Vol. 68, Issue 12
Est. 1981
April 16 - April 23, 2024
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
/ThePaisano
@paisanomedia
@ThePaisano
paisano-online.com Dustin Vickers/The Paisano
Israel-Palestine tensions increase around UTSA By Faith Kouadio Staff Writer
A
s current events escalate in the Middle East, the unrest has manifested into several demonstrations in support of either Israel or Palestine that have occurred on or around campus. Starting around 6 a.m. on April 15, a protest halted traffic on Loop 1604 eastbound and blocked both entrances on Valero Way near the west parking lot as part of international movement A15 economic blockade. The purpose of the protest, as listed on the website, was to “identify and blockade major choke points in the economy, focusing on points of production and circulation with the aim of causing the most economic impact. There is a sense in the streets in this recent and unprecedented movement for Palestine that escalation has become necessary. There is a need to shift from symbolic actions to those that cause pain to the economy.” Blockades also took place in over 50 other cities, including London, Seoul, Johannesburg, Adelaide and many cities in the U.S., such as Philadelphia, where 68 people were arrested. In San Antonio, several police officers oversaw protestors as they chained themselves together and lay on the ground to block cars from entering the road. Others held handwritten signs that read “No genocide on a dime - Let Gaza Live,” and “If I must die, you must live to tell my story,” a quote from Dr. Refaat Alareer,
a Gazan professor killed in an Israeli bombardment in December. A protestor at the San Antonio blockade shared her frustrations with the city on an Instagram reel posted by user al7ayatlife. “I am here because I’ve been doing the other work, I’ve been calling my senators. I have talked to congressmen; I spoke to even city council, and they do nothing. They still have not called for a ceasefire. They need to take us seriously as their constituents. It’s time that the citizens of every single major city in the United States step up to the call and start economically blockading their city, it’s the only way we’re going to affect change.” According to the affiliated group Yanaguana Tejas, Valero Energy was targeted because it is “the main supplier of military-grade jet fuel (JP-8) to the Israeli military. Between 2020-2024 the company has sent every other month a JP-8 tanker from its BIll Greehey refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Israel.” Roadrunners took to Reddit to discuss the situation under a post titled, “If you’re gonna protest, don’t be a d-ck to your peers.” User Rodger_Dodger20 commented, “And thank you, protestors, for making this chronically ill person have to walk an extra 10 minutes instead of being able to take a shuttle.” In the early hours of April 8, a 21-yearold UTSA student was caught defacing the McKinney Humanities building, leaving graffiti of profane language aimed at the Israeli Defense Forces, another sharing the civilian death toll in Gaza and spraypainting the Palestinian flag over some
Carlos Alvarez dies at 73 Remembering UTSA business school’s namesake By Lauren Hernandez Assistant Arts & Life Editor Carlos Alvarez, a businessman and philanthropist dedicated to supporting higher education in San Antonio, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, at the age of 73. San Antonio and the UTSA community are mourning his loss and reflecting on his impact. UTSA President Taylor Eighmy shared, “The UTSA community is deeply saddened by the passing of Carlos Alvarez. Our university is profoundly grateful for his lifelong advocacy of higher education and his support of UTSA students.” Alvarez established many programs, endowments, fellowships and scholarships supporting San Antonio students. In 2013, the Malú and Carlos Alvarez Hall was named in honor of Alvarez and his wife, Malú, thanks to their ongoing support of UTSA students and research. Additionally, in 2021, the couple committed $20 million to the University of Texas at San Antonio “to advance the institution’s research capabilities,” according to an article from KSAT. In recognition, the university renamed its College of Business to the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, making it the first named college at UTSA. Soon after, UTSA named Alvarez a cochair of its Campaign Leadership Council. According to an article from Texas Public Radio, Alvarez was born in Mexico City. His father owned a Corona beer distributor in Acapulco. Alvarez immersed
Rylan Renteria/The Paisano
himself in his family’s business and later graduated from the Monterrey Institute of Technology with a degree in biochemical engineering. He went on to work in Mexican beer exports for Grupo Modelo, and in two decades, grew the Corona and Modelo brands into the number one beer import in the U.S. In 1986, Alvarez and his family moved to San Antonio. Here, he founded the Gambrinus Company, later acquiring the brewery of Shiner Beer in 1989. “Under Alvarez’s leadership, it grew to be one of the most successful and beloved craft breweries in the country,” the article explained. In 2010, Alvarez was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame and received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which, according to their website, “is one of our nation’s most prestigious awards. Each year, its recipients are read into the Congressional Record. The Medal celebrates inspiring Americans who are selflessly working for the betterment of our country and its citizens.” Following Alvarez’s passing, Mayor Ron Nirenberg stated, “Carlos Alvarez was a generous philanthropist and supporter of higher education. He helped nourish the economic and cultural ties between our community and Mexico.” Concluding his statement, President Eighmy wrote, “As an institution, we wouldn’t be where we are today without Carlos’ passion for helping our students invest in their dreams, just as he did for himself and his family.”
