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‘Light the Way’ lit until Jan. 6
Activists criticize death penalty
Page 10 DreamWeek: Black grads share stories
Page 12 Dubuis Hall to get upgrades
STUDENT MEDIA @uiwlogos | www.uiwcommarts.com/the-logos/ @uiwtv | www.uiwcommarts.com/uiwtv/ @kuiwradio | www.uiwcommarts.com/kuiw/ Vol. 121 No. 4 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER FOR UNIVERSITY OF THE INCARNATE WORD
EST. 1935
Drive-Through set to celebrate grads The University of the Incarnate Word is adding a new way to celebrate its graduates who have been unable to physically cross the stage for their diplomas during the pandemic. For the first time ever, UIW is planning a Drive-Through Graduation Celebration over two consecutive evenings on the Main Campus at Broadway and Hildebrand.
The drive-through will begin at the entrance off U.S. 281, proceed downhill through the “Light the Way” route and end with a complimentary photo opportunity in front of the Administration Building. Graduates from the School of Professional Studies are asked to go through 5:30-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, while grads from all the
other schools will go through 5:30-7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. The remaining schools include the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Dreeben School of Education; John and Rita Feik School of Pharmacy; H-E-B School of Business and Administration; Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions; Rosenberg
School of Optometry; School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering; School of Media and Design; School of Osteopathic Medicine; and School of Physical Therapy. “We are excited to honor the UIW Class of 2020 in a special drive-through graduation procession through campus, where attendees can enjoy Jump ’Drive-Through’ page 2
Founders Hall gets new sign
By Ian Comuzzie LOGOS STAFF WRITER The University of the Incarnate Word has big plans for Founders Hall and its role in the community. Purchased last summer for an undisclosed amount, the eight-story AT&T building at 4119 Broadway -- now marked with UIW signage – adds 350,000 square feet of office space, 10 acres, and more than 1,000 parking spaces to expand the main campus as well as improve the school’s community and global outreach. Renovation work is expected to begin next year on Founders Hall, named in honor of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, founders of the University. Dr. Raphael D. Hoyle, assistant vice president for planning and campus management, is charged with helping
KUIW notes 15th year KUIW, the University of the Incarnate Word’s Internet campus radio station, is celebrating its 15th year 1:302:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, with an anniversary party – and you’re invited. Viewers can sign on at https:// uiw.zoom.us/j/97841101509 to see an hourlong program put together by the Department of Communication Arts’ Event Planning class under the tutelage of Dr. Darlene Carbajal, an assistant professor.
Cameron Brennan/LOGOS PHOTO Founders Hall will undergo several renovations to accommodate academic departments that will be moving into the complex, which includes 350,000 square feet of office space on its 10 acres.
implement President Thomas Evans’ vision for Founders Hall. Hoyle shared some of the plans with the Logos earlier this year. “The end goal for this building will be to bring in as many of our academic units together in one place to take
us to an entirely new level in terms of our prominence in the community and the world,” Hoyle said. “The building will be the embodiment of the president’s strategic priority of having us become ‘One Word.’ ” The new Liza and Jack Lewis III
The program will feature music trivia, a talk from frequent Radio Practicum instructor J.J. Lopez, and recognition of KUIW’s founder, Hank McDonnell, program director emeritus of the department where KUIW is housed. The station aired for the first time March 23, 2005. Plans to celebrate the anniversary last spring were delayed
The new year also heralds a new approach at the University of the Incarnate Word in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, Dr. Arturo Chávez is coming in as an administrator with perhaps the longest title at UIW: associate vice president for Mission & Ministry and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. In this new role, Chávez, who formerly was president of Mexican American
Jump ‘KUIW’ page 2
DEI leader to start job
Jump ‘DEI Leader’ page 2
Institute of the Americas will be housed in Founders Hall. This will allow for more interaction between UIW’s international programs. Also, many other UIW schools and departments will work through the institute. Jump ‘Founders Hall’ page 2
Dr. Arturo Chávez
NEWS
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KUIW cont. due to the coronavirus pandemic. KUIW’s name is a combination of the “K” designated for radio stations west of the Mississippi River and its location at UIW. The station was founded as an “experiential learning lab” for students interested in radio, television, webcasting, music, and audio production. Its programming was designed to show the diversity in the students’ demographics as well as different genres in music. KUIW’s mission statement also said the radio station would promote cooperative efforts across the university to include other campus media, Cardinal Sports, as well as national, regional, and statewide media organizations. McDonnell, the founder, also created a Radio Practicum class to teach handson information and discuss issues related to 21st-century broadcasting. McDonnell taught the class several years before handing it off to others, mostly adjuncts, including a legendary local broadcaster, Tom “T-Bone,” one semester. In little more than a year after its launch, KUIW hosted on Dec. 19,
2006, a charitable Community Christmas Dinner for 200 foster children and young adults, demonstrating and strengthening the station’s commitment to supporting the community. KUIW has hosted several other campus and community events, in studio performances, fundraisers and WurstFest concerts. Station DJs have entertained many students live near Dubuis Lawn. Sports-minded students also have broadcast and served as commentators for Cardinals football, basketball and other sports. The station broadcasts 24-7 but its usual weekday programming that involves students from a variety of majors from morning till night is mostly on hold due to the pandemic. A few students in the Radio Practicum class are doing limited shifts. Theresa Coronado, an instructor of communication arts, is KUIW’s general manager. “College radio is a great hallmark of the college experience,” Coronado said. “Students across campus are given the opportunity to participate by signing up for a weekly, two-hour DJ shift. The station’s open format allows students to spin music that
Founders Hall cont. “(The institute) will be an anchor tenant,” Hoyle said. “It will be established to promote better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Mexico, Canada, Central and South America through cooperative study, research, service and dialogue.” The space also will allow UIW schools and colleges to interact through certain events, conferences, and by working on policy to create new developments in the community, he said. Founders Hall will be a welcome addition to UIW students, Hoyle added. “We’re a little bit crowded in the old,
traditional campus,” Hoyle said. “So, what [Founders Hall] will essentially do is stretch out our footprint and it gives us a little bit more breathing space.” Leftover land around the building could be used to build new structures such as student housing, retail, or dining businesses. To launch the renovation, UIW will use an anonymous $5 million gift towards the development and installation of Founders Hall. This is the largest anonymous gift UIW has ever received. Another anonymous gift of $1 million was granted to the school shortly after. This will be a
DEI leader to start job cont. Catholic College in San Antonio, will work toward advancing diversity, equity and inclusion at UIW and also oversee the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability. Chávez, a UIW graduate, had served several years as a faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies. He also was a faculty member at Mexican American Catholic College where he helped develop that college’s curricula on intercultural competencies and the roots of racism. He also served as chief executive officer and director of community development
of Benedictine Resources Center, a nonprofit organization engaged in social justice education, community development and legislation, also located in San Antonio. According to a UIW news release, Chávez has had a “long and illustrious career in the fields of social services, social justice and higher education.” He was the founding member of JOVEN, a nonprofit community-based organization providing outreach and community services for at-risk youth, with a center called UTOTO on San Antonio’s east side. His efforts
is unique to their interest and taste.” Communication arts senior Katya Moffitt, who is graduating this fall, said she has fond memories of working at KUIW. “KUIW is such a special part of the Communication Arts Department,”
Moffitt said. “Being a volunteer DJ allows students to step outside of their comfort zone and try something new. I was a once-shy volunteer DJ but grew into a confident KUIW program director. I’m excited to see what possibilities are in store for the future of KUIW Radio.”
