Editor & Social
Media LiaisonMackenzie Conant
Assistant EditorPaige Heller
Layout DesignerKlarysa Saldana
Section
Contributer/WriterNatalia Valenzuela
Section Contributer/WriterAudrey Patton
Section (Alumni)
Contributor/WriterAaron Rios
Section
Contributer/WriterBlair Villareal
Section
Contributer/WriterDana Vamos
PhotographerMatthew Jurenovich
PhotographerMarco Trujillo
BY MACKENZIE CONANT
Ifirmly believe that I should make a confession before beginning this new endeavor as magazine editor: The color red has never been a favorite of mine. You might agree, disagree, or have no opinion at all, but as for me I feel I should explain.
In full disclosure, that color has always belonged to my brother, Tucker. His hair claimed it before I could, so I felt he had rightful ownership. And that was fine with me because I much prefered the hues of a blue or a green. But all that to say, I subconsciously distanced myself from anything red for most of my life, until I began my freshman year at the University of the Incarnate Word. I knew then that my previous tactic of avoiding anything red would not prove as successful as it had in the past. So I did what any normal person would do and decided to embrace it.
And I am so glad that I did. Because since the day I stepped foot into my first class as a comm major, I have never once wanted to claim that color so much in my life. “Red” was now associated with creative minded peers who became some of my dearest friends. “Red” reminded me of the insightful discussions I was having in my new classes. “Red” was the color of the school I felt a deep sense of belonging to. And I am so grateful to say that it is now the name of our very first departmental, student-run magazine.
This project has been in the works for many months and I could not be more proud of it and the team that has worked to bring it to life. The vision for RED was that it would encompass all that this department accomplishes and has the boldness to create in their short time as a college student. Student organizations like kUIW would be given a platform to talk about their love for music and the plans they have for life after college. Athletes who show up for class after a grueling practice would be given a spotlight to showcase the work they have put in for their team, but to also get to know them outside of their sport. Alumni could provide any and all wisdom they have to the freshmen who need a word of advice whilst figuring out the world of adulting. Students who feel very strongly about a topic could speak, or rather write, what their mind has formed an opinion about and share it with the rest of the community. Its purpose is to be an embodiment of all that we dare to dream into existence as comm majors.
The time, vision, & passion that was poured into these pages could not have been possible without the support of this COMMunity; the one that gave me the color I was missing for so long. So thank you for all the support, & I hope you enjoy this first issue of RED.
Meet Mckenna Moczygemba, Film Club President
UIWtv is our student run news station aimed at equipping students with the skills to work well in a newsroom or broadcast station. Students receive hands-on training in live broadcasting, camera operation, interviewing skills, and on-camera performance.
Lights, camera, action is just a glimpse of what the UIW film club has to offer. Founded in 2017, the tradition of making movies and memories continues.
Students involved in the club participate in brainstorming, writing, producing, and more. Leading to the result of at least one film a semester that’s a collection and representation of the creative minds at the University of Incarnate Word. Students participating in the club also get to witness films made in both the club and in classes on the big screen. Ultimately, the club is a collection of students passionate about films and filmmaking.
Meet Danna Vamos, Program Director
Meet
Alejandra Ortiz, Operations Director
KUIW is our student-run internet radio station. Students have the opportunity to host their own radio show, where they are able to play their favorite music and talk about topics they’re passionate about! Our goal is to help students create an onair personality, while also being able to obtain volunteer hours! We also offer our DJing services for events on campus. Organizations can reach out to us to book a KUIW DJ to play music at their event.
KUIW is open to any student at UIW and we are always looking for event DJs and radio hosts! Anyone who loves music is welcome here!
Meet Mackenzie Conant, Head of Run Club
The UIW COMM Run Club Initiative was created to be a place of community outside of the classroom for students to connect. Whether you are a runner, a walker, a jogger, or just want somewhere to hang out on a Tuesday night, then run club is just the place for you! We meet every other Tuesday at 7pm at the soccer fields at Olmos Basin Park.
