps in memories in order to solve crimes whilst being haunted by his own past. The movie is full of noir tropes, which is not inherently an issue, but the movie does little to do anything creative with its symbolism. Director and screenwriter, Lisa Joy, seemed to make this neo-noir film almost too moody and dramatic, whilst also making a boring sci-fi film. It’s disturbing andYettroubling.Joy,who is also the writer and creator of the hit sci-fi TV show, “Westworld”, is actually known for her fantastic writing. But somehow this movie came out as predictable and melodramatic as its underwhelming performances — looking at you, Hugh. Hopefully Joy will be able to make a comeback after this flop. With her talent, her potential to create a fantastic work of art is within her reach. Two out of five rattlers. “Candyman” (2021) is currently in theaters and “Reminiscence” is available to watch in theaters and on HBO Max.

The store is bound to have a record suited to everyone’s tastes, as there are rows upon rows of options available. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, patrons are required to wear masks when entering the shop. In some cases, Rambo says it’s difficult to keep his customers safe, especially during band promotions at the store. For example, R&B group Durand Jones & The Indications came to sign 300+ autographs for their loyal fans at the shop. Rambo said that people were lined up all around the building, and he had to ensure social distancing was being maintained among them. Nevertheless, meet and greet events like this help attractSeniorbusiness.music education major Maxx Arizmendi likes to listen to music whenever he’s working out or shooting hoops around on the court. He enjoys listening whenever he isn’t playing his violin. When asked what he finds unique about listening to vinyl records, Arizmendi’s answer was a relatable“What’sone.unique about it is that not everyone has a record,” Arizmendi states. “Not even I have one myself.” Arizmendi goes on to say he thinks records have had a positive impact on the music industry as a whole, because “...That is how people once listened to music way back in the day and it is still a part of us to thisBuildday.”a record collection today and be sure to visit Friends of Sound Records at 700 Fredericksburg Road. The store is open daily from 12-5 p.m., and the staff couldn’t be friendlier. Who knows, there may even be a band signing autographs while there. One thing is for certain, this sure beats pressing play on a music streaming app any day.

Local record store off of Fredericksburg Road has the right sound for everyone.| Photo by Ryan Estes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Maluma Billie Eilish Lil Nas X Kim Kardashian Troye Sivan

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RYAN ESTES STAFF WRITER

Timothee Chalamet MJ Rodriguez Dan Levy

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT 13SEPT. 30, 2021 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM

For ages, people have listened to music. Humans are moved by the tones, melodies and harmonies from classical composers like Johann Sebastian Bach and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to modern artists like Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Music has a timeless element to it that ensures people around the world will forever find that perfectVarioussound.listening platforms include streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud, CDs, cassettes and of course, vinyl records. While Spotify, Apple Music and SoundCloud are great for listening on the go, the other lived experience of listening is buying physical copies of records for that good old record player; aside from concerts of course. There is something about records that allow listeners to interact with what they hear. There is something satisfying about physically putting a record on the player and setting the needle in place, with that occasional needle static ruffling over surface dust. And if listeners are interested in buying records, Friends of Sound Records in San Antonio offers a comprehensive selection of artists and genres. Just ask Rambo; that is what he casually goes by. Rambo is the manager of Friends of Sound Records and states that while the store gets some new records from distributors, roughly 80% of the records in the store are used, then refurbished and resold. At Friends of Sound Records, one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. The kind of music found in this shop dates back to the 1950s up until the present day. Now, while there is not a student discount at checkout, a military discount is available. And when record shopping, Rambo recommends that customers collect a wide variety of music including genres like world music, funk, soul, jazz, hip-hop, blues and classic rock. Rambo says, “You can take time to discover something if you really look for it.”

Jam out to classic vinyl sounds from Friends of Sound Records

Pete Davidson Whoopi Goldberg

With the first month of St. Mary’s athletics soon coming to a close, the Rattlers have once again proven that they are forces to be reckoned with. Take a look at how dominant the various Rattler Teams have been thisWomen’sseason.

The St. Mary’s volleyball team has been able to once again be dominant over their first month of play. With a current record of 7-4, the Rattlers have already doubled the number of victories that they earned all of last season. At one point, the Rattlers were able to accumulate an extremely impressive six-game winning streak. The team has gone beyond their expectations and is once again showing why they are a force to be reckoned with in their conference.

