Vol. 71, Issue 2
Se p te mb e r 9 - Se p te mb e r 1 6 , 2 0 2 5
Est. 1981
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
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@paisanomedia
@ThePaisano
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Texas Senate bill set to restrict on-campus protest Demonstrations on college campuses are expecting more obstacles By Jasmine Williams Managing Editor
S
enate Bill 2972 established time, place and manner restrictions on expressive activity on college campuses in Texas. The Paisano interviewed Right to Rebel, an organization that has held protests on UT San Antonio’s Main Campus, for its response to the bill. The spokesperson for RTR has requested to remain anonymous. The bill was filed by Republican Senator Brandon Creighton on March 14 in response to pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses last year. It was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 20 and went into effect on Sept. 1. RTR is a “revolutionary youth organization in San Antonio, Texas.” It is not an official student organization under UT San Antonio, according to the spokesperson. “We have deliberately not registered as a student organization because what we understand as the structure for registered student organizations, at least in the case of an organization trying to have openly revolutionary politics, would be to control or corral those politics into dead ends,” they said. According to the bill, expressive activities i n c l u d e “assemblies,
protests, speeches, the distribution of written material, and the carrying of signs and the circulation of petitions.” The restrictions placed on expressive activities include using a device to amplify sound during class hours; expressive activities during the last two weeks of a
“We want to do what the masses are willing to do. If people are angry, we want to be angry with them.” semester; expressive activities on campus between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m; camping or erecting tents on campus; wearing a mask, facial covering, disguise or other means of concealing a person’s identity; and lowering the the U.S. or Texas flag to raise another nation’s or organization’s flag. Additionally, students and employees will be required to present proof of identity and status at the institution on request by a peace officer engaging in an official duty. On RTR’s Instagram posts, the faces of participating members are covered in masks and blurred. The spokesperson explained why. “We try to censor our faces mainly in terms of trying to make it more difficult to repress our organization,” the spokesperson said.
“We try our best to talk to people and be personable and have all of our work face the masses, but not directly face the police.” Institutions must now establish disciplinary sanctions for students, student organizations or employees who interfere with the expressive activities of others or violate an institution policy or state law. A grievance procedure for addressing complaints of a violation must be established as well. The spokesperson opted not to discuss the organization’s plans to conduct protests on UT San Antonio campuses. “We don’t necessarily have the strongest idea of what on-campus work will look like this semester, specifically in terms of police repression,” the spokesperson said. “We want to do what the masses are willing to do. If people are angry, we want to be angry with them. If people are willing to do X, Y, or Z and need leadership, we’re not going to deny that to them. But we’re also not going to disclose those plans publicly.” Chapter 9.37 of UT San Antonio’s “Handbook of Operating Procedures” titled “Peaceful P u b l i c Assembly” contains the university’s policies as of Aug. 29 on expressive activity and disciplinary sanctions for violations. To view the policies, visit utsa.edu/hop/.
File photo/The Paisano
New e-cigarette, vape laws take effect in Texas
Three senate bills are now set to curb the consumption of nicotine towards minors
By Jake Mireles Editor-in-Chief
Three new laws have taken effect in the State of Texas, effectively banning the sale of vapes and e-cigarettes as of Sept. 1. These bills — which proponents say aim to curb Texas teens’ consumption of nicotine — aim for the sale of nicotine and cannabis vapor devices to adults as well. Senate Bill 2024, proposed by Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), bans the marketing, advertising and sale of e-cigarette devices appealing to minors and devices that are disguised or resemble common household objects and school supplies. The bill has an added provision banning the sale of e-cigarette devices manufactured in nations considered foreign adversaries to the United States including China. Notably, the U.S. is one of the largest consumers of Chinese-manufactured vapes and e-cigarettes. According to Wired, the U.S. accounts for nearly twothirds of Chinese vape and e-cigarette exports. SB 2024 also includes a provision that expands the definition of “e-cigarette” under state law. This new definition includes all e-cigarette devices containing cannabinoids or alcohol. Under this provision, the previous limitation on the marketing and sales of e-cigarette devices would also apply to vapes and e-cigarettes containing Delta-8. SB 1313, proposed by Sen. Molly Cook (D-Houston), bans the marketing of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products that appeal to minors. Going forward, advertisements for these products cannot include cartoon characters, cannot include images of celebrities or
visualizations of fruit or juice among other limitations. SB 1316 bans the advertising of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products within 1,000 feet of a church or school. This bill was sponsored by Cook as well. These bills represent the latest in a Texas bipartisan effort to curb teenage consumption of nicotine products. The Texas Medical Association, which represents over 59,000 physicians and medical students, advocated heavily for these bills to combat what the organization deems a “vaping crisis” in Texas. “I think the biggest thing around the ‘crisis’ word is that we know two things. One is that most adults who are addicted to nicotine started [using] in their adolescent and young adult years,” Maria Monge, MD, a member of TMA’s Council on Science and Public Health, said during an interview with The Paisano. “The second is that although vaping, when it came on the scene, was kind of introduced as a healthier alternative to combustible cigarette use, what we now have is data [that says], unfortunately, there is a higher risk of going on to use combustible cigarettes in people who vape.” According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.63 million students in the U.S. used e-cigarettes in 2024. However, in Texas, teen usage of e-cigarettes seems to be decreasing already. According to a study conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services, 13.8% of middle and high school students reported having ever used or tried e-cigarettes in 2023. This is a significant reduction from 16% in 2021 and 21.1% in 2020.
Valero invests $1.5 million into business, engineering college
By Michael Morales Staff Writer
UT San Antonio recently announced a $1.5 million investment from Valero intended to strengthen the university’s commitment to student success and workplace development. On Aug. 27, Valero officially awarded the $1.5 million to the benefit of students at the Carlos Alvarez College of Business and the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design. Students from either college have experienced a high rate of employment by Valero in the past. Throughout Valero’s 37 years of support, 160 interns and over 400 current Valero employees hail from UT San Antonio. This extensive hiring is due to both colleges preparing students with real-world skills needed in highdemand fields. The ongoing studentto-professional pipeline has ensured targeted support where the demand for skilled graduates is highest. “This investment shows Valero’s deep commitment not only to UT San Antonio but to the San Antonio community,” said Dr. Jonathan Halbesleben, Dean of the Carlos Alvarez College of Business. “By supporting our students, Valero is helping ensure that our graduates are prepared for high-demanding careers that benefit both industry and [the] city as a whole.” Along with scholarships, the gift will expand mentorship opportunities, professional development and experiential learning programs. “This is especially meaningful for first-generation and underserved
students who may not have access to professional networks within their families,” Halbesleben said. “Structured mentorship ensures that all students have the guidance they need to succeed in their careers.” These mentorship opportunities aim to close the gap that many of these first-generation students face. Simultaneously, it ensures equitable access to career pathways exclusive to students attending UT San Antonio. This partnership aligns with UT San Antonio’s mission as a Tier One research university and Hispanic Serving Institution. Focusing on long-term goals, this partnership is viewed by UT San Antonio heads as a first step in broader partnerships between UT San Antonio and industry leaders. The accomplishment with Valero could serve as a model for other companies to invest in student success. “Our hope is that this is just the beginning,” Halbesleben added. “As companies see the direct impact of investing with UT San Antonio students, we expect more organizations to join in building a strong, sustainable workforce for San Antonio.” Areas on campus where students will be able to gain access to new resources include the UT San Antonio Student Success Center, as well as the Career Compass Initiative located in the Alvarez College of Business. “This gift ensures that UT San Antonio students are not only receiving a world-class education but also the career support and connections they need to thrive,” Halbesleben stated.