LOGOS is the student-run newspaper here at UIW. We have staff members and writers cover a wide variety of stories such as campus events, local news, campus life, sports, and opinion pieces. Along with the writing we also have photographers to help bring the story visual as well as layout members who help put it all in one piece. If you like to write, design, or photograph please reach out and join us this year!
Meet Janelle de Jesus, Head
Editor
Meet Blair Villareal,
LPH President
Lambda Pi Eta is the official honor society for Communication Arts majors here at UIW. We provide members with opportunities to attend conferences, participate in departmental and campus events, as well as networking opportunities inside and outside our department. LPH has a team of officers who help plan events, recruit new members, & help tell our story through photography and storytelling. New members are inducted every semester at our semester annual Comm-Extravaganza. If you are interested in joining, be on the lookout for new member applications each semester!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND | ALL-DAY
You know what that means...No classes! Enjoy a nice break from school as we begin this new semester as a COMMunity!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10TH | 7PM
Come out to our first run club meet up of the semester! We will be hanging out at our classic meet up spot...Olmos Basin Park. If you’re a runner, a walker, or just want something to do on a Tuesday night...COME TO RUN CLUB!!
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9TH | 3:15PM
As a once-famous musical once said, “We are all in this together”! Join us for the first film club of the semester at 3:15 p.m. in AD room 295. Whether you are new to UIW or are a graduate student, you are invited to participate in the movie-making magic and fun!
by Blair Villareal
The beginning of a new school year means new classes, new teachers, and new memories are made. It also means campus organizations are heavily recruiting new members to join.Whether it may be a club about film, running, or journalism, there is always something for any interest of any student. Getting involved on your college or university campus is something everyone should experience. It can help build your social life outside of the classroom, meet new people, and allow you to showcase your talents and interests with other students. For me, I am a people person and I always loved getting involved and having a schedule throughout the week to make sure I have something to do each day.
In the UIW Communication Arts department, there are many ways for students to get involved. UIW Comm offers many student media organizations for students to join. There is the LOGOS which is the UIW newspaper where you can write stories if you enjoy storytelling and journalism. KUIW is the student run internet radio station where students can have their own show. UIWtv is the student run news where students can become anchors to talk about campus news, entertainment, and sports if you are interested in broadcasting. In addition, there is Lambda Pi Eta which is our honor society for communication arts students where there are many opportunities to attend conferences, participate in community and campus events, and so much more.
I believe it is important to get involved on campus because not only you get to meet new people, but you also get to learn and develop new skills that could help you find a job or whatever you decide to do after you graduate. It also allows you to network with campus staff and be able to partake in campus events that you could add to your resume that could help give you that slight advantage to stand out for potential employers. And it can help you have a great college experience and make memories that will last a lifetime!
“Getting involved on your college or university campus is something everyone should experience.”
- Blaur
BY JOY BURGIN
As someone who has always considered myself a night owl, I never imagined my career journey would eventually lead me to start every day at 3:30 in the morning. It was only a couple years ago that I remember barely making it to Dr. Guinn’s 8:00 a.m. classes, and complaining that THAT was early. If only I could have seen the future! So how did I go from an up-all-night college student to a bright and early morning news anchor?
It was a long journey, and one that I enjoy reflecting on. First, a little bit about what I do. As a morning anchor who covers the traffic segment, I get the honor of starting the day with our viewers. I arrive at the station by 4:45 a.m., and am on the air by 5:00. After the morning shows, around 8:00 a.m., I begin producing our noon show. As a producer, I have the responsibility of building and discerning the content that will best serve and inform our community. Both of these responsibilities I greatly enjoy and take very seriously.