posters. The suspect tagged the building, pillars and sidewalk. After a brief chase by UTSA PD to the bus oval, the student was arrested on a Class A misdemeanor of Evading Arrest and a State Jail Felony of Graffiti — Church or School charges. Court records show the suspect was released on bond. He is also subject to university disciplinary action. President Eighmy condemned the act and said, “There is no room for this behavior at UTSA, and we will not tolerate the disruption of campus activities or damage to university property. While we encourage free speech and the free exchange of ideas, we expect our students, faculty and staff to come to campus each day with a spirit of respect for each other.” The Party for Socialism & Liberation San Antonio (PSL) posted a statement on Instagram defending the student and criticizing UTSA’s “hypocrisy.” “According to UTSA police, the student has been charged with a ‘State Jail Felony,’ punishable by two years in jail. That means, for allegedly spray-painting ‘anti-Israeli graffiti’ on campus, the student is being charged in the same penal category as someone accused of criminally negligent homicide. PSL San Antonio is outraged at the attempt to heavily and unjustly prosecute an alleged act of peaceful protest aimed at denouncing the greatest crime of all according to international law, the state crime of genocide.” Another incident of graffiti was antisemitic phrases written in Arabic on a drye r a s e
board in the JPL on March 4. Allegedly, the phrases read, “I hate Jews” and “Jews are rich, greedy and fat,” as reported by San Antonio Hillel, a non-profit Jewish empowerment group. SA Hillel responded to the situation on their Instagram: “We are saddened that the horrific rise in antisemitism has reached our beloved campus. There is no room at UTSA for this kind of targeted hatred. We commend UTSA’s immediacy in addressing the issue, investigating the incident, and swiftly getting the hateful antisemitic messaging erased.” There has been no update on the status of the student responsible. SA Hillel hosted the Israel Exposition outside the Student Union on March 26 to promote knowledge about Israel and its residents. The event allowed visitors to learn about the nation’s demographics, military and humanitarian efforts, food, technology and arts. Last semester, the organization displayed the names of kidnapped Israelis on chairs on the lawn facing the Sombrilla to draw attention to the hostages. To date, the university’s only statement in relation to the conflict was released shortly after the Oct. 7 attacks on Oct. 12. “During this uncertain and challenging time, please check in on each other and make sure those around you have the support they need as we attempt to come to grips with this horrific violence. We will continue to share support resources and update the campus community as necessary during this crisis.”
A guide to UTSA alumni resources
By Malaki Lingg Web Editor As the academic year draws to a close, many students are preparing for graduation. With their college experience soon over, several may be unaware of the resources available to aid them. From career services to alumni networking, UTSA provides graduate support as they transition into the next phase of their lives. UTSA offers several resources for students and graduates through the Career Center. The resources include various networking sites like Handshake and Roadrunner Network, resume building, interview preparation, LinkedIn profile tips and more. These career-building and preparation resources are open to anyone to use. Alongside the free benefits and resources offered, alumni can become members of UTSA’s Alumni Association. Being a member opens up more opportunities and benefits for those who decide to join. Partnering with Credit Human and Dell Technologies, the Alumni Association offers members benefits like free credit checking, UTSA-branded debit cards, travel discounts, 10% off UTSA extended education courses and deals on tech products. Alumni also gain access to UTSA facilities such as the Recreation Center and the library, discounted event
admissions, an alumni-only parking pass, Roadrunner Athletic Fund (RAF) loyalty points discounts on UTSA alumni merchandise, a 10% discount on an Institute of Texan Cultures membership and more. The RAF loyalty points are redeemable for UTSA football season p a s s e s ,
member license plate frame and exclusive merchandise. The Life Membership is a one-time fee of $750or $1000 for a two-person membership. The Life Membership dues are tax-deductible, with a portion of the dues being legally treated as a gift. For more information regarding Career Center resources, refer to their
parking p a s s e s , postseason and away game opportunities and special events. The loyalty point system allows UTSA to prioritize donors to RAF and related athletic programs. The standard Annual Loyalty membership for the Alumni Association is $40 annually, or $60 annually
for a two-person membership. While these benefits are offered for all UTSA Alumni Association memberships, there are exclusive benefits for those who register as a Life Member. For Life Members, perks include more RAF loyalty points, the life
website and for information on Alumni Association membership, visit UTSA’s alumni page.