Photo by Karen Bogràn

Goalkeeper Rebecca Difronzo surveys the field and plans out her kick.|

Golf The women’s golf team is building off of their most successful season and once again making a splash against their opponents.

all around DIDIER CADENA SPORTS EDITOR EDITOR : DIDIER CADENA |@STMURATTLERNEWS |SEPT. 30, 2021SPORTS

Photo by Larry Rodriguez-Shea Rattlers Alicia Virthe and Rachel McDonald go up and jump to block .|

Courtesy of Rattler Athletics

Men’s Tennis The men’s tennis team has been able to see impressive performances from their members as they continue the winning tradition that we have seen from them. At the St. Mary’s Invitational, the Rattlers were able to compete deep into the tournament, with two Rattlers winning individual titles in the tournament. At the Trinity Invitational, the Rattlers were able to build off of the success of their last tournament, with all members of the tennis team able to record at least a victory over the course of the invitational.

In their first tournament of the season at the Dallas Baptist University Women’s invitational, the Rattlers were able to come away with an impressive fourth place finish and with a team score of 299 (11 -over par). In the Rattlers last tournament, they were able to earn a second-place finish at the DBU Classic. In this tournament, they were able to lead the field in scoring with par 5s and also had the most birdies of all of the teams in the tournament with a final amount of 45 over the course of the tournament. The Rattlers Golf team hopes to continue their success and compete deeply into their next tournament at the West Texas A&M Fall Invitational on Oct. 4 and 5. Volleyball

The women’s soccer team is going beyond their expectations as well, by dominating in the first month of the season. The Rattlers currently stand at an impressive 5-2 record with 3 of those victories coming from their Rattlers were able team in the State, in attacksandmatchupaamajorwinsthistheirarealso a major key in their victories.

KarenBogràn

Rattlers start off their season with strong efforts

Photo by Adrianna Mirabal

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The rest of the season looks bright as the Rattlers hope to continue their dominating performances into the rest of the season. and show off how much potential this team has for the season.

The Rattlers hope to continue their success at the upcoming ITA South Central Regional Tournament on Sept. 30. Men’s Soccer The men’s soccer team is continuing in their winning tradition, currently, at a record of 4-3, the Rattlers are showing off their competitive edge. With a strong defensive line that has been able to cause trouble for opposing offensives to get anything across the field and into the goal. The Rattlers strong offensive presence is also a major reason for why they have been successful, with the team able to continually find opportunities to score and make big plays. They were also able to finally get back onto a three-game winning streak, their first since March of the 2020 season. They hope to once again build off of their success, crush their competition, break records and try to make another deep run this season. The next home game for the Rattlers will be on Oct. 2 against West Texas A&M in a Lonestar Conference matchup.

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Courtesy of Antonio Morano Photography

Vs. Cancer, through the PBTF, wants to imagine a world in which there are no childhood brain tumors. In their mission, they work to care for families along their journey, cure all childhood brain tumors and help both survivors and their families thrive. They help those who are struggling with their efforts to care, support for those who are suffering with childhood brain tumors and logistical and financial support through any family’s hardships. When it comes to the effort of curing all childhood brain tumors, they try to engage in just about every level of expertise across various arrays of scientific disciplines. They also try to seed funding at every stage of the therapy pipeline and collaborate with a wide spectrum of global partners because curing pediatric brain tumors is an international issue. When it comes to thriving, the PBTF wants to offer a thriving community for children, the survivors and their families by staying with them starting from the diagnosis, through the treatment and even beyond that. With thriving, the organization offers opportunities to connect with families in need of support. They also offer resources and programs to help survivors and caregivers navigate the transition towards adulthood and the lasting impact that diagnosis and treatment can have on a child’s quality of life.The Vs. Cancer organization is one that prides itself in its inclusion. Pediatric brain tumors do not discriminate and the organization strives to ensure an environment that is safe, welcoming and open to all families who are impacted by the disease. All those who are partnered with Vs. Cancer are committed to helping not only care for, but also cure kids who have brain tumors. One of the main values of those who are partnered with the organization is that they are respectful to all community members, with the aim to promote a greater understanding of respect for the diversity and inclusion of everyone. Through the cooperation with the PBTF, another one of the main values is accountability. There is a set behavior that is expected and values that the St. Mary’s community and the organization always strive to achieve. The Rattlers currently have a set goal of $3,500 to raise before the Oct. 13 game against TAMIU. Opportunities to donate to the Rattlers’ fund for Vs. Cancer can be found on the Vs. Cancer page linked on the Rattler Athletics website. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated and go directly back into our community.