Drive-Through cont. the ‘Light the Way’ Christmas lights on the Broadway campus,” according to a statement from UIW’s Office of Communications and Brand Marketing. The commencement ceremony, held virtually last spring due to the pandemic, returns to the screens again this fall at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13. This year’s Moody Professor, Dr. Tanja Stampfl, an English professor – will speak in a prerecording. Weekend commencement activities begin at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, with the Fall Baccalaureate Blessing via Zoom. The virtual doors will open at 5:45. Those not pre-registered for the Zoom gathering should watch it via YouTube. The history of the baccalaureate ceremony is firmly entrenched in the medieval European custom of significant boost for UIW and its future developments. Until then, UIW will continue to use its capital campaign to fund additional renovations. Founders Hall’s parking space also should ease pressure on the Main Campus across the street and lead to more space for academic programs as well. “Just in terms of the spaces for our students, staff and faculty members within their classrooms and administrative offices, we’re going to be able to move entire departments over to that building, which will give everybody more room,” Hoyle said. “As a result of that, departments will be able to achieve new levels of potential.” primarily focused on the needs of the poor and the marginalized. In 2009, Chávez’s efforts were recognized by then-President Barack Obama when he was appointed to the White House Council on Faith-based Partnerships. He worked with a racially diverse group of 24 leaders representing every major faith tradition to strengthen ways the federal government can partner with nonprofits and faith communities to address poverty, racism, threats to the environment, access to healthcare and other issues of common concern. In 2010, the Catholic Charities USA recognized Chávez with the MLK “Keep
presenting graduating candidates for the degree of bachelor (bacca) with laurels (lauri) or recognition of their achievement, according to University Mission and Ministry. It is traditionally a religious service of celebration and thanksgiving for the time the graduates (bachelor’s and advanced degrees) have devoted to growing in wisdom at a place of education. The service will “celebrate the sacrifices and accomplishments of our soon-to-be graduates,” the sponsoring ministry said in a statement. “Though we are unable to gather in the traditional way, we know that having the opportunity to see friends, family, and mentors who have impacted one’s life is an important part of the celebration of this day.”
Dr. Rafael Hoyle the Dream Alive Award” for his efforts to combat racism. Chávez holds a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from UIW, master’s degree in theological studies from Oblate School of Theology, and doctorate in religious and theological studies from Iliff School of Theology and the University of Denver’s joint Ph.D. program in religion and social change. His doctoral studies centered on religion and social change, focusing on how racism can be deconstructed through courageous leadership and community organizing. Chávez received UIW’s Alumni of Distinction Award in 2008.
FEATURES NOV. - DEC. 2020 | PAGE 3
UIW Ethics Bowl team enjoys competing The Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Team representing the University of the Incarnate Word didn’t make it past regional competition this year, but the attempt was still memorable for the team. The seven-member team competed online Nov. 14 in the Texas Regional Ethics Bowl hosted by St. Mary’s University. “While we didn’t place this year and so won’t be advancing to the national competition, the team did us proud,” said Dr. Chris Edelman, an associate professor of philosophy, who co-advises the team with his colleague, Dr. Paul Lewis, also an associate philosophy professor. The team met on Zoom for two, 90-minute sessions each week starting in October to prepare for the event, Edelman said. Team members included Nancy Coe, a rehabilitation science major from San Antonio; Freya Disrud, an interdisciplinary studies major concentrating in elementary education from San Antonio; Mariela Fragoso, a double major in biology and philosophy from Mexico City, Mexico; Ashley Oliva, a pre-medicine major from San Antonio; Beni Resendiz, a communication arts major from San Antonio; Julie Sichi, an English major from Santa Cruz, Calif.; and Carla Verver y Vargas, a double major in English and philosophy From Guanajuato, Mexico
Dr. Chris Edelman, left on the top row, a philosophy professor, meets with the Ethics Bowl team from the University of the Incarnate Word. Other members include Mariela Fragoso, center, from Edelman, and Carla Verver y Vargas, right, on the top row; middle-row members Beni Resendiz, left, Nancy Coe and Ashley Oliva; and bottom-row members Julie Sichi, left, and Freya Disrud.
“They worked very hard these last couple of months to prepare, adapted well to the online format, and conducted themselves admirably at the competition,” Edelman said. “And, of course, they learned a whole lot along the way.” “I genuinely enjoyed competing in Ethics Bowl,” Oliva said. “We had a great team and awesome professors to make this experience worth it. I was impressed by each of my teammates and their dedication to each case.” “I had a great time competing in Ethics Bowl,” Resendiz said. “Not only did I meet people from different
majors but it helped me develop critical thinking skills when it comes to communicating. I learned how to refute my opponents’ response in a charismatic manner while also being able to convey my team’s response. I highly recommend Ethics Bowl to my fellow peers.” Fragoso said she decided to take on the Ethics Bowl team challenge “because I had enjoyed the preparation, discussions, and competition so much in the previous year. I also wanted to participate because it would give me a taste of a college experience before I graduated, which I was certainly
longing for with online classes. The discussions and preparation were just as enriching and interesting as the previous year, and I would strongly encourage anyone who has interest in social issues to join and compete. It truly is a remarkable experience.” For Verver y Vargas, “Participating on the Ethics Bowl was the only college experience of this semester,” she said. “It helped me to meet new people and deepened my understanding of philosophy.” “I joined because I like nothing better than a good argument over ethics and it was great fun,” Sichi said.
Alma mater asks scholar to address spring commencement
By Victoria Velazquez LOGOS STAFF WRITER Long before Dr. Roger C. Barnes became chair and professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of the Incarnate Word, he was a student at Dodge City (Kan.) Community College. There, Barnes earned an associate of arts degree in 1971. In May, 50 years later, Barnes will be recognized not only as a distinguished alumnus of the junior college, but he’ll also be delivering the commencement address. When he was a freshman at Dodge City, Barnes said he had a different career plan in mind. “I thought I wanted to go to law school, get a law degree, go into corrections, and become a prison reformer,” Barnes said. “Over time I became more immersed in my discipline – sociology -- and found that while I was still highly interested in the law, there were other parts of the discipline that intrigued
Dr. Roger C. Barnes me. Theory, social stratification, and inequality, race and minority issues, and social movements became important for me. I was mostly motivated by a desire to learn and be engaged in different struggles committed to social justice.” In 1970 as a college student, Barnes was present visiting prisoners on Arkansas’ death row when the Arkansas governor announced he had commuted all 15 death sentences.
Barnes taught three years at the U.S. Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Kansas where he received his doctoral degree. Reflecting on his nearly 33 years at UIW, Barnes said: “I think that some of the rewards are to have had interesting, inquisitive students in class and marvelous colleagues and friends on the faculty. I have been proud to create the Civil Rights Movement course and the course on the Holocaust, among others.” He has received several academic accolades while at UIW. He was named UIW’s Moody Professor in 1996-97 and received the CCVI Spirit Award in 1999-2000. In 2005, he received the first Presidential Teaching Award, which includes a $5,000 stipend. But he said none were so great as the core values he holds. “The thing that pleases me most is to have been at an institution where
it takes seriously its Mission and tries to live by its values,” Barnes said. Barnes also is past president of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. He has advocated for human rights and social justice by encouraging explorative discussions toward informative action. When he learned his junior college alma mater wanted to honor him and hear him speak, Barnes said he was surprised and flattered. As an educator, Barnes said, he values above all else, helping students learn while demonstrating the reward there can be in not only acquiring knowledge but using it to make a better society. “Look, you only have one life,” Barnes said. “You can live it on the sidelines and not tackle the problems that confront us, or you can get engaged and work to make this a better world. I picked involvement early on and have never regretted it.”
