Est. 1981
Vol.70 Issue 7
March 18 - March 25, 2025
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
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Basura Bash cleans up San Antonio’s rivers and creeks By Kara Lee Graphic Editor
M
ore than 3,000 volunteers gathered across San Antonio on Saturday to clean trash from the city’s rivers and waterways. The annual event, known as Basura Bash, was organized by River Aid San Antonio in partnership with local community organizations such as San Antonio Water System, city council members and volunteers. Volunteers worked at multiple locations around the city, helping to clear litter from creek beds, river systems and parks. Jessica Mrozinski, a volunteer, highlighted the long-standing collaboration between River Aid San Antonio and the San Antonio River Authority. “This event has been happening for over a decade,” Mrozinski said. “It’s a citywide effort to clean up our waterways, and this year, River Aid San Antonio took on the responsibility of organizing the event for the first time.” Brendan Gibbons, board chair of River Aid San Antonio, discussed the 30-year history of Basura Bash. “We have about two dozen sites around the city, and we’re hoping to see 3,000 volunteers this year,” Gibbons said. “If we hit that target, it would set a new record for recent years. River Aid San Antonio began organizing the event two years ago, but it was founded in the 1990s by local citizens concerned about the state of our waterways.” The event also highlights the
city’s expanding trail network, which has grown to over 80 miles in the past two decades. “These trails have made natural areas more accessible to the public,” Gibbons stated. “As more people visit these areas, they become more aware of the pollution problem. Our goal is to ensure healthy ecosystems and water quality, with the hope that one day, these waterways may even be safe for swimming.” River Aid San Antonio aims to continue expanding the event for the years to come. Gibbons added, “We want to increase the number of cleanup sites, the number of volunteers and the level of corporate support. Our sponsors help provide supplies and support the hundreds of staff hours needed to organize the event.” In addition to the cleanup, River Aid San Antonio is working on a long-term project, including the water monitoring program. Through the Texas Stream Team, volunteers will be trained to monitor water quality at designated sites throughout the city. Basura Bash, which started as a small community effort 30 years ago, has grown into a major, citywide event. Over the years, more than 50,000 volunteers have helped remove more than 1.4 million pounds of trash from San Antonio’s waterways.
Miles Jones/The Paisano
Volunteers gather with large trash bags to pick up waste near rivers and creeks in San Antonio.
Students and community hold memorial for Chap Cat By Khoi Nguyen Staff Writer Roaming Chaparral Village for over 12 years, Harry, a stray orange and white tabby known as ‘Chap Cat,’ has been a cherished presence in the UTSA community. Months after he was announced missing on Dec. 20, 2024, friends of Harry gathered on the evening of March 6 on Chaparral Village’s patio to express condolences, write supportive messages and create artwork commemorating him. The memorial, organized by Chaparral Village resident assistants and the Roadrunner Cat Coalition, allowed the community to grieve and properly acknowledge his disappearance. “Coming into this semester, there’s a lot of uncertainty from residents. [They are asking] ‘Is he gone? Is he missing?’” said Manuel Bocanegra, a Chaparral Village resident assistant who thought up the memorial. “I didn’t want the year to conclude with no way of being able to grieve or celebrate his life.” Karen Williams, a cofounder and faculty advisor of the Roadrunner Cat Coalition, began the memorial by recounting Harry’s origins. “In 2012, we saw him way over in West Campus in the woods, and we trapped him,” Williams said. “He was not a baby then. We got him fixed, and he gradually made his way over here, and then he loved it so much. He loved everybody. “When we all were gone over the breaks,
Letters and pictures of Chap Cat were placed on the steps of Chaparral Village.
in the summer, he was not happy. We’d come daily to feed him, and he would be moping around. He’d always be here because you guys are here to pay attention to him. He was always so happy when his buddies were here,” she added. Attendees sang along to “Amazing Grace” performed by Krystal Elliston, a junior majoring in music. They then visited Chaparral Village’s pool and buildings one, three and eleven, which the resident assistants and Cat Coalition deemed Harry’s favorite spots. “I would always be walking home, and Harry would follow me to my door. I would feed him, and he would sleep overnight,” said resident assistant Alondra Castillo. “One time I was going to class, and I saw him leaning over the [pool] edge, drinking the water,” a student said, to which the assembly laughed. Many recalled Harry being a constant
presence throughout their daily routines. “I give housing tours pretty much every day of the week, and I always loved pointing [Harry] out to prospective parents and families,” housing ambassador Jaclyn Lerma mentioned. “It’s nice to know you have a little stray friend around and about. I miss seeing him on my tours.” “Every time I go to the cafe, every time I’m going to an exam [or] going to class, Harry has been my companion through it all,” Bocanegra said. “He was just always there, and even when he was grumpy, he would want your attention and want to cuddle up with you.” The memorial ended with Bocanegra placing a photo of Carolyn Campa and Harry onto a shrine. Campa, who runs an Instagram account of Harry with nearly 6,000 followers, has posted updates on Harry for more than seven years since acquiring the account from its original owner. She worked with the
Cat Coalition in coordinating information on Harry’s whereabouts and, weeks before the memorial, addressed the UTSA community’s concerns for him via Instagram. “I know many of y’all, including myself, are deeply saddened by the disappearance of Harry. We all hope that wherever he is, he is happy. I imagine he’s curled up taking a nice little nap in the sun like he always did on nice days,” Campa wrote. “While part of me still hopes that I’m making this post for nothing and tomorrow I’ll wake up to [a] flood of messages saying he has been found and [is] playing with his friends at Chap, I still can’t help but think how long it has been.” A UTSA alumna and former campus tour guide, Campa still recalls her experiences with Harry and expressed gratitude for students who cared about him. “He was a celebrity. He was just a silly cat who was also a little sassy,” Campa said. “Once he was over me, he was over me. He [would be] wiggling out of my arms, like, ‘Okay, I’m done. Let go.’ “It’s amazing to see [students] love this cat so much,” Campa said. “There’s so much passion people have for something that seems so silly, but it really is important with how [big] Harry’s impact was.” A member of UTSA’s community for over a decade, Harry attracted the attention of students, faculty and even those unaffiliated with UTSA. Continue reading at paisano-online.com
UTSA announces spring 2025 commencement ceremonies By Alessandra Avila News Editor UTSA announced that Spring 2025 Commencement will occur on May 18 at the Alamodome. The graduates will commemorate the end of their academic journey through a ceremony recognizing their efforts and achievements at UTSA. UTSA also invites graduating students to participate in Grad Fest, a festival designed to get anticipating graduates
ready for Spring 2025 Commencement. The event will take place on March 18 at the H-E-B Student Union Ballrooms 1.100B from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. During the event, graduates may place an order for their cap and gown. They will also get an opportunity to learn more about the Alumni Association and how UTSA celebrates its graduates. The ceremony will be held in two sessions. Ceremony One, from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m., will honor graduates from the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, College of Education and Human Development, Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design and University College; ceremony Two, to be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will recognize The College for Health, Community and Policy, the College of Liberal and Fine Arts and the College of Science.
As the spring commencement draws near, UTSA’s commencement website encourages graduates and their families to look forward to marking this important milestone in their academic careers.