And it all started here at UIW. I got my start in broadcast journalism when I took the TV Practicum class and instantly fell in love with the profession. I was charmed both by the challenge of producing quality content on a fast-paced deadline, and the opportunity to use my talents as a service to my community. I’ve always loved public speaking, video editing, and learning new things. With the help of amazing educators like Professor Theresa Coronado, Mr. Michael Mercer, Dr. Trey Guinn, Dr. Darlene Carbajal and Dr. Steve Fogle to name a few, that charm quickly turned to passion. Not only did they help my fellow students and I develop our skills, they also encouraged us to recognize the value of our work and the mission of journalism. With their help, I was able to build a portfolio long before I graduated. My work with UIWtv brought me statewide recognition that helped my portfolio stand out against other graduates. After my first year in student media, I applied on a whim for a reporter/anchor position at iHeartRadio. I did it almost as a joke, because as a student it’s so easy to
underestimate yourself, and that’s what I did. The job listing said it required a bachelor’s degree and 3 years of experience, neither of which I had. But a miracle happened - I got a call and was asked to send an audition tape. Then, another miracle - I got the job. For a year after that, I would drive straight from my last class to the iHeart station where I anchored the 9 and 10 pm newscasts on News Radio 1200 WOAI. Then, the summer before I graduated, I applied for an internship with News 4 San Antonio and FOX SA. I was accepted, and after spending the summer there, I asked the news director if she would mind if I extended my internship until I graduated. She instead offered me a part-time job, and I worked as an associate producer until graduation. Then I was hired full-time as a morning producer. My shift started at midnight and ended at 7:30am. After my show every day, I stayed an extra hour unpaid to work on my talent reel. Every week I sent those recordings to my news director for feedback, and within 6 months I was promoted to morning traffic anchor.
I say all this not to brag, but instead to encourage you to shoot for more than what you imagined you could achieve. And to shoot for it now while you’re in school! It’s easy to focus on the grades and simply getting your degree, but at the end of the day, employers will never ask you for a school transcript - instead, they want to know what skills you gathered during your time in school. So join the extracurriculars, get as many internships as you can, and don’t wait until after graduation to start changing the world. My other piece of advice: love what you do, and remind yourself daily why you do it. We were built for a purpose, and living your life purposefully will bring fulfillment and rejuvenation to the sometimes mundane tasks of life. No matter your profession, you have the opportunity to bring light to your community with how you live and work. Don’t let the everyday grind cloud the importance of and love for what you do. My walk with Jesus helps me stay grounded in that purpose - and that’s how I continue to get up at 3:30 a.m. every morning.
SusannaThen & Now
A Poem by Susanna Alford
I am from Denmark, Germany, Scotland, and Spain, a family of four with multiple names. From Alford and Hansen, Anderson, and Merse, Leyndecker, Benavides, and many more.
I am from places of love, singing and dancing, humming, and jumping, skipping, and prancing. From car karaoke with my loved ones surrounding, to late family game nights, filled with popcorn and candy. And at the end of each game, I would smile to my brother, both of us are competitive, and love to annoy one another. But no matter the outcome, whether losing or winning, he told me he loved me and would run just to hug me.
I am from owning the role of being, “Noah’s big sister.” “Hold his hand,” “keep him safe,” there I go, chasing those kids who would tease him.
I am from having a cheerleader who believed in me endlessly, making her proud was my goal on a daily. Those weekends on Guerrero were filled with love and lots of laughter. She was the person who taught me to say, “I love you”, “I am sorry”, and always knew when to ask me, “What’s the matter?”’ Eventually learning how to say, “I love you”, just to have to watch you fade away.
I am from seeing lots of green in this world, all around me. Not knowing the meaning, left me two choices, contemplating going, or staying back to continue the screaming. I am from encountering God, dismissing the pain, what felt like constant running, left me pushing people away. This encounter with God was the worst feeling ever. Seeing him take you, left me in shivers.
I am from being connected to each other forever, to not having you now, left me crying a river. The loss had me going in all types of directions, leaving me breathless, and left feeling helpless. From forgetting to smile for the photos being taken, in my own head, with an endless number of questions.
I am from pushing and shoving, pointing fingers, and throwing pillows, to slamming every door, and simply avoiding. Then came the kicking and screaming at the top of my lungs, to forgiving and hoping, while looking above. Is this really happening? Will someone come wake me? Can someone come get me, to tell me I am dreaming?
I am from fearing being alone, and pushing everybody away, feeling like an imposter, in a sea only to try swimming away. I am from knowing the risks of falling in love, with a heart always left broken, and not having fun.