CAMPUS PAGE 4 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
Tutoring adapts to serve students in pandemic
By Connie Ogiamien LOGOS STAFF WRITER
The Writing and Learning Center at the University of the Incarnate Word has had to adapt its tutoring services to dealing with the pandemic, but it is coping, according to administrators. “When we transitioned to virtual services in March, we had to make a dramatic shift in our operations quickly to make sure students would still have tutoring available to help them through this time,” said Dr. Amanda Johnston, director of Learning Support Services. “We set up tutoring through Zoom, trained tutors, and contracted with Pearson Smarthinking to provide supplemental online tutoring.” Using Zoom as a means of communication has positive and negative aspects to it, Johnston said. “Zoom has allowed us to offer tutoring in an online environment, mirroring our typical in-person services as closely as possible. This semester, we have set up a virtual tutoring center using Zoom, accessible through both of our websites: https://my.uiw.edu/wlc/ and https://my.uiw.edu/tutoringservices/. “During any of our hours of operation, students can stop by the virtual center to ask questions about tutoring, schedule an appointment, or meet with a tutor in a breakout room. Drop-ins are welcome, but we encourage students to set appointments ahead of time whenever
Dr. Amanda Johnston
possible, especially as we get closer to final exams. Tutoring sessions are conducted in a synchronous format, using video and audio. Students can talk to tutors, ask questions, and see concepts modelled through the whiteboard feature in Zoom.” For writing sessions, students can share their screen so tutors can read over their papers, have a conversation about the students’ ideas, and make recommendations for improvement. With the screen share feature, students and tutors can make annotations on the paper. Students can arrange individual or group sessions. “We’ve also conducted in-class workshops over Zoom. As with any technology, sometimes there are small glitches or issues with Internet connectivity, but on the whole, we’ve had a good experience.”
The student experience with tutoring has changed this semester, Johnston said. “Our tutors and students have shown incredible resilience during this time. I’ve seen so many students work hard to be successful, in spite of the challenges of learning during a pandemic. I’m proud of the ways the tutors have adapted to a very different format and found ways to use technology to explain concepts. It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve been able to serve students at about the same rate as we did in the fall of 2019.” The center had many hardships to face due to COVID-19. “We had to re-envision almost everything about how our programs operate, without much time to do so. Like everyone else, we’ve had to make plans for how to serve students while facing a lot of uncertainty. It’s been a challenge, but I am grateful for the support we’ve had from the UIW community, and to the tutors and students for working with us to make the transition as smooth as possible.” The tutoring center offers in-person tutoring with preventative health measures. “We are continuing to work with UIW officials to determine the safest ways to provide support for our students. We’ve had over 1,000 sessions so far this semester. “Because we have so much contact
with students, we are conducting as much tutoring as possible online to do our part to minimize the chances of spreading COVID-19. Our space in the Student Engagement Center is set up to accommodate some in-person tutoring as needed. “All in-person tutoring must meet UIW’s guidelines for physical distancing, including wearing masks at all times, not sharing textbooks or supplies, and remaining a minimum of six feet apart. The tutor will demonstrate concepts on a whiteboard.” The UIW tutoring center also has resources for students who are unable to come to the tutoring center due to personal reasons, Johnston said. “We understand that particularly during this time, students are juggling many responsibilities and feeling a lot of pressure. We’ve set up our services to be as flexible as possible to meet students’ needs. “They can take advantage of our tutoring via Zoom, and they can also access 24/7 supplemental online tutoring through Smarthinking. With either service, students are encouraged to set appointments ahead of time to find tutoring at the times that work best for them. “We continue to follow UIW guidance, and we look forward to being able to welcome more students to the center in person as soon as it’s safe to do so.”
Scholar discusses indigenous dance tradition By Victoria Velazquez LOGOS STAFF WRITER
A Trinity University professor shared her knowledge of indigenous dance traditions via Zoom with the University of the Incarnate Word Monday, Nov. 9, for Native American Heritage Month. Dr. Norma E. Cantú, sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies, discussed “Lasting Traditions: Los Matachines de la Santa Cruz: A Case Study of Indigenous Dance Traditions.” Cantú, who dedicates her research to preserve the history and life of indigenous people as a professor of Chicano and Chicana studies, discussed complex issues of “indigeneity” and the matachines tradition in Texas. She described the matachines as dancers that not only honor their indigenous ancestors by dancing but do this as a form of prayer. Traditionally, the dance was a prayer that honored la Virgen De Guadalupe, or the Virgin Mary, Cantu said this
Norma E. Cantú/PHOTO Los Matachines de la Santa Cruz de la Ladrillera dancing at the 1991 Fiesta de la Santa Cruz show their enthusiasm.
was practiced after the Virgin Mary appeared to native Juan Diego, calling him to build a church in his village. Cantú examined the mixture of European influence within the “danza” or religious dance. In her research, Cantú was able to trace the history of several specific tribes and their origins. She presented the matachines tradition seen in different areas such as San Antonio, Kansas City and Laredo, Texas. The matachines tradition entails dance, soundscapes, prayers, faith,
symbolism, and vivid clothing with significant meaning. In Laredo, Cantú examined the history of the matachines tradition that has been practiced since 1938. The matachines de la Santa Cruz has had a lasting tradition of the danza that Cantú noted was formally practiced only by men. While there has been more inclusion of female participation in the danza, Cantú said, it is still predominantly male. Cantú said the danza is a dance of faith and belief. For the matachines, the tradition is a vow of honor as a spiritual warrior. It is personal and yet communal, as they express their religious vow through dance. Cantú expressed the wonderment of this tradition that has continued to be passed down through the generations willing to maintain the tradition and honor of their ancestors. She pointed out Mission Concepcion in San Antonio was declared a National Heritage site by UNESCO.
Dr. Norma Cantú
MISSION NOV. - DEC. 2020 | PAGE 5
Social justice leaders rail against death penalty By Casey Iwuagwu and Victoria Velazquez LOGOS STAFF WRITERS “Not in my name.” These are the words echoed by abolitionists calling an end to capital punishment. In line with the University of the Incarnate Word’s mission, the Ettling Center for Civic Leadership and Sustainability held an online discussion Sunday, Nov. 29, in the spirit of responsible citizens united to co-create healthier communities. The event, whose theme was “The Death Penalty is inadmissible. The Death Penalty is legally unwise” -- addressed the violation of human rights. Key planners and sponsors included Sister Martha Ann Kirk, a longtime professor of religious studies at UIW and member of the founding Sisters of the Charity of the Incarnate Word; Pax Christi USA; the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty; and the Catholic Mobilizing NETWORK. Students, faculty, abolitionists and leaders gathered over Zoom in a conversation on the reality of the death penalty. Bishop John Stowe, president of Pax Christi USA, explained why Catholics and people of good will should speak for all life and express opposition to the practice of executions. He said the Trump Administration has acted against the nation’s spiritual values and it is important to make opposing voices heard. Life without parole has proven to be an effective method of preventing future crimes, Stowe said, but taking a life should not be endorsed by any person of faith or good will. People must overcome tendencies to act in anger and the regularity of society to retaliate and diminish other human beings, he said. Pope Francis has repeatedly warned of the “throwaway mentality” toward human life, the bishop said, adding this is the type of mentality that encourages harmful behavior such as neglecting the elderly and sick, the abortion of children, and a disregard for the sacrality of all life. Kristin Houle Cuellar, executive director of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, shared what led to her involvement with the coalition in the mid-1990s when she was a student at the University of Kentucky in Lexington in the “The commonwealth was about to carry its first execution in more than 30 years,” Cuellar said. “That was when it really hit home for me. This execution was scheduled to take
place in my name and as a citizen, I was obligated to work against it.” Texas prosecutors, district attorneys and juries play vital roles in imposing death sentences, but the Lone Star State has been trending downward the last 20 years, Cuellar said. “Our state has executed 570 people since 1982,” Cuellar said. “Juries have sentenced more than 1,000 people to death. But in the last five years the number of new death sentences have been in the single digits.” She also discussed what she called the extreme error that can occur in trying death-penalty cases, citing the case of Billy Joe Wardlow, who was 18 in 1993 when he was charged with the East Texas robbery and murder of Carl Cole, an elderly man, during a struggle to take Cole’s truck. Wardlow was convicted in 1997 and sent to death row. Wardlow had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to rule he was too young when the crime occurred to get the Texas death penalty. His execution in July was the first in Texas to proceed during the pandemic. Not only should Wardlow’s age at the time of the murder have been considered, Cuellar contended, but his attorney was inexperienced and failed to present mitigating circumstances regarding Wardlow’s childhood. Before his execution, Wardlow was a model inmate, remorseful for his actions, educated himself, and was known as a peacemaker, she said. Texas has work to do to confront its legacy regarding its use of the death penalty and address errors that exist in the forms of racial bias, poor representation, mental illnesses, and the conviction of innocent people, Cuellar said. Another weapon in the fight to end capital punishment is The Innocence Project whose mission is to prove prisoners innocent through the use of DNA technology. The Innocence Project has successfully litigated cases resulting in the exoneration of 371 people, 21 of whom were on death row. Lawyers across the nation have successfully exonerated innocent death-row prisoners.