SPORTS Latest Hall of Fame class finally gets chance for induction

The St. Mary’s University women’s soccer team has announced a new partnership with Vs. Cancer, a fundraising campaign that is sponsored by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (PBTF). In this partnership, the Rattlers will participate in a month-long fundraising event that ends with the Vs. Cancer Soccer game on Oct. 13 when the Rattlers take on Texas A&M International University at home. For those who have not heard of Vs. Cancer, they are the signature fundraising campaign of the PBTF whose proceeds are used to help fund child life programs at local hospitals and go towards life-saving pediatric brain tumor research. The organization already has numerous universities that are partnered with them, so it is a great opportunity for the Rattlers to contribute to a rising and prestigious organization. The organization was created as a platform to raise funds for childhood cancer.

CADENA

Photo by Karen Bogràn

After a long wait, the St. Mary’s University Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2020 will finally have the chance to be inducted into the university’s illustrious Hall of Fame. The class was supposed to have been inducted back in the fall of 2020, but due to COVID-19, the ceremony was pushed back to a later date. With the ceremony now taking place on Oct. 15 at the beautiful Bill Greehey Arena, the dream to forever showcase the distinguished accomplishments of these inductees will now be realized. Now, let’s take a look at the inductees for this Hall of Fame class. The first inductee for this Hall of Fame class is the entire 1986 St. Mary’s softball team. Way back in 1986, the St. Mary’s softball team won the university’s firstever national championship back when they were a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The 1986 team holds the record for the university’s lowest single-season Earned Run Average (ERA) with 0.55 and has the second all-time in batting average allowed .147. The 86’ season was the second consecutive season that the team made the College World Series. The 1986 team already has seven members of the team in the Hall of Fame, so the entire team’s inclusion shows off how great of an accomplishment this team was able to achieve and how important of a mark the team left on the university’s history. Next to be inducted into the Hall of Fame is Jeff Appelt (B.B.A. ’99) of the St. Mary’s baseball team. Appelt is a four-time Heart of Texas Conference Champion and was also named the 1996 Heart of Texas Conference Freshman of the Year and AllHeart of Texas Conference first team for two consecutive years in 1998 and 1999. Appelt is second all time in wins with 38 and number four all time in strikeouts with 313. Next, we have Natalie Gamez (B.A. ’09) from the university’s women’s basketball team. Gamez, who is already a member of the National Hispanic Hall of Fame, holds several accolades to her name in her time at the university. Gamez is first all-time in both three-pointers and free throws made. She also ranks third in free throw percentage, ninth in rebounding and eighth in assists in St. Mary’s women’s basketball history. Gamez was also an All-American for the 2007-2008 season. J.J. Edwards (B.B.A. ’06) is an inductee from the men’s basketball team. Edwards was able to leave an enormous impact in his two seasons with the Rattlers, ending his collegiate career with 438 points scored, 195 assists and 174 rebounds grabbed. Edwards was also named Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2005. Jamie Amoretti (B.B.A. ’07) from the men’s golf team is one of the additions to the stacked Hall of Fame glass. Amoretti was able to accumulate a myriad of accomplishments during his time at the University. Amoretti is currently the University’s only individual national champion when he won it all back in 2006. Adding to his accomplishments, he earned the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) honors in the 2005-2006 season. Amoretti was named Player of the Year in 2006, the same year in which he earned the lowest single-season scoring average in program history with 71.85 and had the most single-season wins with a total of three. He also finished his career with the most rounds played with a total of 36. He also has the fourth-best scoring average in school history with 73.83.

Melissa Magee (B.B.A. ’08, MBA ’10) from the softball team is another addition to the Hall of Fame. During her time at the university, she was named a three-time All-American and was also inducted in the Heartland Conference Hall of Fame back in 2018 and is the only four-time Conference Player of the Year in the league’s history. In her playing time, she was able to finish first with the Heartland Conference career records for wins with 119, first in shutouts with 48, first in innings pitched with 994.0, first in strikeouts with 1,061 and first in complete games with 111. Adding to her impressive list of achievements, she also holds the single-season conference record for wins with 36, innings pitched with 282, strikeouts with 336 and shutouts with 18. To finalize the year’s Hall of Fame Class is Que Willis (B.B.A. ’01) from the men’s soccer team. Willis is the epitome of success in the school’s illustrious soccer history. He is the school’s all-time leading goal scorer with 54, the all-time leading points scorer and the all-time leading assists leader. He was also a two-time All-American in 1997 andThe1998.new inductees into the class come with many accolades and accomplishments. This event allows for alumni to relive some of their greatest moments here at St. Mary’s. It should be a great event for our community to witness.

The proceeds of Vs. Cancer fund child life programs in each participating teams’ communities, so this is a great opportunity that can help give back to those in the St. Mary’s community and those in the surrounding area.