I am from knowing my place, with a seat at the table, having a voice, but feeling incapable. With an ADHD brain, filled with lots of ideas and questions, but could never speak up, to afraid, filled with fear, expecting more rejection. With a curious mind that never stops to wander, there’s lots of not knowing, with an abundance of hoping.
I am from kindness and intention, and holding myself back, living a life, of me being selfless, rather than selfish. I am from “Thursday Night Kickball”, building bonds, sharing laughter, losses, and wins, and what was once two, is now three championships. I am from my bones being broken, many sprains, a few fractures. Lots of injuries and aches, with some sorrow, and pain. I always did more than what people believed, and the trying times, left me feeling weak.
I am from forgetting who I was, and where I came from. Unwilling to acknowledge where I started, stuck with more fear, only left with more questions. In a world where being overlooked became a part of my story. “You’re too young”, “You’re too old”, “You’re not good enough”, all became a part of my identity. I am from forgetting my worth, not given a chance, until I finally spoke up, to use the voice that God gave me to fight for what I earned and deserved. I fought for my seat, like how some of you reading may have to. Hardly ever considered, for the roles I knew best, and always left hurt, leaving me restless. So, listen to this part closely.
I am from acknowledging my mistakes, even those that are more recent, just to be able to sit here and to share my story with you. I am from growth and prosperity, but the thought of more loss continues to scare me. Don’t forget who you are, where you came from or started. Don’t get lost, love yourself, and always be grateful for all the good that surrounds you. Listen to your heart, your head, and your gut. But, promise me one thing, always remember where you’re from.
If you have been around UIW Comm long enough, then you have most certainly inter acted with our very own athlete by day, entreprenuer by nightbeen a part of the UIW Comm Arts family since the fall of 2020 and we cannot imagine our comm family without her. She is now starting her first year as a graduate student and when asked how she has felt about the communication arts program thus far, she replied “My experience as a UIW COMM student has been good. I’ve grown so much as a person being a part of the program and I’m glad I switched over.” And we are glad she did!
athlete’s corner spotlight, she replied “Spotlight my clothing brand and the women’s Basketball program!!”
“I knew when I was about 10 that I wanted to start a clothing brand because clothes and fashion was how I could express myself and do it in a way where I felt comfortable. So as I got older and I was finally able to make that dream come true, it became a creative outlet for me. It then grew into something I could see myself making a career out of.” - Myra Bell
She has been a member of the women’s basketball team since her arrival and her record truly speaks for itself. During her senior season, she played in 29 games for the Cardinals with 19 starts. In addition, she averaged 5.5 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. Besides her positive reputation on the court, she is also something of a businesswoman. Her clothing brand “Horizons Apparel” was created and curated from the ground up as a way of showing off her creative genius and she has
If that is any indication of the commitment that Myra has to her teammates and to the businesss she has built & cultivated around her love for fashion, then we are excited to see what she will accomplish in her first year in the graduate program.
Myra, we are proud to call you a fellow Cardinal & a member of our COMMunity. You’re going to do great things!
Take a look at our Culture Calendar for all of our September Events
Welcome back COMM cardinals! I hope you are all as excited as I am for this upcoming school year. If this is your first semester at college, you are going to have so much fun. Truly this is the best department and major that you could’ve chosen. As I’m entering my third year here at UIW, I can full heartedly say that I am so in love with the school and department, and I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. If you ar e a returning student, this year is going to be YOUR year! Reme mber, this is a fun and exciting time of your life, live it to the fullest and take your time. If stress or anxiety appears take some time for yourself to reset. I know this is a crazy and nerve wrecking time starting new classes and jumping into something new, but you got this. As a reminder, UIW does offer free counseling and you can register for it online if you look up “UIW Behavioral Health”. This is going to be a great year with all the amazing events we have planned with all the different COMM organizations and with all the new faces. If you are interested in getting into a specific organization or meeting new people, feel free to reach out to me and I can help you get into contact with the right people. Shine bright and just be yourself. This is going to be a great year and I am beyond excited to be with you all and to create new memories. Have an amazing semester! And be on the hunt for our next issue of RED!
Love, Paige Heller your Assistant Editor