For those who lose their cases, organizations such as the Equal Justice Initiative exist. Led by founder Bryan Stevenson, the initiative provides legal representation for convicted prisoners. The Texas After Violence Project is another organization voicing the impacts of state-sanctioned violence through the accounts of those directly impacted by the death penalty. Six executions are scheduled in Texas within in the next few months. At the federal level, five executions are scheduled this month and next. “It is disgraceful that we have elected leaders who are thinking about the predetermined death of an individual at a time where we have people dying from COVID-19 every day, while we have five million workers risking their lives to promote life and human dignity,” Cuellar said. Emma Tacke, associate director of community engagement for the Catholic Mobilizing NETWORK, discussed what the organization is doing to end the death penalty and promote restorative justice. Tacke outlined a detailed and informative presentation as she addressed the harm that federaland state-sanctioned violence has inflicted throughout the nation by its practice of the death penalty. “Our focus has been on ending capital punishment state-by-state,” Tacke said. “And we are committed to envisioning alternatives to our current vengeful criminal justice system, emphasizing all things found within the principles of Catholic social teachings. The past 10 years have seen tremendous advances in the death penalty abolition movement as 22 states have abolished the death penalty and its use has declined over the years.” Moral argument aside, “the system in a practical manner is riddled with error and misconduct which also heightens the risks of executing an innocent person,” Tacke said. Tacke is currently involved in trying to stop the Dec. 8 execution of Lisa Montgomery. Montgomery is a victim of childhood torture, sexual abuse, and sex trafficking which led to her mental
Kristin Cuellar discusses her bid to abolish the death penalty.
illness, Tacke said, urging participants to visit https://catholicsmobilizing. org/action/mercy-action-project for ways to help stop the execution and abolish the death penalty. “Lisa Montgomery is a person made in the image and likeness of God and God alone should be her judge,” Bishop Stowe said. Tacke suggested several ways to get involved and promote restorative justice: taking the National Catholic Pledge to End the Death Penalty, participating in virtual prayer vigils, reading related literature, or starting a conversation. Each action could have a significant impact on the promotion and preservation of human dignity, she said. Reading books such as “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson or “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander will offer vital information and resources necessary to make a difference in the interest of promoting human dignity, she said. Before participating in the conference Sunday, UIW freshman Mayte Alvarado, a psychology major, said she was neutral about the death penalty. However, Alvarado felt the presentation was quite informative and made her think. “My action plan is to do the #pledge4mercy, write letters to government leaders, and watch films like ‘Just Mercy,’ ” Alvarado said. “I do not think our generation is informed enough on the matter. But they are all important and we lack serious conversation over the death penalty.” Precious Enow, a freshman nursing major, said the death penalty is a crime against humanity that deeply conflicts with the values she holds dear. “It is such an unfair treatment to people, most especially those who suffer for crimes they did not commit,” Enow said. The taking of one life for another is cruel and inhumane, she added. “The action plan I shared is to attend the vigils,” Enow said. “People need to spread awareness to our generation that such things happen, and they should be informed on how they can help save someone’s life.”
OPINION PAGE 6 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
Will the COVID-19 vaccine be safe?
By Ruby Filoteo LOGOS EDITOR
According to government health ministries, The New York Times and other authoritative sources – the world is nearing 70 million COVID-19 cases and closing in on 2 million dead from it. COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the United States during the holiday season when many people are traveling and holding family gatherings. The Friday, Sunday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, more than 1 million U.S. travelers passed through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at airports. The Sunday after Thanksgiving, the TSA recorded 1.2 million travelers, a new high during
the pandemic. These numbers have many experts worried. And with the cold weather, and the added traveling, Dr. Anthony Fauci, an infectious disease expert for the government, says, “We may see a surge upon a surge.” Because of the serious illnesses and death rates associated with the virus, COVID-19 vaccines are going through clinical trials at a rapid pace. With such fast development, what can we expect and just how safe are the vaccines? Recently, the United Kingdom approved a COVID vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has passed safety and efficacy tests, but there are still many questions scientists have about this and the millions of people
who plan on receiving the vaccine. Apart from the Pfizer vaccine, other similar vaccines have been made. These vaccines have been tested in large clinical trials and are showing promising results in prevention of the virus. But they have yet to prove if it prevents the infection overall. And there is no data about how the vaccine will affect children and pregnant women. As of now, the Food and Drug Administration has not approved or authorized a vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19. FDA officials plan on meeting Dec. 10 to discuss the issue further. So, who will be able to receive the vaccine – likely to be administered in
two doses -- first? At the moment, healthcare workers and medical first responders who face a high risk of exposure to the virus will be vaccinated first. Ruby Filoteo Then in following order, residents in long-term care settings, such as jails and prisons, firefighters, police, and energy telecom workers. Lastly, everyone else -- which would be us -- would be able to receive the vaccine. E-mail Filoteo at rfiloteo@ student.uiwtx.edu
‘The Shining’ shines a light on environmental psychology
By Justin Kraiza LOGOS ASSISTANT EDITOR
Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining” takes an approach to horror that is just as sophisticated as his other works. However, in this installment, Kubrick displays a vision of cosmic order. An idea that something is crawling beneath the earth’s surface with malice, and that something is inexplicable. Upon viewing “The Shining” for the second time, I noticed a dual narrative within the film. Firstly, there is a surface-level story of Jack Torrence, a would-be writer and school teacher who quietly loses his sanity at a resort hotel in the Colorado Rockies with his wife, Wendy, and their son, Danny. Nevertheless, the surface-level story ignores the film’s deeper-level subtext that explains why and how Jack went on a murderous rampage. In light of answering the subtextual questions, we have to understand the psychological events that led up to it. Within the film, Kubrick carefully employs a connection between the hotel and Jack through the cinematography. The camera work reveals plot elements that connect the remaining pieces of the puzzle to the
Editor: RubyMarie Filoteo Assistant Editor: Justin Kraiza Editorial Assistants: John David Gamez and Bre DeGracia. Contributing Writers: Ian Comuzzie, Angelo Mitchell, Michael Lazarz, Casey Ogechi Iwuagwu, Connie Ogiamien, Julia Robles and Victoria Velazquez
surface-level story. With the family’s arrival at the Overlook, viewers can begin to notice a connection between Jack and the hotel. There’s a scene where Wendy and Danny Justin Kraiza venture off to explore the Overlook maze, which fits the hotel’s scale. The shot then cuts back to Jack, who is drifting in a haunting loop through Overlook’s interior and corridors. At this given moment in the film, I had a realization that Kubrick’s cinematic method of utilizing tracking shots on corridors or open spaces had to have a meaning or purpose. The meaning being born from the idea that the scenes had Jack lurking or brooding in the background, leading the viewer to believe there wasn’t just an emptiness in the hotel, but also in Jack -- an internal bankruptcy that mirrors the hallways and corridors of the Overlook. Ironically, these vast open spaces prove to accelerate the entrapment
of his insanity, rather than to release it, which progresses Jack’s frustration further in the film. To my knowledge, Jack’s bareness of mind and spirit are an extension of the Overlook hotel. While Jack has been in tune with the hotel, he doesn’t seem to possess a strong connection like Danny. The first moment in the film I found oddly suspicious occurred before the family even arrived at the hotel. Danny seems to get messages from “Tony,” who is seemingly nothing more than Danny’s imaginary playmate, refusing to tell Danny what exactly transpired at the hotel. I believe this is Kubrick’s way of establishing the framework for Danny’s physic vibrations from the past, present, and future, and the hotel symbolizes an omen of madness. With this in mind, it bears mentioning how Danny seems to be in the epicenter of the most horrifying yet character-defining scene of the entire film. The Danny Torrence tricycle sequence displays Kubrick’s masterclass in cryptic cinematography. The scene begins with a low-hanging, tracking shot, following Danny in a complete circuit, riding across different
LOGOS STAFF
Photographers: Cameron Brennan and Angelo Mitchell Adviser: Michael Mercer
Signed editorials in The Logos are the express opinions of the writer, and not necessarily that of this newspaper, its staff or administration.