DIDIER SPORTS EDITOR

The organization’s founder, Chase Jones, experienced the world of childhood cancer himself and rallied with his teammates at the University of North Carolina who began raising funds to support their local hospital. This is one of the greatest defining aspects of Vs. Cancer. Built and founded by someone who overcame cancer, it’s easy to see that they are truly committed to their cause. The organization knows, from personal experience, that research and a strong support system is extremely important for children to survive.

Women’s soccer partners with Vs. Cancer to help fundraise

DIDIER CADENA SPORTS EDITOR SEPT. 30, 2021 | STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 15 Courtesy of Vs. Cancer Foundation Courtesy of Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Courtesy of Rattler Athletics

ADRIANNA MIRABAL, LARRY RODRIGUEZ-SHEA MULTIMEDIA EDITOR AND MANAGING EDITOR

Byron Martinez cools off with some pals by the Perigueux pool

Rowena Ortiz-Walters, Ph.D., Dean of the Greehey School of Business

A group of students study in the Commons during the the day, both masked and unmasked

Students cheer and enjoy themselves at the Perigueux pool

byfreshoutdoorslikemajorcomputerSophomoreagain.scienceShyFrancismanystudentsoftenworksinoneofthesehiddennooksoncampus.Forher,studyingintheair,surroundedtheenvironmentoncampus,

FEATURES EDITORS: LARRY RODRIGUEZ-SHEA & ADRIANNA MIRABAL | @STMURATTLERNEWS | SEPT. 30, 202116

“I like being able to walk around the beautiful campus,” Gutierrez day.during“Especiallysaid.aniceBeingasenior,Iliketothinkabouthowgoodthisuniversityhasbeentomeoverthepastfouryears.”Thereisalotoftimeleftinthesemesterandhopefullystudentscancontinuetofindtheirstrideoncampus.

“I work in because it’s the shade and I love studying in air,” Francis said. spot is also where they feed the cats so I feel like that’s pretty timebeingschoolbeautyappreciatesGutierrezmajoreducationmusicexplanatory!”selfSeniorGeoffreyalsotheoftheandenjoysoutside.Hisonthiscampus as a student is wrapping up and he can’t help but reflect on how good it has been.

Student snapshots: a glimpse into the memories made around campus

listenpeoplesmalleventsforward.communitywaystogetherNelsonBusinessGreeheytheOrtiz-Walters,RowenaPh.D.newdeanoftheSchoolofandJudgeWolffcametodiscusstohelpthemoveCommunitybothbigandarebackandarehappytoinonceagain.Therearealso

Graphics by Adrianna Mirabal & Larry Rodriguez-Shea

The reintroduction of these events allows the university to bring the community together again in many ways such as during the Crossroads Symposium, ‘Beyond the Pandemic: In the Light of Catholic Social Teaching’ where major community figures like the Most Rev. Michael Boulette Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of San Antonio,

than 20 people in the cafe, now students are lucky if they can find a seat. Just across the way, the familiar environment of the commons has finally started to return. It is lively and bustling with the familiar ambiance of small talk, homework and Starbucks orders. One of the most welcomed changes is the reintroduction of campus events. Whether that be the ability to have extracurricular meetings indoors or attending events on campus.

Elizabeth Hernandez and Nathalie Herrera pose outside of Assumption Chapel Shy Francis studies in a nook outside of the Louis J. Blume Library

sporting events happening around campus. Soccer and volleyball seasons are in full swing with fans filling the stands. It only takes a second to take a look around and notice that something is happening on campus. Some students hide away and read in little nooks around campus, others hang around and make the space their own; some have a meal outdoors with friends. Couple that with the lively energy on campus and it seems like students are enjoying campus life once

Students have only been fully back on campus for a short time now but many have already begun to get comfortable and make it their own. It’s interesting to think about the new way that the campus functions; in some ways it’s like students are living in a different world wherever they are on campus.When students find themselves indoors, some wear masks others find any reason to take them off. Outdoors, you may spot the occasional student wearing a mask correctly, while others only wear it halfway or not at all. Campus events are interesting as well. Many students have shared that it’s odd to be having so many events while the pandemic is ongoing, particularly where mask requirements are either relaxed or nonexistent.Still,many students are just normal as possible on a campus that they enjoy being at so much. Senior theology major Allison Magera is happy to be back in the swing of things. She missed the small conversations and once normal, now novel, experiences. “Personally, I’ve really enjoyed being back on campus,” Magera said. “It was definitely a bit of an adjustment at first, but I live for all those youconversationsnaturalhavewithpeoplewhenyoubumpintotheminthecafeorthecommons.”

Yael Balbuena and Mary Villines wear their Sunday best for a Greek Life event