The Logos office is in AD 277, but is operating remotely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The adviser may be reached at (210) 829-6069, (210) 364-0017 or mercer@uiwtx.edu. The postal address is 4301 Broadway, CPO 494, San Antonio, Texas 78209.
neighboring sections of the hotel. I feel as if this was the first time in the film where, as a viewer, I got some idea of where my bearings were in relation to the lobby entrance, office and kitchen. Perhaps, this was an unintentional incident by Kubrick, who always desired his audiences to feel bewildered. While the seemingly endless cross-cutting shot progresses, there seems to be building anticipation that Kubrick deliberately installs through the hotel’s narrow hallways. While being engrossed in this scene, I began to ask myself: Will Danny round a corner and run straight into a spirit? With every new turn, there seemed to be another change of perception for me. And despite sounding like a stretch from the truth, these previously mentioned feelings of anticipation seem to mirror the Terrance family’s miserable lives. Jack’s maltreatment of his family, a descent into madness, and the implicit messages from “Tony” are all great building blocks for a spiraling family. E-mail Kraiza at kraiza@ student.uiwtx.edu
The web page URL is www. uiwcommarts.com/the-logos/ The Logos is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
PERSPECTIVE NOV. - DEC.2020 | PAGE 7
West point must redo leadership, communication courses By Michael Lazarz LOGOS STAFF WRITER
The assumption that military officers will gain leadership via practical experience is flawed. It predicates successful leadership upon experience alone, failing to consider the theory and understanding behind organizational dynamics and structure, which are vitally important to effective leadership. Another assumption is that military officers will gain communication skills through experience or are inherently able to communicate effectively. This ideology is flawed as communication continues to be the single-most, significant point of failure for leaders, as leaders must understand the role we play in communicating to our subordinates, peers, and superiors alike. Offering leadership studies to select officer branches at the rank of captain is not only a disservice to those officers but also to the soldiers they serve. At most, the U.S. Military Academy at West Poinf, N.Y., offers three courses as a specialization within the management major pertaining to leading teams and organizational change that is grossly underselling the role of leadership and focuses primarily on managing, which are fundamentally different mindsets. Within the operations research major, only one leadership course is found as a requirement -- military leadership. In fact, when looking into the Behavioral Sciences and Leadership Department, there are only two leadership courses: military leadership and advanced military leadership, which seemingly are defined by Field Manual 6-22. While learning and understanding military leadership is a vital aspect for officers, there are many pieces
to leadership. Two courses do not suffice in covering the broad field of leadership. To its credit, West Point does include practical leadership through doing. However, the leadership field is vast and the fact many other notable colleges offer leadership, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral study programs demonstrates the importance, breadth and depth of the leadership field. Many undergraduate programs require an ethics course, where further undergraduate and graduate coursework in leadership weave ethical decision-making into leadership studies. Looking at the overall time in service contrast between platoon leaders and their senior noncommissioned officers (platoon sergeant) is staggering. Platoon sergeants typically have 10 to 15 years of Army experience under their belt. They have attended at least three Professional Military Education Schools concerning leadership, completed three prerequisite leadership training courses, and have risen from the lower ranks, gaining experience in applying those skills. In contrast, dependent upon the route an officer takes, they can have as little as eight months of training before being placed in charge of roughly 70 soldiers, or in the case of a West Point graduate, four years
of college/military training and a brief introduction to their branch. While leadership may have some course offerings, the startling revelation that communication is not a major or minor choice and seemingly is not offered as an elective or part of any core curriculum is troubling. Only one course in West Point’s catalog -persuasive communications -- contains “communications” in its title. A related course -- Foundations of Counseling -- touches on communication aspects. There are several other related courses to communication, but it appears as though communication is taught as a byproduct of writing or speaking assignments with no regard to communication theory or practices, wholly relying upon the individual to either succeed or fail, without providing an adequate base of knowledge. The issue with allowing interpersonal communication to take place naturally among cadets is problematic within West Point for three reasons. First, West Point is a very regimented and controlled environment, with policies and regulations that promote military-rank structure and customs and courtesies, limiting potential communication. Second, each cadet comes from a different background (ethnicity, religion, ethics, etc.) that can contribute to potential clashes in communication. Lastly, West Point does not accurately reflect the dynamic environment future officers will face, primarily because it is filled with their peers (fellow officers) and cadets do not experience real-life interaction with enlisted soldiers. Allowing the teaching of communication to come in the forms of written and speaking assignments solely does a tremendous disservice
Michael Lazarz to officers as from the moment they graduate, they are expected to communicate effectively with peers, subordinates and superiors alike. Similar to the leadership field, communication’s terminal degree level is doctoral, demonstrating the immense breadth and depth the communication field offers. West Point does offer a significant courseload in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; however, aside from certain specialty branches, most officers will learn their branch after graduating. While some may believe leadership can be acquired over time, to some extent this is valid; however, if West Point wants to develop leaders of character as they claim, then offering a leadership or communications major or minor would be the place to start in building ethical and effective communicative leaders. Email Lazarz at lazarz@ student.uiwtx.edu
SPORTS PAGE 8 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
Coach’s ‘5Gs’ drive men’s basketball By Angelo Mitchell LOGOS SPORTSWRITER
The University of the Incarnate Word men’s head basketball coach, Dr. Carson Cunningham, applies his core values of the “5 Gs” to establish his team’s culture. First is Goodness -- related to love. Second is the Golden Rule -- treating others like you would like to be treated. Third is Growth -- getting better, doing well in the classroom, (and) now time to do it on the court. Fourth is Grit – the need to be tough, not giving up offensive rebounds and guarding near the rim more effectively. Fifth is Gratitude. Cunningham’s vision is to cultivate those values into a fulfilling experience as a group, no matter the wins or losses. His objective is for the team to grow, develop and have fun. Cunningham’s “5 Gs” line up with the school’s five values: Faith, Truth, Education, Service and Community. These values help Cunningham’s team succeed in the classroom also. Since taking over as head coach in 2018-19, Cunningham has guided his team’s academic tenacity in the classroom. The team’s overall grade point average rose from below 3.0 in 2017-18 to 3.23 in 2018-19 and 3.46 in 2019-20. In 2018-19, the Cardinals registered the program’s first 1,000 APR score – a measurement of a team’s academic progress rate. In 2012-13 the APR was implemented as part of an ambitious academic reform effort in Division I. This measure holds institutions accountable for the academic progress of their student-
athletes through a team-based metric that accounts for the eligibility and retention of each student-athlete for each academic term. In a sense, the APR weighs more than the GPA when it comes to the academic achievements of an athletic team. That same academic team effort reaches into the community as well. In 2018-19, the men completed 282 hours of community service. The team was tops among men’s programs at UIW, completing 261.5 service hours in 2019-20. The Cardinals have logged 31 service hours this season while adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. The pandemic has obviously had an impact on operations. The coaching staff had to come up with creative and innovation ways to connect and build relationships. “Now it’s starting to feel normal, working as a group, preparing for games,” Cunningham said. “It’s tough for a college-age person. (Like the NBA playoffs), we’ve been in somewhat of a ‘bubble.’ ” The coach said his goal is to keep the players upbeat -- make this a place where they enjoy coming and getting better together and connecting as people. To help facilitate that vision is redshirt senior Dez Balentine, a two-time team captain, Balentine, a 6-foot guard from Kokomo, Ind., has been critical in connecting the players with Cunningham’s message. Redshirt sophomore guard Brandon Swaby, 6-foot-3, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has stepped up in a leadership role. The Cardinals return four of the team’s five starters from last season
while adding seven freshmen and a junior college transfer to its lineup. The returning players help reinforce the 5Gs culture to the new players. The team is looking to put it all together and make a big leap in the conference. That all starts with possibly the best backcourt duo in the conference: returning starters Keaston Willis and Drew Lutz. Willis, a 6-foot-3 sophomore from Sulphur Springs, was last season’s Southland Conference Freshman of the Year. Willis led the team in field goals (133-of-358), 3-point field goals (81-of-232), 3-point field goal percentage (34.9), points (412) and scoring average (13.3). Lutz, a 6-foot-1 sophomore from Granger, Ind., led the conference in free throw percentage (88.6). Last season, Lutz led the team in minutes played (998), free throws (78-of-88), assists (108) and steals (38). The mostly freshmen newcomers are getting better and feeling out each other’s game. The guys are starting to loosen up more, becoming a fun group that loves coming to practice, which has become very competitive, intense, and very productive. Cunningham’s recruiting goal was to bring in length and versatility. He’s expecting Bradley Akhile, a 6-foot-7 wing/forward from Houston, a transfer from two-year Gillette (Wyo.) College, to contribute immediately. “Akhile is very cerebral, super-versatile and athletic,” Cunningham said. “(He) can shoot and will fit in nicely.” Another noted newcomer, 6-foot-3 guard Josh Morgan, is from Father Henry Carr Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. Morgan is very strong and very physical, the coach noted. Cunningham is expecting a lot out of returning player Marcus Larsson,
Keaston Willis
Drew Lutz
a sophomore forward. At 6-foot-11, his length and wingspan should make him a dominant presence in the conference. Six-foot-6 sophomore guard-forward Derek Van Vlerah, another returning player from Dublin, Ohio, is likely to redshirt due to injury. The style of play offensively for the Cardinals will be the good old-fashion, motion offense and principles. On the defensive end, expect man-to-man fundamentals with a goal of decreasing defense points allowed. The goal is to average low 70s or higher points a game while holding opponents to 67 or less. So far, the team is 1-3 after kicking off the season Nov. 27 at home in the UIW Invitational at Alice McDermott Convocation Center against Rice University, losing 68-53, but winning Nov. 29 in the invitational 84-71 against Our Lady of the Lake University. On Dec. 2, the Cardinals lost 94-83 in overtime at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and 72-64 at Texas State University in San Marcos. “We all day-to-day,” Cunningham said of his team, borrowing a famous phrase from Chicago Cubs baseball great Ernie Banks. Cunningham had this message about the team for faithful UIW fans. “You’ll find the team very likeable, a team to feel really good about. How they’ll operate in the classroom, in the community, you’ll enjoy watching them hoop on the court, with good chemistry, maximum effort, more experienced and plenty of pep in their step.”
Football team ready to tackle first fall foe Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the University of the Incarnate Word’s football team is playing its first and only fall game Saturday, Dec. 12, at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. Until the Nov. 17 announcement about the game, the Cardinals had been sidelined by COVID-19, not expecting to play anyone until spring. “I’m excited we were able to work with Arkansas State on lining up this game,” UIW Athletic Director Richard Duran said when he announced the game Nov. 17. “I know (Head) Coach (Eric) Morris and the team have been anxiously waiting for the
opportunity to play, and this will allow the team to have that chance to compete prior to winter break.” This is the first matchup in program history between the Cardinals and ASU’s Red Wolves. The game starts at 2 p.m. in Centennial Bank Stadium. It’s scheduled to air on ESPN3. During the 2019 season, UIW won five games, including two over top-25-ranked FCS opponents. The 11 wins under Morris – including six in the 2018 Southland Conference championship season -- mark the best two-year stretch in UIW’s 11-year history. The Cardinals are slated to play a
VS. The untested Cardinals will be playing Arkansas State University’s Red Wolves, 4-7, in Jonesboro at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12.
six-game, conference-only schedule this spring, split evenly between three home games – Sam Houston, Feb. 20; Southeastern Louisiana, March 20; and Northwestern State, April 10 – and three on the road – at McNeese, Feb. 27; Lamar, March 6; and Nicholls, March 27. “Our kids are thrilled to be playing
this game,” Morris said when the Cardinals-ASU game was announced. “It has been hard to sit and watch other teams play this fall, but they understand the reasons from a health and safety standpoint. Now, we feel like we have something to work towards and we can’t wait for this opportunity.”
SPORTS NOV. - DEC. 2020 | PAGE 9
Women work to win while rebuilding
By Angelo Mitchell LOGOS SPORTSWRITER
The women’s basketball team at the University of the Incarnate Word women’s basketball squad features 11 new members including three transfers and eight freshmen. One lone starter returns, one redshirt and three others. The Cardinals may be rebuilding, but the standards of excellence are still high. Head Coach Jeff Dow is looking to continue the team’s winning culture despite losing four starters and eight letterwinners with a roster that graduated seven seniors. Seventy-five cent of the team’s scoring, rebounding and assists disappeared. Due to the current challenges of COVID-19, with almost an entirely new roster and no summer practices together, it’s been a unique experience getting so many new players up to speed and involved. However, the returning players will have an elevated role. Lone senior Kara Speer, who started every game for the Cardinals last season, played a crucial role for the squad, averaging the most time on the court at 33.4 minutes per game. The 5-foot-9 guard from Tulsa, Okla., concluded the 2019-20 season as one of the top rebounders -- No. 5 – in the Southland Conference, averaging 7.1 rebounds per game (2.0 on offense, 5.1 on defense). Her contribution on offense from beyond the arc will aid the team this season. Speer shot 34 percent from 3-point
Kyrylo Shvets
Aaron Moran
Angelo Mitchell/LOGOS PHOTO Forward Starr Omozee goes up for a rebound at the game.
range (among the top-20 percentages in the league last season), averaging at least 1.1 3-pointers per contest. The other returning players -- Starr Omozee, a 5-foot-10 junior forward from Pflugerville; Brittney Stafford, a
Kali Lents
David Moore
Beau Fusilier
5-foot-3 sophomore guard from Crosby, Texas; and Destiny Jenkins, a 5-foot-4 sophomore guard from San Antonio -- have all helped the new players, giving them feedback and instruction. Because so much experience has been lost, it’s a great opportunity for some of the younger players to step up. Dow is looking to start two true freshmen, Brenna Perez, a 6-foot forward from Veterans Memorial High School in San Antonio, and 5-foot-8 guard Jaaucklyn Moore from Round Rock (Texas) High School. Through recruiting, Dow and his staff wanted to improve the team’s versatility, make the wings longer, get some height, and more length. Dow is hoping junior college transfer Arielle Adams from Lubbock will make an immediate impact. The 5-foot-9 guard transferred from Odessa (Texas) College. Since the team hasn’t had off-season time together, the team’s style of play is uncertain offensively. Dow is still looking to have a 10-player rotation. Playing time is fluid, Dow said. Things are going week-to-week. Practices are getting better, giving the athletes an opportunity to get playing time. Speaking of the new players, Dow said, the “physical tools are there, but on the defensive end, the speed of the game can be challenging.” Defensively, primarily, the Cardinals will match up woman-to-woman. A major principle of a Dow-led defense is pressuring the ball and helping everywhere. This defense should be able to shut down drives, hold
Oleksandr Karpen
Leo Sanchez
opponents to one shot and then finish the possession with the rebound. Most importantly, on the defensive end, is “effort.” Angelo Mitchell In his first year at the helm, the 2019-20 campaign, Dow led the team to what would have been its first conference tournament. The 1415 overall record (10-10 SLC) marked the best record for the team since moving up to Division I in 2013-14. Dow tied for first among first-year head coaches with the most improved record. The team stands 2-2, starting the season with two losses on the road – 84-59 on Nov. 25 at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth and 67-63 on Nov. 28 at University of Texas-El Paso, and two at home in Alice McDermott Convocation Center. The first win was 69-63 Dec. 3 against crosstown rival UT-San Antonio. This past Saturday, Dec. 5, the Cardinals notched win No. 2 in a 75-51 battle with Sul Ross State University from Alpine, Texas. It could take a while for this team to gel on the court, Dow said, “Good attitudes, good spirits and good energy,” will help navigate through the early part of the season, he said, adding he isn’t looking for the team to know its identity till possibly January. Dow’s message to the faithful UIW fans and family: “Stay positive and patient. You’ll see a team that plays together, plays very hard and competitive, regardless of the final score. We’ll be toughminded and scrappy. A team that the fans will embrace.”
Hector Cruz
Dawson Martinez
Gracie Redding
Swim-dive Cardinals, coach make All-Decade Team Nine former members of the University of the Incarnate Word men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams and an assistant coach have been named to an all-Decade Team from 2010-19. To be named to the all-decade team by the Coastal Collegiate Sports Association, individuals must have competed at least two years in the decade as a CCSA student-athlete. Exceptions were made for NCAA All-Americans.
Cardinals making the team included Kali Lents (2012-15), Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz (2016-20), Dawson Martinez (2016-20), David Moore (2013-17), Aaron Moran (2014-19), Beau Fusilier (2015-19), Leonardo Sanchez (2018-20), Kyrylo Shvets (2015-18) and Oleksander Karpenko (2018-20). Gracie Redding, a second-year assistant coach at UIW, also made the list based on her collegiate career at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers.
Individuals who obtained one of the following criteria were named to the team: - Three first team all-conference selections in a single event, five total first team all-conference selections (including relays), multiple Superlative Award winner, and NCAA Championship individual participant. Over the course of the past 10 years, Head Coach Phillip Davis has led the Cardinals to four CCSA Championships on the men’s side, the most of any team in the league. The eight men named to
the All-Decade list have been named to first team all-conference accolades a combined 55 times. Those eight have also been named Most Outstanding Swimmer/Diver of the Championship a combined six times. Additional honors include two Freshman of the Year, one Swimmer of the Year and 14 Swimmer of the Week awards. On the women’s side, Lents was named Diver of the Year and Most Outstanding Diver of the Championship twice, as well as Diver of the Week five times.
DREAMWEEK PAGE 10 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
Mikala Gibson
Dr. Wanita Mercer
Melanie De More
Dr. Reginald Davis
Ian Riley
Sam Sanders
Ya’Ke Smith
Jan. 21 event features black grads
Several black graduates of the University of the Incarnate Word will be featured in a daylong event Jan. 21 that will be a part of San Antonio’s observance of DreamWeek as well as a kickoff to Black History Month. A number of events – most of them online due to the pandemic – also are in the works for February including a research showcase Feb. 9 or 11 that will feature theatre arts senior Kashori Lanier’s play about the 1896 Alabama lynching of her great-great-great-aunt Mollie Smith for the murder of a white former owner. “Touching and Transforming” is the theme of the Jan. 21 event from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. featuring black alumni making presentations via Zoom. “Hear stories and celebrate graduates who have touched thousands of lives and are transforming society,” according to a statement from the planners. “As we reflect on the San Antonio Dream Week theme this year, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” our graduates are showing what builds a good country, a joyful country,” said one of the planners, Sister Martha Ann Kirk, a longtime religious studies professor. The program will open with a welcome from Dr. Arturo Chavez, UIW’s incoming associate vice president for Mission and Ministry and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Some of the presenters have yet to be scheduled at specific times Jan. 21. Here are some confirmed ones: 11 a.m.-noon: Mikala Gibson and Ya’Ke Smith will share three short films that Smith has written and Gibson has produced as a married couple: “Dear Bruh,” “Brother” and “The Pandemic Chronicles.” Gibson, who majored in theatre arts, is an award-winning stage and screen actress, published writer and master
teaching artist. Her work has been seen on HBO, Showtime, BET and PBS as well as featured at the Cannes International Film Festival, Sundance, SXSW, Austin Film Festival, Raindance International Film Festival, Urbanworld Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival, among others. Smith, who majored in communication arts, is an award-winning filmmaker and an who teaches at the University of Texas-Austin. His films have been screened at more than 90 film festivals as well as HBO and Showtime. He is also an associate professor of film at the University of Texas-Austin where he earned his master’s in film. He also serves as an associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Moody College of Communication. 1-1:45 p.m. and 1;45-2:45 p.m.: Melanie De More, who earned a bachelor’s degree in music, will share music and wisdom from the Black Diaspora in the first session and will talk during the Department of Music’s Studio Hour at the second. De More, who lives in Oakland, Calif., works nationally sharing music of the African Diaspora and her compositions. Most recently she has served as musical director for Opera Obeah on the Salem Witch Trials which was selected as one of eight top performances for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals. She also lectures in the Othering and Belong Institute at University of California-Berkeley. 3 p.m.: Dr. Wanita Mercer, who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in three different fields, is an international educator who teaches English reading and writing with a focus in quantitative research for the graduate school of China’s think tank, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. Her bachelor’s
is in fashion management, master’s in administration with an emphasis in communication arts -- taking both business and communication arts courses – and Ph.D., with an emphasis in organizational leadership. 4:30-5:45 p.m.: The Rev. Dr. Reginald F. Davis, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in religious studies, and Ian Riley, who double-majored in religious studies and psychology. Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church in Williamsburg, Va., is the author of a groundbreaking work, “Frederick Douglas: Precursor of Liberation Theology,” and “From Wall Street to Main Street: Why America is Being Destroyed from Within.” He earned a master’s degree in divinity from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in New York and a doctorate in humanities, with a concentration in African American Studies, from Florida State University in Tallahassee. He formerly served as dean of students at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill., and on the faculties of Barry University in Florida and Florida A&M University in Tallahassee. Riley also holds a master’s in clinical mental health counseling from St. Mary’s University where he serves as assistant director of Retention Services. Some other time slots now open during the day will be filled later but one speaker already committed is Sam Sanders, a correspondent and host of “It’s Been a Minute with Sam Sanders” at National Public Radio. Sanders, who double majored in political science and music, is a former Student Government Association and saxophone soloist with the UIW Jazz Ensemble. He later earned a master’s degree in public policy, with a focus on media and politic, from Harvard University’s Kennedy School. Besides the February showcase, a
committee is hard at work preparing many more events for the observance of Black History Month, Kirk said. “Preparing for Black History Month has deep significance for me because I find solidarity in the struggles against injustice.,” Kirk said. While encouraging KaShori Lanier’s work on her lynching play, “I was thinking of how Melanie De More was encouraging me by creating music for a dramatic piece I created in the 1970s,” Kirk said, adding her piece about women who feel called by God to the Catholic priesthood was presented at Princeton Theological School, Yale Divinity School, and Fordham University. “When Reginald Davis enacted Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech in my religious studies class, I didn’t dream that I would be visiting him in the same seminary Dr. King attended or reading his groundbreaking book on Frederick Douglas. “The morning after I had asked Mikela Gibson to perform her poignant piece as a child seeing the violent Ku Klux Klan, a picture of her appeared on the front page of (a) major newspaper on the day of the MLK March. The same kind of justice-seeking critical thinking displayed by YaKe Smith in my class on the Holocaust and human rights is revealed in his films now.” When Dr. Arturo Chavez was one of her students, Kirk said, he won the Cerna Award for Religious Art for his sculpture, “Magnificat.” “He beautifully crafted Mary proclaiming that the lowly will be raised up and the mighty put down. Our God invites justice. I am grateful that my students have kept my hope alive in the ongoing struggles.”
Black History Month Student Research Showcase to feature research play The Black History Month Student Research Showcase in February tentatively set Feb. 9 or 11 will feature a play based on a true lynching case. “The Murder of Mollie Smith” is a play based on research that theatre
arts major KaShori Lanier has done about an Alabama lynching in 1896. Lanier, a student in Professor Margaret Mitchell’s “Theatre for Social Change” class, researched her Alabama family in order to write the
play about a family story that has been orally passed down in various versions for generations. Lanier’s great-great-great-aunt Mollie Smith was lynched in 1896 for the murder of her former owners in a poisoning case.
Lanier will present her research and a scene from the play. Complicating the story is the fact that Lanier is descended from both Haitian enslaved people as well as their white owners.
FACULTY NOV. - DEC. 2020 | PAGE 11
Faculty leader promotes student engagement By Justin Kraiza LOGOS STAFF WRITER
The Faculty Senate’s president, Dr. Julie Nadeau, said she believes one of her most important tasks is fostering faculty-student relationships across numerous programs at the University of the Incarnate Word A mother, wife, and nurse, Nadeau’s UIW story began in 2002 when she joined the faculty as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor. She learned what she called the amazing history of the founding Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, felt a personal connection with the University’s mission, and understood how “exceptional and caring” UIW students are. It’s Nadeau’s philosophy of teaching that reinforces her connection with the nuns in servicing students, patients and the public. Students need to participate, engage and be encouraged in order to strive for excellence, Nadeau said. A Minnesota native, Nadeau earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter. She said the Swedish Lutheran college is similar to UIW “because both are faith-based schools with a clear mission. Both have core values that include service and faith.” She also holds a master’s degree
Dr. Julie Nadeau in nursing from California State University-Sacramento and an Ed.D. from Walden University in Minneapolis. She served nine years in the Air Force Nurse Corps and worked as a part-time clinical nursing instructor at Hawaii Pacific University in Honolulu, George Mason University in Fairfax, Va., and UIW before becoming a full-time faculty member in 2006. Nadeau served as the undergraduate nursing chair (2012-18) and as Faculty Senate secretary (2012-14). Nadeau said she pursued the presidential position – which she began in June 2019 -- out of a deeper appreciation for UIW’s students, shared governance, and visions. “I believe that institutions make better decisions when faculty, students, and administrative leaders all work closely together,” Nadeau said. “Our
50-year history of shared governance makes UIW a very special place.” As Faculty Senate president, Nadeau chairs meetings between the Senate Executive Committee and Faculty Senate, while also enabling communicative and transparency processes among faculty committees, the provost, UIW offices, and leaders. “It is important for the president to advocate on behalf of faculty and the students that we serve,” Nadeau said. As president, she also serves on the Provost’s Deans Council, President’s Advisory Council, and UIW Board of Trustees. In gauging UIW’s faculty mobility, Nadeau said she believes the faculty is more active now than before the pandemic which brought new challenges for UIW students, faculty and staff. “Faculty members, chairs, and deans had to work very closely with one another to convert classes to the online format,” Nadeau said. In March, the Faculty Senate held a special meeting that allowed students to convert their courses to a “W” much later through a satisfactory/ unsatisfactory grading option. The Center for Teaching and Learning and the Instructional Technology department established faculty
development sessions. Nadeau cited these sessions as cultivating “remarkable engagement.” In June, many faculty members attended Zoom workshops to improve online teaching. Although remote learning is continuing to be the norm vs. in-person, masked, and socially distanced classes this fall, Nadeau expressed worry over newfound issues that come with distance teaching. Faculty members are having more meetings to discuss how to create optimal learning environments but are eager for “more face-to-face contact” with students, she said. The faculty is also concerned with increasing the feeling of student inclusion and welcomeness, she said, the purpose being to make students feel welcome, valued and included in talking about important issues. Despite the year being a great challenge for faculty and students, Nadeau is hopeful 2020 “will pass” and current issues will get progressively better. “Like students, faculty also experienced changes in their home-life rhythms,” Nadeau said. “We worry about bandwidth, connectivity, and making sure that we are providing the best service possible for our students.”
Moody Professorship taps English leader
By Julia Robles LOGOS STAFF WRITER
COVID-19’s disruption to the academic calendar last spring delayed the usual April announcement of the annual Moody Professor at the annual Faculty Appreciation Luncheon. It was May before the announcement was made and it took place via Zoom at the annual English Honors Convocation. Viewers learned this year’s winner was among the English faculty: Dr. Tanja Stampfl. In a normal year, the Moody Professor named in the spring gets to carry the mace and lead the academic procession at the spring commencement and deliver an address at the fall commencement. A stipend also goes to the winner who is obligated to deliver two public lectures in the spring following the fall address at UIW and across town at Our Lady of the Lake University. Stampfl said she just taped her address to air at the virtual fall commencement and the spring lecture dates are in the works. Stampfl is a first-generation student
from Italy who has made her mark on the academic world with articles and research that support and challenge students and professors to improve the classroom. She’s been in charge of a five-year Writing Academy involving professors from various disciplines. Her current book project, “Motherlands: Places and Belonging in World Literature,” studies literary works from the Mideast, Africa, Turkey, and more championing work from all parts of the globe to broaden the scope away from the singular Eurocentric view. “The global perspective helps us to understand things that happen,” Stampfl said. “It’s very healthy to step outside your own experience and to look at it from the outside in and to just be informed.” Stampfl uses her classes to break down barriers and commits to improving the student experience. Her co-authored article, “Transforming Thinking: The Power of Conversation About Writing,” focuses on bridging the gap between the challenges put upon students when writing for different disciplines.
Dr. Tanja Stampfl
Her research engaged educators to discuss the different expectations UIW departments might have from one another. For instance, an essay for a political science course has specific writing rules very different than a World Literature course Stampfl, along with her two coauthors -- Dr. Susan Hall, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Dr. Letitia Harding, who retired earlier this year from the English Department -- together shined a light on a real challenge for students. For any student thinking of English as a major or minor, Stampfl will tell you it’s worth it. “Through literature, it helps you to be compassionate, to be empathetic, but also to understand
theories and guiding principles, framework, perspectives, and all of those are necessary in general to be successful,” Stampfl said. Dr. Emily Clark, the English Department chair and professor, said Stampfl, also a full professor, serves the university on several committees and advisory boards, and through research, and leadership positions. Stampfl will chair the department beginning August 2021. “No matter how busy she might be, she always has time to support a colleague, mentor a student, or foster an exciting new project,” Clark said. Stampfl’s research is recognized and celebrated by her peers. The Moody Professorship was all the more of an honor and validating since the recognition came from her colleagues, Stampfl said. “It’s really gratifying when you feel that your peers say that this is good and is something that they acknowledge and appreciate,” Stampfl said. “It’s more valuable than having something anonymously. These are people who know me, so it really means a lot.”
FACILITIES PAGE 12 | NOV. - DEC. 2020
Cameron Brennan/LOGOS PHOTO Dubuis Residence Hall is closed to students while it is undergoing a nearly $5 million modernization that will bring 21st-century features to residents of the historic hall. When the renovation is finished, it will be asbestos-free and equipped with new sprinklers.
Work starts on Dubuis upgrades Dubuis Residence Hall is undergoing a nearly $5 million modernization that will rival or surpass the newer halls on the hill at the University of the Incarnate Word. Work on the historic hall – named after Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis who invited the first Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who came from France to Texas during a cholera epidemic -- will retain the building’s exterior gothic style but upgrade interior features and equip the patio with newer seating, charging stations, Wi-Fi and grills. When the renovation is completed next summer, it will be asbestos-free and equipped with sprinklers throughout.
Courtesy of McChesney/Bianco Architecture The new social lounge in Dubuis Residence Hall will feature a pull-down screen for movie nights and presentations. Monitors will be available in shared spaces for gaming, movies, TV and streaming.
Some of the new interior features reportedly will include: • A pull-down screen in the social lounge for movie nights and presentations • Monitors in shared spaces for gaming, movies, TV and streaming • An elevator for impaired students and for easier move-in/move-out • A rear door to connect with congregation spaces to
the north of the hall • Filtered water refill stations on each floor • Automatic light switches throughout UIW retained Joeris General Contractors and McChesney/Bianco Architecture on the project. Both firms have been involved with several UIW
building projects in the past. Dubuis Hall is named after Bishop Claude Marie Dubuis who invited the first Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word who came from France to Texas in 1869 during a cholera epidemic to take care of the sick, poor and orphaned.